They returned to the clerk’s office, and Major Welch was soon running through the deeds, while Still, after looking over his shoulder for a moment or two, took a seat near Mr. Dockett and began to talk to him. He appeared much interested in the old fellow, his family, and all that belonged to him, and Major Welch was a little amused at the old man’s short replies.
His attention was attracted by Still’s saying casually that he’d like to see the papers in that old suit of his against the Gray estate, if he could lay his hands on them, and the clerk’s dry answer that he could lay his hands on any paper in the office, and that the papers in question were in the “ended-causes” case. “Mr. Jacquelin Gray was just looking over them as you came in,” he said, as he rose to get them.
“Well, let him look,” Still growled, with a sudden change of tone. “He can look all he wants, and he won’t git around them bonds.”
“Oh, no! I don’t say as he will,” the old officer answered.
“I’d like to take ’em home with me—” Still began; but the clerk cut him short.
“I can’t let you do that. You’ll have to look at ’em here in the office.”
“Why, they’re nothin’ but—I want Colonel Welch here to look at ’em—they’ll show him how the lands come to me—I’ll bring ’em back——”
“I can’t let you take ’em out of the office.” His tone was as dry as ever.
“Well, I’d like to know why not? They don’t concern nobody but me, and they’re all ended.”
“That’s the very reason you can’t take ’em out; they’re part of the records of this office——”