The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1886-11-19
NOT been mentioned i'm the will.

not long IN making himseit very popu.
lar with tho townspeople he could tell
funny story better than any one for
miles around he was always in good
humor always ready to do a favor be
it to help get in the hay before com
ing shower should ruin the crop or give
advice about intricate questions of law.
And he joined in the rustic games play
ed in the evening on the village square,
jumped, "pulled up" with the local
champion and pitched qucits. AL
though he was a highly respected mem
Der of the community, and among his
favorite acquaintauces was Alexander
Stewart, poor farm laborer and old.
The entertaining stranger talked with
Stewart about his connection with the
millionaire and even helped to raise his
hopes somewhat as to possible share
in the estate.
The summer wore away and the au-
tumn followed, just as it does every
year in Vermont, and when the winter
came along the stranger had persuaded
Stewart to 90 to New York for the
purpose of getting something out OF
the Stewart administrators. Just what
arguments he used is not definitely
known, but it has developed that he
was detective of high standing in his
profession, and it follows, as a matter
of course, that if he was detective he
was in somebody's employ.
When Farmer Alexander arrived in
New York he entered upon such life
as he had never dreamed of in his
widest fancies. His presence and OBJ
iect were detected by the newspapers,
aided possibly by the shrewd detective
and he was announced as claimant
for portion Of the Stewart estate.
The publicity given his movements
helped in turning the old mans head.
He was taken to good hotel and his
appetite INDUCED with the best the city
could provide. A fashionable tailor
took his measure and soon presented
him a fine new suit of clothes. One of
the numerous friends presented him a
costly gold watch. The wonders OF
the theatre were exposed to his admir-
ing gaze until his head fairly swan
with excitement. Months passed, and
as he seemed not to accomplish any
thing, he dropped entirely out of news
paper notice. But the pursuit of di-
version still went on. He was hard
case to handle, old Alexander. 1t he
had been inclined to forget the pur-
pose of his erran1 to the metropolis it
would have been essential to the de-
tective's object to remind him of it
but the old man. never forgot it, and
even in the whirl of gay living he held
fast to the idea of achieving settle
ment of some kind in his interest. Many
time the detective found that the
bare mention of the great property was
enough to arouse the farmer from APP
parent stupor to obstinate if not keen
activity. Not the scatter-brain delights
of the unfamiliar wine cup could drive
from his stubborn consciousness the
fact that he had come to New York on
a certain business, and when attempts
were made to come to settlement
while he was incapable of clear thought
he invariably pulled himself together
and refused absolutely to sign any
agreement until the morning.
1t was nearly six months before time
accomplished what the shrewd detec-
tive failed 10. The old claimant grew
tired of the high living to which he
was altogether unaccustomed, and was
impatient to get home. Some kind of
an understanding was effected, aud
Alexander made his way back to Proc
torville. 1t was not long before the
village accepted as a fact that old
"Alec' had compromised his claim for
twenty-five thousand dollars. 1t was
generally allowed that this was pretty
smart in the old man. 1t was no
small thing to go to New York and
wrest so much of fortune from the
hands OF men accustomed to handle
vast sums of money. As Alexander
himself was the authority Tor the state
ment of the terms of the compromise,
it is probable that he himself thought
he had become entitled to the money.
But when his new clothes wore out
and he failed to find himself with
means of renewing them, and was
moreover deserted by his lawyers, he
began to be suspicious of his bargain.
He complained bitterly that he had
been unjustly dealt with but could not
get any assistance in readJusting his
claims. His rumored success had in
duced brother of his to leave his
home in Canada and come to Proctor,
vile, but between them they made no
better progress than when Alexander
was alone.
| Now new face is put on the case
| by one Whelden, tinsmith, of Proc.
torville. He is apparently typical
Yankee. He saw in Alexander's case
a chance for money and he determined
to help the farmer. His first stop was
to get himself appointed as guardian
to Mr.. Stewart, the plea being that the
old man had entered his dotage and
was incapable Of handling his business
affairs properly: This accomplished he
sought legal advice. He did not turn
to the lawyers formerly employed by
Alexander, but went to one who had
not been interested in the affair. He
retained Ex-Judge Curtis and at once
instituted action to recover a large
balance of the $4,000 alleged com
promise money. The basis of thu
action is the alleged failure to carry
out the bargain entered into with ole
Alexander at the end of his winter O
diversion in this city. The question
to be settled is whether there reall,
was such a bargain made by anybody
authorized to act for the administrato
of the estate.
The raid on the millions by the Yer
monter1 is bound to be interesting.
Gold In the State