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Old Mr. Bradshaw, intended having a survey
made of the boundaries of the Purchase, as one of
his neighbours, who was a testy, litigious character,
seemed anxious to create a dispute on the subject,
alleging that Mr. Bradshaw's fence encroached
considerably on his property. Clinton had promised
his father that he would attend the survey,
and the day after the incidents recorded in the last
chapter, the old gentleman entered his son's office,
and told him the surveyers and neighbours were
to meet that day at the Purchase, and he had come
in for him.

“I must see Mr. Shaffer first, father,” said
Bradshaw, “concerning a case that may come up
in the criminal court, as the grand jury have
met.”

“I will wait here, then, till you return, my son.

Neighbour Styles talks a great deal touching that
boundary line; and I wish you to attend.”

Bradshaw found Mr. Shaffer in the criminal
court. The judge had just concluded his charge
to the grand jury, and they were retiring.

Bradshaw stated to Mr. Shaffer his father's wish,
and asked him, if he had learned any thing of Jane
Durham's case.

“You've put me on a strong scent, my young
friend,” said Shaffer. “I've been pumping Johnson
on the subject, and old Moll. It's a foul business,
I believe—but I'll manage it. You can go in
the country, and no fear for your fair client. Let
me see: this is Tuesday—nothing will be done in
her case this week. You had better go in the
country and take a little fresh air. You look thin,
my young friend.”

“I shall be in town,” said Bradshaw, “the day after
to-morrow. If you should have business at the
jail, Mr. Shaffer, do have some conversation with
Jane Durham.”

“It is my intention, my young friend—it is my
intention. Acting in my capacity, Mr. Bradshaw,
proceedings should not be had against so young and
interesting a woman, as you represent this one to
be, without due deliberation.”

“If any thing of importance against her should
turn up, Mr. Shaffer, in my absence, will you do
me the favour to inform me of the fact, by note?
Send it to Jackson's livery stable, with directions
to have it sent out to me immediately, and your order
will be obeyed.”

“I will, my young friend. You need have no

fear in the case. There has been foul play, and it
must be ferreted out. Mr. Bradshaw, you must
shake the dust of the city, and of your law books,
off of you, when you get into the country, and
give yourself an airing. You look thin, my young
friend, quite thin, and sallow. Too much study is
a mistaken notion, sir—entirely a mistaken notion.
The brain's like the body, sir: fatigue it, and it
cannot do as much work as when it was fresh; and
this is most particularly the case, if the body that
furnishes the brain with blood happens to be none
of the strongest.”

Bradshaw bid Shaffer “good morning,” and hurried
to his office. Writing on a card where he had
gone, and when he would return, he stuck it on his
door with wafers, and entered the chaise with his
father. In their way out, they drove by the jail,
where Bradshaw stopped a moment, informed Jane
Durham where he was going, and told her that
she had better speak freely of her case to Mr. Shaffer.

On Wednesday, the neighbours and surveyors
met, and, notwithstanding long rigmarole remarks
from farmer Styles, who was a bit of a scamp, the
surveying progressed rapidly. On Thursday and
Friday, however, it rained in torrents, and the party
did not go out. Saturday morning they commenced
again; when, near mid-day, as they were
running the line through a wood, a horseman came
bounding across one of Mr. Bradshaw's freshly
sowed fields, that was skirted by the wood, and
exclaimed, as soon as he got within hearing of Clinton
Bradshaw—

“Squire, there's one of your cases called up—a
gal for murder. She was in the bar when I left.
She begged and prayed so to see you, that I rode
in a great hurry. She said she would pay me. Do
you know if she has money, squire? Nancy said she
would pay if the gal didn't. Here's a writing the
gal sent you. She's mightily skeered.”

Bradshaw hastily snatched the note from the
constable, and read as follows, in a hand scarcely
legible—