The Warner weekly sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1885, 1883-12-07

mil - . ~ " &N
ments which had suffered when the old
lady held the purse were no longer suf-
ficient. His wife was TIE first to pro.
pose q more liberal table, and Mr.. Numb
manifested a perfectly fiendish ingenu-
ity in suggesting costly little dishes for
her. In a word, the housekeeping ex.
pense increased To an enormous extent,
and all attempts at introducing economy
proved unavailing.
The last but not the least of the bride.
groom's troubles was the presence in
the house OF Numb, the butler. So long
as this man remained, MIR. Flintshire
felt that he was only the nominal head
Of tb Q establishment. Mr.. Numb did
precisely as he pleased, and his resi-
dence with his mistress showed no
signs of diminishing. Yet Mr.. Flintshire
did not see his way to getting rid ofhim.
If he attempted to exercise his authori-
ty, his wife might be driven to tale
some desperate course. He ventured
on one occasion to hint that Numb's
services mig4t with advantage be dis
pensed with, but the suggestion called
forth such a torrent of reproaches and
~inveutives, that Mr.. FlintshIre trembled
at his temerity. Numb stayed on, and
haunted him like a veritable Old Man OF
the Sea, drawing high wages, increasing
the weekly bills, and, what was tar
worse, enjoying the larger share of his
wife's confidence.
The one bright spot in the midst OF
Mr.. Flintshire's tribulAtion was that his
wife evinced no desire to make a will.
lie therefore felt toleraply secure about
The future, which was a great consola-
ton to hira. Nevertheless
a year of this anxious
life 80 undermined his const tuition, that
in all probability another twelvemon,h
would have either killed him or rem
dered him hopele sly imbecila. Fortu-
nately for him, these dreadful contin-
gencies were averted by the sudden
death of the old lady, who expired
in her sleep without having given the
slightest indication of her approaching
end.
The sad event had much the same eff
feet upon the bereaved husband as q
summer shower has upon a parched gar
den. 1t revived him instantly and
allied forth all his former energy and
vitality. His first step vas to make a
minute and careful examination of tue
deceased lady's effects, without, as he
had anticipated, finding a trace of a will.
The %precaution was hardly necessary,
tor he was certain she had not made
one, but the search satisfied his mind,
and he lost no time in venting his re-
vengeful feelings against Mr.. Numb. He
nursed his resentment until the day of
tae funeral, but Immediately upon his
return from following his wife to the
grave he summoned the butler to his
presence. The man shuffled to the
with a hang dog look, as though he anti
'cipated his fate but Mr.. Fiintshire re-
marked that his expression was insolent
and defiant.
Numb" SAID his master, sharply;
"you will be good enough to leave this
house within an hour. / won't stand
any more of your insolence, and it was
only only out of consideration for the
poor lady who has gone that | have
borne with you so long. / will pay you
a months wages, and | warn you not to
attempt to make off with any of my
property"
Two can play at that game" snarled
the butler, fumbling in his pocket, aid
producing a document. Suppose this
house and everything in it was my prop
erty, and / was to ask you to clear out;
what would you say then?"
1t is a perfectly idle propositlon,"
slid MI. Fiintshire, lottily. What is
that paper"
cit is a copy of the old lady's will.
NV lawyer has the original"
lis it dated since my marriage?" In
Quired Mr.. Flintshire, with a shade Of
anxiety.
Goa, nol-long before" answered the
butler, with a grin.
GgDID- - 80 - "a rynrfIs fla noyann - 80
written on" said Mr., Flintshirc, waving
see it. 1t is of no consequence what
ever"
ST shouldn't be too sure if / were
you," returned Numb, maliciously, as
he put the paper back liz his pocket.
IL fancy you will laugh the other side
of your mouth before the day is out"
"Got out of my sight this lnstantl"
cried MI. Flintshire, losing his temper.
eff you have not left the house within
an hour. | shall send for the police"
The butler appeared quite unmoved
by his threat, and disappeared with
perfect self-possession. His confidant
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. Neverthe-
less Mr.. Flintshire resolved to call i'm
mediately upon the firm of solicitors
who bad been in the habit of acting as
his wires legal advisers, and according G.
ly he hailed q passing hanson, and
drove to Lincoln's Inn.
fare you Mr. Flintshire?p inquired
the senior member of the hrm-"the
gentleman who recently married our
late client, Mrs.-Mrs. Mumblewood?"
Eyes" answered Mr.. Flintshire, struck
with uneasiness at something strange in
the lawyers tone and manner Pos
sibly you are aware Of our marriage"
Il never heard of it till to-day. / re-
gret to say / have to make almost extra
ordinary and painful communication to
vou," said the lawyer, speaking as
though he could hardly realize what he
about to say. 81 have had Mr..
G