Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1889-01-03
? EvANESCENT INK.
Mr.. Ambrose Pock's Vaccinations
Prove His Defeat.

Prove His Defeat.
Mr.. Ambrose Peck sat before his
desk In the law Office of Steele q
Snellings, buried in profound thought.
IL was after Office hours, and there was
no one present to disturb him. With
his feet on the desk and his elbows on
the arms OF his chair, he slowly pulled
at his sandy mustache. while his keen
gray eyes fixed themselves uncon-
sciously upon spider which was spin.
ming web across a dusty pigeon-hole
above the desk.
Hang itl' he muttered impatiently
10 himself, II wish that could see
my way clear"
Mr.. Peck was thinking OF his aunt.
the widow Of his great-uncle, Captain
Jollifer. She was eighty years old
and lived in the old Jollifer mansion,
which had once been the pride Of the
village on whose outskirts IL had stood.
But the village had in time grown into
town, which slowly extending itself,
anaconda-like, had swallowed up the
big brick mansion and the wide lawn
and garden, until they now formed an
entire square in the heart of the cor
poration. This real estate alone.
which, as Mr. Peck reflected. could be
laid off in beautiful building lots. was
in itself fortune; though the old lady
had other property, Of which Ambrose
well knew-the firm Of which he was
head clerk being Mrs. Jollifer's law
yers. And how 10 get possession in
strictly legal way OF all this property
was the problem which was now so
profoundly exercising Mr.. Peck's men
tai acumen.
He knew that Mrs. Jollifer had but
few distant relatives, and that these
she cordially hated. Indeed the
amiable old lady had often been heard
TO declare in a truly Spartan spirit that
rather than leave any OF her property
20 "those people," she would burn
down the house over her own head
As security against either alterna-
tive, she took care TO have always on
hand. locked away in her private desk,
a last will and testament, written with
her own hand and duly signed and
sealed. or the contents OF this docu-
ment she made no secret, having al
ways openly ayowed her intention OF
leaving her property to either her late
husbands granddaughter, Ambrose
Peck, or 10 certain Miss Melissa
Judd, a distant relative, who had for a
score OF years lived with her in the
capacity OF housekeeper, nurse and
confidential companion. But the
trouble was that Mrs. Jollifer, being a
lady ofvery uncertain mind and temper.
should every now and then have a
falling out" with one or the other OF
her proposed heirs. in which case she
would invariably destroy the last
made will and write a new one, cutting
of the offender with legacy of one
hundred dollars, and bequeathing the
rest OF her possessions to the other
with the exception OF an annuity 10 her
pet dog, Fido. In consequence OF this
popularity Mr. Peck was continually
haunted by the fear of his respected
relative being suddenly called from
this sublunary sphere while one OF the
wills adverse TO himself happened 10
be in forcei and he naturally felt il his
duty 10 form some plan in defense of
his own interests.
Presently Mr. Peck, having duly re-
flected, began TO talk 20 himself in a
slow and emphatic tone.
"Yes-it's the only way, so far as |
can see. OF course she'll accept me III
propose. Then. II she turns out TO be the
heir, I'll marry her (this with an invol-
untary grimace) while, should the final
will be proven in my fayor-well, need
not consider myself bound by the en-
gagement There is Alice-pretty
Alice-and, by the by. should there
happen by chance 10 be no will at all,
Alice will be heir, or, at least, her
mother will, being the nearest Of kin. |
YOs, yes--I could throw over the old
cat and marry Alice. But stayi how
do know but that Melissa, II She be-
comes the heir, may take II into her
head 10 throw me overp Old maids,
whsH they como into possession of
property, generally prefer 20 keep il
10 themselves, and Melissa Judd is as
cunning and as avaricious as a mag
pie II will be necessary TO get a
surc grip on her. A secret marriageP
No, no. That would be giving her grip
on me Breach-of-promise suit? Ahal
There must be letters-letters 10 pro
dnce in evidence. Hal hal III have her
there"
Here Mr. Peck smiled exultanty,
and brinkly rubbed his hands together.
But the next moment the smile van
ishod.
Here, agaipl She will have my lot
lors AZ well. and could bring a suit as
easily as l. I've heard her say that
she never destroys letter, as she gets
70 few How shall hnd way out Of
'' ~ y