Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1890-05-24

see here You are a brother of Charles
Preston.
"Of course / am. or why did he give
rHe money for fifteen years.
Whats the use of our arguing that
point? 1t makes no difference between
us whether it was because you were his
brother, which he denied. or because you
had a secret of his worth paying for
For all we want, you are.
well, was, tell you.
"Never mind: we can establish, by put
ting your papers and my papers together,
that Charles Pierson was an assumed
name. the reason why he changed it;
that YOU were mis- brother; that he had
no relations other than you. and no de-
scendants: and establishing these facts
we can take his property Now, don't
dare take the first step before the surro-
gate until | have seen you have got the
story so straight you won't stumble
when you go on the stand.
"Oh, I'll get it, don't you fear.
sWeIl, do fear Then there is the
story of your own life. have written
that, too.
Parker laughed an ugly laugh.
ut was tough job to reconstruct the
twenty years of your life you spent be-
tween four stone walls.
flush" said the other old man. "for
heavens sake don't talk of that.
"Well, you served your time out; they
can't take you for it again. 1t was
rocky path that of your life, old man,
and have smoothed it very inge-
niously."
keep quiet" cried the old man, with
an oath. "or I'll kick the whole thing
overheard"
This threat had a subduing effect upon
Parker.
"Well, don't get huffv." he said; "Pll
b. quiet. But you must be pat with it
when you're called upon for it. don't
think you will be, for | doubt II there
will be a contestant. But the lawyer
whom shall employ may want to know
your story"
"Why don't you do it YOURSELF You
are lawyer.
"There are certain circumstances con-
nected with my professional career
which make it advisable for me to keep
out of court But | cant idle here. I've
got great deal to do today. Here are
some papers want you to sign"
"What are they?'
"The agreements and contracts Of
transfer to me of one-haf of the proper
ty when you get it.
"Well, am entitled to the whole"
'Of course you are, you old ass; but
if you don't give me half you won't
have any part of it. Sign, or you won't
get smell of it; and besides, I'll stop
your allowance.
This was a dire threat, and meant
stoppage of liquor, SO he signed with
trembling hand:
James Preston"
Nov. wait moment" said Parker.
He went to the window and beckoned
to a man who stood upon the opposite
side of the street
In moment more the person entered
the room.
you are notary public; | want you
to verify these signatures.
1t was a ceremony soon accomplished,
and Parker. placing the papers in his
pocket. went Off. after leaving ten dol
lar bill with the old man Preston.
The Shadow remained long enough at
his post to hear Preston say:
"Well, there's something crooked
about this, but don't know what. Any
how, | know | am the brother of the
man they call Charles Pierson. can't
figure it out, but can go and get
drink"
AS the old man went out, the Shadow
stepped down lightly and passed into his
room
81 don't know that the matter has any
bearing on that which the Boss has in
hand guess not. But will tell him
anyhow"
When he did tell Tom, that astute
young gentleman said:
mo, do not believe it has any imme-
date bearing on our matter 1t has this
effect, however, and that is, that we
won't worry much about Parker's par
ticipation in the matter. for he is not
pursuing the line we are and has no con-
nection with it. What he is in for is
clear enough He will make blunder
of it, for he don't know it all. and he'll
get in mess before he is aware of it.
I'll drop hint to the surrogate to go
slow on any application made on behalf
of James Preston. But. | say, old Par
ker may be a valuable man to follow up
on the line of Pierson. He evidently
knows more about him than we do. 1t
will be worth while to cultivate him
when we get the chance, but just now
there are other things to be done"
CHAPTER XVI.