The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1886-07-17
FAIRVIEW;
One September
Night.
By JAMES FRANKLIN Fits.
TCoNTISUED /
OR,G

CONTINUED.
Yes, / mean it, Doctor. The fact is
the old fellow has never really liked me
My mother and / have played our card
adroitly for some years, and stood between
the old man and all who could give hin
mischieyous hints; but we have long seeI
that he is impatient of our control. Tn
fact is, he tolerates us because he has II,
other relative about him; but if he wer,
ten years younger, with the feeling that
believe he has toward US, should trembl,
for our control over him. l should b.
afraid that he would send US packing. Will
about i've hundred dollars between US.
But what could he do2 You say your.
self that he has no other living relative.
Listen. Years ago his only child, ny
mothers niece, married very far below
her. and without his consent He was fu
rious with rage, and refused to see her o.
her husband; he never has seen either o.
them since. Both died IN a distant city;
learned of it and took care that he had the
news. 1t seemed to affect him very little
then, but that was years ago. Now that ht
IS all broken up. he speaks of Eunice-hi.
dead child-very often. That he mention,
her SO much would of itself show that he
thinks little Of me; but what dread is tina
he may attempt some foolishness like the
giving away of his property to somebody
anybody, besides your humble servant an6
his mother.
Are you really afraid of this, Clayton?'
So much so that | have adopted one
simple precaution, and that is, that at al
times, day and night, either my mother Of
myself is with him. We can manage the
servants well enough, all except the ole
gardener, Hugh Staples, and his wife; anC
they give us a great deal of trouble. Thei
have been in the family many years. anC
like their own way, and all we can do can
not sometimes prevent one of them getting
into the sick-room. Yesterday heard my
uncle mumbling something speaks lit
tie, and with great difficulty, and | declare
to you it almost made the hair stand cree
on my head to catch the name, Warner"
What the lawyer"
q haven't a doubt that was what he
meant You can Judge, then, how l feel
The ground seems shaking under my feet
] am dreadng every day lest the old fellow
should succeed in making Staples or his
wife understand that he wants that little
scamp of a lawyer up there; if he should
either one of them would run their legs of
10 get him. And Just fancy Wilson War.
ner, Esquire. sitting by the bedside of my
uncle, drafting Will and testament giving
all his property to some charitable institu.
ton, excepting a miserable legacy to my
mother and myself, standing there gritling
our teeth with impOtent rage, while ole
Staples and his wife wait in delight to be
Witnesses and they getting fat slice
Hang it, doctor, the thing puts me in a
fever of anxiety. I'm sick and tired OF
confinement in that odious sick-room, anC
it's time | was back there now, to relieve
mother If you didn't plainly understand
what | said n moment ago about shaking
the tree, you probably understand now.
BY --, sir. I'm Just about ready for it
You've got some quick medicine in some
of your Walls up there that will end this
farce; and | say"
The voice here declined to a whisper.
and for several minutes l heard no more,
and fancied that the two were connecting
their helhsh plot of assassination in fur
tive whispers. Horror struck at the devel-
opments | had heard, and at the situation
III which | was so Unexpectedly placed,
sat perfectly still, lest attention should be
drawn to myself by a movement of my
body or by the creaklng of a chair. Pres
emily the voices began again:
Very WELL Doctor. I'll do as you say,
and this shall be a last resort. But l tell
You plainly | cant stand this pressure much
longer; and something is likely to occur
any day to precipiiate matters. When
act, II will be quickly, and | shall make nc
halfway business of it. But say-youl
visitor is outside, and you know what we've
been talking about We haven't talked toe
loud have we2"
oh, mol still it's well to be safe. Ii
peek out and see what he's up to. :"
Like the flash of lightning from the skies
did my brain act in that critical instant ]
reached to the table, without rising, and
snatehed book. | opened it and bent nv
eyes upon it. There was no notes.-the
door did not creak; butt knew that stern
eyes were watching me- | never raised my
own eyes. In a moment the conversation
was again heard:
No; he's heard nothing porting over a
book
Well, good-by for the present You'll
hear from me shortly; and IN the mean
time visit the Old fellow often. Whenever
there is change for the worse, ] want tc
know il at once Here hundred dollars. >
There was sharp ring as of coin on q
marble topped table.
! say, Clayton, make it two hundred
had bad luck at cards last night, and was
skinned Of all YOU gave me last week"
Not the whole five hundred?'
Indeed every cent oft, my dear fellow
You're a sad dog Doctor, with your con-
founded gambling. 1t hurts your moral
character, also your pocket; there's the
other hundred
\ loud gut1aw, as though the speaker
was tlckled with the idea of Doctor Beau
mont having moral character closed the
interview. Ny own struggle now began.
Here were two men who had been but a
moment before coolly specializing upon Sc
cret murder, and discussing the policy of
it; now | must meet one of them and talk
with him, without betraying in my face OF
voice the horror and disgust that filled me.
Quietly nerved myself.