Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1889-11-30
Mr.. NELSON'S WILL.
BY n. RIDER

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hind, who wore upon his countenancc the
very sweetest and most infantile smile,
that Eustace had ever seen. breaking in
rather hastily, as though he was afraid
that his learned leader was showing too
much Of his hand, II think that the case
is one that, looked at from either point Of
view, will bear settlement better than
fghting-eh, Fiddlestick? But then, I'm
a man of peace" and again he smiled most
seductively at James.
What are your terms'" asked James.
The eminent counsel on the front bench
turned round and stuck their wigs togeth-
er like a lot Of white-headed crows over a
bone, and the slightly less eminent but
still highly distinguished juniors on the
second bench craned forward 10 listen.
They are going 10 settle it," Eustace
heard the barrister who was reporting for
the Times say 70 his long assistant.
They always do settle every case Of
public interest" grunted the long man in
answer; I'VE sha'n't see Miss Smithers'
shoulders now. Well, 1 shall get an in
PRODUCTION to her, and ask her to show
them "a me. / take a great interest in tat
tooing."
Meanwhile, Fiddlestick. Q. c., had been
writing something on q strip Of paper and
handed to his leader, the AttOrney-Gener-
al. (who, Mr.. James Short saw with re-
spectful admiration, had 800 guineas
marked upon his brief.l He nodded care
lessly. and passed it on TO his junior, who
gave It in turn TO the Solicitor-G General
n Playford, q. G. When IL had gone
the rounds, Mr.. News took it and showed
IL TO his two privileged clients. Messrs.
Addison and Roscoe. Addison was q
choieric-Iooking, fat-faced a Roscoe
was sallow, and had a thin, ~straggly, black
beard. When they looked at it, Addison
groaned lercely as a wounded bull and
Roscoe sighed, and that sigh and groan
told Augusta-who, womanlike. had all
her wits about her. and was watching
every act Of the drama-mnre than il was
meant to do. Ii told her that these gen.
tlemen were doing something that they
did not like, and doing il because they
evidently believed that they had no other
course opeu 20 them. Then Mr.. News
gave the paper 10 Mr.. John Short, who
glanced nj it and handed il on 20 bis broth
err, and Eustace read ii over his shoulder.
Ii was very short, and ran thus: Terms
offered: Half the property, and defendants
pay all costs
well, Short" said Eustace, what do
you say'-shall we take it;'
James removed his wig and thoughtful
" rubbed his bald head. ut is a very diff
icult position to be put in he said. "Of
course. a million is a large sum Of money;
but there are two at stake. My " view
Is that we had better fight the case out;
though, of course, this is a certainty, and
the result Of the case is not"
Il am inclined 70 settle said Eustace;
mot because of the case, for ! believe in
IL, but because OF A~ugasta-of Miss Smith
ers: you see she will have 10 show that tat
tocing again, and that sort OF thing is very
unpleasant for a lady"
'Oh, as to that said James, ioftify, "at
present she mus remember that she is not
a lady, but "a legal document, However,
let us ask her"
Now. Augusta, what shall we dos' said
Eustace, when he had explained the offer
"you see, II we take the offer, you will be
spared a very disagreeable time. You
must make up your mind quick, for the
Judge will be here in n minute"
"Oh, never mind me-" said Augusta
quickly: Il am used 20 disasrecables No
NtA= Il % = Al ~ "a ANIN va NAt@N 49,
Mr.. Addison. Just now lie positively
glared at me and ground his teeth. and h'
would not do that if he thought that hi
was going to win. No, dear; / shall fight
it out now"
Very well" said Eustace. and lie tool
apeacil and wrote, Declined with thanks
at the foot of the offer.
Just al that moment there came { dul
roar from the passage beyond. The door
of the court were being opened. AnOthe
second, and in rushed and struggled 1
hideous sea Of barristers. Heavens, how
they fought and kicked, A maddenet
herd of buffaloes could not have behave,
more desperately. On rushed the white
wave of wigs, bearing the strong men wh'
held the door before them like wreckag'
: on a breaker. On they came, and in forty
seconds the court was crowded 10 its Ut
most capacity and still there were hun
dreds of white-wigged men behind. Il
was a fearful scene.
Good gracious thought Augusta 70
herself, 'how on earth do they al get a
hvingi" a question that many of then
would have found il hard enough 10 an
swer.
Then suddenly an old gentleman neal
her, whom she discovered To be the usher.
jumped up and called silence in command
ing accents, without producing much eff
feet, however, or the palpitating mass OF
humanity in front. Then in came the Of
ficers of the Court; and "A moment after
ward everybody rose as the Judge entered
and looking, as Augusta thought. yerl
cross when he saw the crowded condition
of the court, bowed TO the Bar and took
his seat.
CHAPTER xx.-JANEs BlRAKs DOWN.
The Registrar. not Augustus dear Doc
tor Probate, but another registrar, rose
and called on the case OF Meeson VS.. Addi
son and Another, and in an instant the
wretched James Short was on his legs &c
open the case.
"what is that gen.leman's names" Al
gusta heard the Judge ask of the clerk
after making two or three frantic effort
to attract his attention-a proceeding thai
tho position of his desk rendered very diff
ficult.
'Short, my Lord"
"Do You appear alone for the plaintiff
MI. Shorts" asked the Judge, with EN-
phasis.
"Yes. my Lord; I do" answered James
>u1 "a ha said IN every pair Of ewes I'm tina