Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1883-12-21

"you will be good enough to leave this
house within an hour. ! won't stand any
more Of your insolencc, and it was only
out of consideration for the poor lady
who has gone that have borNe with you
so long | will pay you months wages,
and j warn you not to attempt TO make
off with any of my property"
1.-TWO can play at that game" snarled
the butler, fumbling in his pocket, and
producing a document. "Supposc this
house and everything in it was my pro-
perty, and | was to ask yDU to clear out ;
what would you say then?'
at is a perfectly idle proposition, said
MIR. Flintshire, loftily. "What is that
paper q
at is copy of the old lady's will. My
lawyer has the original
"1s it dated since my marriage?' in
quired Mr.. Flintshire, with IL shade OF
anxiety.
ooh, no long before answered tho
butler, with grin.
"Then it is not worth the paper it is
written on, " said Mr.. Fhntshire, waving
aside the document 81 don't want to see
it. 1t is of no consequence whatever"
81 shouldn't be too sure if | was you,"
returned Numb, maliciously, as he put
the paper back in his pocket. II fancy
you will laugh the other side of your
mouth before the day is out.
Get out of my sight this instant ~
cried Mr.. Flintshire, losing his temper.
"If you have not left the house within
an hour shall send for the police"
The butler appeared quite unmoved by
this threat, and disappeared with perfect
sclf-possession. His confident air troubled
Mr.. Flintshire a little, though he hardly
knew why. 1t was obvious that the man
did not believe that the will he spoke of
was void, but that was only his ignorance.
Nevertheless Mr.. Flintshire resolved to
call Immediately upon the firm of soici-
tors who had been IN the habit of acting
MS his wifes legal advisers, and accord
ingly he hailed passing hanson, and
drove to Lincoln's 1nn.
"Are you Mr.. Flintshire ?" inquired
the senior member OF the iirm-''the gen.
tleman who recently married our late
client, Mrs.-Mrs. Mumblewool?'
"Yes, answered Mr.. Flintshlre, struck
with uneasiness at something strange in
the lawyers tone and manner. Possibly
you were unaware Of our marriage"
81 never heard OF it till today. I re-
gret to say have to make most extraor-
binary and painful communication to
you, said the lawyer, speaking as though
he could hardly realize what lie was about
to say II have had Mr.. Numb here this
morning, and it was from him | heard of
your-your marriage.
Good heavens, what is the matter -
gasped Mr.. Flintshirc, beside himself
with nervous apprehension.
81 really hardly like t) break the news
to you, but the fact is our lute client was
secretly married to this Mr.. Numb some
years ago. | had no idea OF il till this
morning. 1t is the most extraordinary
state of things / ever heard OF Ill my
life,' said the lawyer, leaning back il his
chair.
'It's a lie-a base, infamous conspira-
cy !" cried Mr. Flintshire, foaming at the
mouth.
"Tm afraid it is true. In TACT, since
seeing Mr.. Numb / have inspected the
marriage registry at Somerset House"
said the lawyer. "The most startling
thing is that this old lady, whose mean-
ness amounted to a manin, deliberately
committed bigamy with he, husbands
concurrence in order to save money"
'If it is true he shall hang for it . He
shall refund every farthiug and pay me
damages. I will inform against him be-
fore the nearest magistrate cried Mr.
Flintshire gesticulating wildly, and look
ing very odd and excited,
He did not carry out any of these
threats, however, for the emelancholy reas-
on that he straightway went raving mad.