Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1892-09-16
lDAM uoLCoMB's WILL.

Nver MN. he naQ no cnllQren, lOr
he had led a single life, induced, so
T. was said, though nothing was GER
tainlY known, bv an early disappoint-
rcnt, which had warped his nature
anu made him lead a solitary and sell
tisi life, given up to Mammon alone.
Adam Holcomb vas dead, and yet
no one knew what disposition he had
made OF his money.
Three days after the funeral, the
next-of-kin and possible heirs were
collected in the Office of the lawyer,
Gray's Inn, who was the custodian Of
the will and private papers Of the de-
ceased. They were few in number,
for the family vas not a large M
There were but three, and these three
may be briefly described.
First came James HOlcomb, q
nephew of the deceased vain, sell
fish, worldly man of about forty years
OF age, all his thoughts centered upon
himself and his own family, who had
never been known tn give q penny for
any charitable purpose.
Next came Harry Holcomb, q cousin
Of the last-named, and about the
same age. He was tall, thin, and
angular. He belonged to the legal
profession, in which he had managed
to pick up considerable money, though
his reputation was none of the best.
He vas considered tricky, willing to
undertake any cause, however disre-
putable, for money. He was married
and had a family, for whom he pro-
vided in a grudging manner. He,
too, had nourished sanguine hopes Of
finding himself much better off after
his uncle's death.
Last came q young man. presenting
a strong contrast to the other two.
He was of light complexion, brown
hair, clear blue eyes. and an .ttrac-
tive face. He was bsTelv ~.wvEty.avc
years of age, ve3~ yiHsa.r t:uSocd,
and with q n.ySSesr u;as.ncr which pre-
possessed one IN his favor. He was
the son of DC Adam Holcomb's
youngest sister, who had married a
poor country curate, and their son,
Alfred Graves, was studying medi-
cine. for which he had a decided pre-
objection. But he had been cramped.
by narrow means, and was even now
teaching in a village school, hoping
to obtain enough by this means to
pay for his college course. He had
applied to each of his two relatives
present for a small temporary loan to
help him complete his studies, but
without effect. He had been CURLY
refused by both.
He had come here to-day as a mat
ter of form, without the slightest ex-
pectation of benefting by the will Of
his late relative. He had known him
but Slightly, and never received any
encouragement upon which ne could
build a hope. Yet if he could but re-
ceive a legacy OF yer five hundred
dollars, he thought, 1T would help
him materially. That was the amount
which he had vainly sought to borrow
Of the merchant and lawyer, now pres
ent with him at the reading Of Adam
Holcomb's last will and testament.
The merchant and lawyer conversed
while waiting for Lawyer Brief.
"Have you any idea, cousin, how
much the old gentleman had accumu-
lated?" asked James Holcomb.
ii have heard it estimated at two
hundred and fifty thousand dollars, "
was the reply.
"That is a large sum. I hope he
has not been unjust enough to sQuan-
der any of it on charitable societies"
81 hope not. Thatwould be a great
piece Of injustice to his relations"
"He never dropped anything to you
about the disposition he intended to
make of his property, did he?:"
mot he! He was a close man,
very" said the other. 81 once tried
to worm something out of him, but
didn't get much satisfaction"
"What did he say?"
"He said that he thought of en-
lowing an asylum for fools and luna
tics, and that l could tell whether l
was likely to be benefited by his so
doing.h
tho! ho!" laughed James, shaking
bis capacious sides; che had you
there, eh?:"-
81 don't see it," said the lawyer.
sourly.
ehe"
sit was a foolish piece Of imperti-
nence. However, everybody knows
what the old man was, andIlet 1t pass.
II II had been any one else I would
have given them as good as they
sent"
.But you we're afraid it would spoil
your chances. eh?"
Gas to that, I have no idea. There
10 no question that We ought to be
Joint heirs"
ssTrue," returned James .That
would give one hundred and twenty.
i've thousand dollars apiece, That
would satisfy me-"
"How about young Graves
chances?" queried the lawyer. glancing
sharply to that part OF the once
where the young man was Quietly
seated.
.'oh, hen got nothing" said the
"---~