340 SPORT INDEED 



the three notes. I told him to whom I had given 

 them for collection, but he said he had never heard 

 from them. He advised me to ride to the town and 

 get them ; so next day I started over the mountains 

 to see the legal lights. On the road I met my friend 

 the lumberman coming back, and he reported that the 

 lawyers had no recollection of my claim whatever. 



On my arrival I found the pundits in a little up- 

 stairs room and seated at a table covered with envel- 

 opes, opened letters, bills of sale, bonds, writs of 

 replevin, leases, promissory notes and various legal 

 documents probably loaded with trouble for some- 

 body. 



The elder brother was a genial, kindly-looking man, 

 with an old straw hat, a shirt much the worse for 

 wear, and no coat, vest, collar or necktie. He assured 

 me, when I told him who I was, that he had promptly 

 presented my claim to the lumberman, but he found 

 that if he sued he hadn't any chance, and so had 

 waited. I asked for the return of the notes. Then a 

 hunt was started, and such a hunt as only the im- 

 mortal Dickens could, with justice, have described. 

 Brother number one looked through the letters, papers 

 and portfolios at his side of the table. Brother num- 

 ber two ditto at his side. The day was hot, muggy 

 and oppressive, and the note-hunters grew worried, 

 excited and nervous. Brother number two said he 

 guessed he'd go home and look through his clothes, 



