Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1874-04-08

threat. Besides, before the shades of
evening fell knew should be twenty
five miles removed from their clutch,
and in position not impossibly of COM
parative solvency. As got into the
train at Charing Cross, certainly did
observe an exceedingly suspicious-look-
ing individual, who had watched me
get out of the cab, bestow upon me q
glance which seemed to indicate that he
took q personal interest in my physiog-
nomy and my welfare. But 1 thought
no more of the circumstance, and as 1
sat down to lunch at Fairfield, exactly
two hours after 1 had left my own
chambers, 1 felt fairly master of the
situation and completely happy.
"Cordiality and affection characterized
my reception by my uncle. And as the
day wore on, there was, found. some
thing more than his manner with which
had reason to be pleased. The only
other guest was Mr.. -, his solicitor,
of whose friendship and good services 1
was assured. Mr.. Gridling was fond of
his siesta after lunch, and Mr.. - and
myself took q stroll.
"As your uncle's professional adviser,
Mr.. Kennedy, I am not at liberty to be
explicit to you; but this may say, that
there is at least reason why 1 should
congratulate you. 1t is more agreeable
to me than you may suppose to be able
to inform you that the impression which
once existed in his mind as regards your
habits and tastes has been effectually
dissipated. As an earnest of his inten-
tions l should not wonder if you were
to find on your dressing table this eve-
ming something that may not be unac-
ceptable as New Years present. There
is one thing would warn you. That at
the present moment there may be claims
upon you, to an amount in excess of
what you can conveniently hquidate, l
am well aware. 1 think it will be i'm
prudent, however, to insist too much
upon this in any conversation which you
may have with your uncle. Your best
plan will be on my return to London to
call on me in Gray's Inn, and will see
what can be done. 1t would be a thou
sand pities that your chances-and /
tell you, Mr.. Kennedy, they are bright
ones-with your uncle should be in
iured, possibly lost. in consequence of
any financial effects of which the causes
diC 1o lOHSCI IN tAlSttuCt.
ling has the idea that you have touched
terra .frma. l am not acquainted suffi-
ciently with your affairs to feel it my
duty, or indeed, within my power, to |
inform him otherwise.
''1f Mr.. - had not been a lawyer, |
he ought to have been a Jesuit. A |
pleasant surprise on my dressing table
mychances more than bright ! Certainly |
my star was in the ascendant and as
for Moss & Mofuz they might go hang. |
Why, 1 should probably be able to set.
tie their claim myself tomorrow 1t |
was getting dusk, and we were turning
our steps towards the house, / lingering
on the gravel walk outside a few min
utes, to finish a cigar. 1 heard the
sound of a horses hoof, and presently a
man, riding up at a brisk trot, inquired
whether 1 was Kennedy Esquire 1t
was letter sent by train, with instruc-
tions for special and immediate deliv-
cry from the man who superintendent
my chambers. The fellow had done me
really good turn. The note stated
briefly that Messrs. Moss & Mofuz had
been as good as their words-that the
writ of ca. 81. was out that the repre-
sentatives of the Sheriff of Middlesex
had been at my chambers that day
and that it seemed they knew my present
whereabouts. He therefore thought it
his duty to inform me as soon as posi-.
BILE of this. / don't think that in my
life ever felt more completely upset
than by this brief epistle. Still 1 at
tempted to assume an air of indiffer-
ence
This suppose said to the mes
senger, came by the $40. Do you
know whether any London passengers
arrived by that train?'
Two, sir, said the man, and they
wanten fly to come to Fairgeld. But
as this was the only 'oss that Mr.. Mea-
dows had in, they couldn't have it till
returned. They did say, sir, as how
they would take the letter to you them
selves but the station-master, he didn't
know them, and he wouldn't hear of it
and curious customers they look, SIR
My good fellow replied, If that
is the case, ride as slowly as you can to
station some four miles
here's half sovereign for
you.'
'There was no doubt who the two
passengers from London were. A pretty
dilemma, in truth, was in. l had
probably about an hour yet before me,
and at the expiration of that time, so
far as l could see, / must be inevitably
and that in my uncle's house,
and taken back to London to spend my
Twelfth night in the charming vicinity
of Cursitor street. l walked into the
passage and upstairs into my room.
There Spriggs was unpacking my port
manteau.
"'Very glad to see you here, sir,
again, was his greeting, and to know
that all this right, between master and
yourself. And master said / was to
come to his study in a couple of hours,
as he wanted to send to you or see you
4 forget which, SIR
"In a couple of hours Why, in that
time should be-Heaven only knew
where. 1 suppose my countenance be-
trayed signs of distress, for Spriggs
asked me whether l was unwell.
'The truth is, my good Spriggs,' I
said, 4 am in the deuce of a mess ; and
plunging in naedias res, I told him the
whole complication.
"Sprlggs listened attentlvely, and
gave me his opinion that matters were
very serious indeed. Would it be i'm
possible, he asked, to square these
emissaries of the law, or at least to in
duce them to wait at Stagford till next
Quite, told him. 1t was
not quarter to five, and at best there
were only twenty minutes to spare. 1t
is no exaggeration to say that on the
tactics which 1 adopted in that brief
interval entirely depended my future
SO far as my uncle's will was
Anything like an arrest for
debt, and that under his own rooftree,
Spriggs agreed with me in thinking that
Mr.. Gridling would not tolerate for
moment, and would effectually ruin me
with him. Spriggs meditated for some
minutes, and at last he spoke.