Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1886-01-22

rOOfnS."
began TO get annoyed myself, for there
was evidently some underlying motive OF
advantage to himself in his persistence. Any
shadowy belief | had ever entertained as to a
benevolent idea had long ago vanished and
left not wrack behind. told him promptly
and briefly that would not do as he desired.
and that did not care to enter any further
upon the matter. He again made an "un-
ruly exit" This time he nearly swept away
in his violence young man who was enter
ing through the swing door to get some
papers stamped. The youth demonstrated
with that satirical force which is Characters
tic of the lawyers clerk. Mr.. GRADER was
too enraged to stop and listen, and the young
man entered the room grumbling and look
ing back at him.
sold brute!" he said ~ know him. Next
time | see him I'll advise him to buy some
manners with his new fortune"
His new fortune" asked naturally in
terested about him. "How do you mean,
WigleyN
"Lucky old brute l wish had a share OF
it, / heard all about it at Doctors commons
yesterday"
"Why, is it anything stranger"
"Strange! Why, it's no name for it, What
do you think of an old flint like that having
a miser for a tenant who goes and dies and
leaves him all he's got-e40, 900 or $50, 600
in will, providing a child of his own doesn't
turn up to claim it,
ale died recently, then"
"About three or four weeks ago. Old Grad
der only found the will few days ago. He
had been finding pots of gold and bundles
of notes all over the house, and it was like
drawing a tooth from him to make an in
| h,a nod TO Il "a ola, Of
the will. The old thief would have pocketed
all the coin without a word, only for the
will, and he was afraid he'd risk everything
| if he did not do it legally"
you know all about it." l remarked,
wishing to hear more.
II should think did asked Cripps, OF
Bogg az Snagley, about it this morning
They're working for him, and Grips says
that if they had not threatened him with the
public prosecutor he would not have given
even list of the money he found"
began now to understand the motive Of
Mr. Graders anxiety to aid in working at
my house. | said to Wigey:
This is very interesting. Do you know
that he is my landlord"
"Your landlord Well, wish you JOY to
him. | must be off now. | have to go
down to Doctors commons before | o'clock.
Would you mind getting these stamped for
me- and keeping them till come back"
with pleasure" | said, "and look here!
| Would you mind looking out that will Of
| Graders, and make a mem. of it for me,
if it isn't too long. I'll go / shilling on it,"
And handed him the coin.
Later in the day he came back and
handed me paper
1T isn't long, he said ave might put
limit 40 lie hot
That is an exact copy. 1t is duly witnessed,
and all regular"
took the paper and put it in my pocket,
for | was very busy at the time.
After supper that evening | got note
from Grader, saying that he had got an
offer from another person who had been in
treaty with him before | had taken the
house, wanting to have it, and Offering to
pay a premium. He is an old friend"
wrote Grader, and | would like to oblige
him; SO if you choose | will take back the
lease and hand over what he offers to pay"
This was .e25, altered from f20
l then told Mary of his having called on
me in the Office and of the subsequent reve-
lation of the will. She was much impressed.
ooh, Bob, she said, sit is a real romance"
With a womans quickness of perception,
she guessed at once our landlords reason for
wishing To help US.
why, he thinks the old mser has hidden
money here, and wants to look for it. Bob
this excitedly, this house may be full of
money; the walls round us may hold IA fort
une. Let us begin to look at once.'
| was as much excited as she was, but
felt that some one must keep cool, so | said :
Mary, dear there may be nothing; but
even if there is, it does not belong to us
"Why not" she asked.
because it is all arranged i'll the will"
answered; and, 10y and by, have a men,
of it here, and took from my pocket the
paper which Wigley had given me
With intense interest we read it together,
Mary holding me tightly by the arm. 1t
certainly was short. 1t ran as follows:
-, Little Butler street, s. W, London-1
hereby leave to my child or children, if
have any living, all own, and in default of
such everything is to go to John GRADER,
my landlord who is to make an inventory
of all he can find in the two houses occupied
by me, this house and : Lampeter street, s..
W. London, and to lodge all money and Sc
curities i'll Coutt, bank. If my children or
any of them do not claim in writing by an
application before justice OF the peace
within one calendar month from my de-
ceas., they are to forfeit all ri-nts lgnor-
ance of my death or their relationship to be
no reason for noncompliance. Lest there he
any doub; of my Intentions hereby declare
that | wish in such default Of my natural
heirs John Grader aforesaid to have my
property because he is the hardest hearted
man ever knew, and will not fool it away
in charities or otherwise but keep it to-
gether If any fooling is to be done, it will
be by my own.
"(Signedl GILES ARMER, Master Mariner,
formerly of Whithy."
When | came near the end, Mary, who had
been looking down the paper in advance of
my reading, cried out: Giles Armer, Why,
that was my father
Good God" | cried out, as | Jumped to
my feet.
"Yes," she said, excitedly: didn't you see
me sign Mary Armer at the registry We
never spoke Of the name, because b, had a
quarrel with mother and deserted her, and
after seven years she married my stopfather
and was always called by his name.
And was he from Whitby,' I asked. |