Digby Bradenton, the senior partner of our law firm is, had a small matter to refer to me involving an impoverished and alcoholic former debutante, Taffy Tarlington. Her brother -in -law was making her an offer to buy her out of the family corporation owning coal strip mines. I was to evaluate the offer and advise Taffy. Since the anthracite market and strip mining had died long ago, the assignment seemed fairly routine. But the earth had tales to tell.