The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-02-01
VANTWILLER'S WILL.
How It's Loss Affected a Trusted
Employee.

got up at seven o'clock that
morning. took breakfast at nay
nccustouEed restaurant, and at nine
thirty I was at my Office. BY
Office, 1 mean that of Vantwilier q
Co, very rich banking house repre-
scented in both Berlin and New York.
For five wears ] had been Vantviller's
confidential clerk lie had taken me
into all has. schemes. and often had ac-
auainted me with his most private af-
fairs Ina business way, of course,
mean. He wac just the man To need a
confidential clerk. Old, and every day
i'm danger.of falling III, he was becom-
ing inst little 9orgetfuL Sometimes
ne grew fusSy or impatient and said
things which in two minutes he would
not remember having uttered. The
stress Of business, (which, owing to the
reputation of the firm was enormous,
WAS competently managed by has two
sons, who had the direct command of
Ehe Large number OF clerks employed in.
the banking house. Ny business was
20 attend TO the correspondence of tho
old gentleman. and to answer business
calls In short, ] conducted the bank
er's afraips, and received a most gen
erous salary for the position
As said. I arrived at my Office at
balt-past nine. l entered the door,
crossed over the room and hung my
sack coat on tho nail In a little closet
adjoining the Office. In moment was
into my duBter and busy with the usual
morning correspondence.
At half after ten one of the office boys
came in TO tell ne that Vantwiller, Sr.,
was coming down. ! got down from
nv chair and went over to his desk, a
very elaborate and handsome piece of
furniture. / arranged his papers, fixed
his cfair and turned TO greet the head
of the tirgn as he appeared in the door
way.
Good morning, Mr.. Thurston," said
he. Did you receive my note last
evening?"
az did, SIR" exclaimed. This note
was one he had sent late on the pre-
vious evening. telling me to be at the
Office on the morrow without fail, as he
had most important business to COM
municate to me-
We'll, after have glanced over the
letters please lock the door and have
the keeper instructed TO admit no one
until after twelve o'clock"
This he uttered as he put his hand
into bis pocket and drew forth large
Russia leather pocletbook stuffed with
papers and documents
Il viii call you in fifteen minutes"
he continued. and we viii settle the
business ! mentioned last evening"
returned to my desk, and began to
look over the New York Herald When
the quarter of an hour was up
glanced over to where Vantwiller was
seated He was still busy with his let
terS Presently ne took up piece of
paper and examined 1t most carefully.
The clock hand crept on to the half
hour, and soon forty minutes had
passed. | do actually believe the old
man forgot that such person as l was
in the room. Had it been anyone else
] would have interrupted him by a
pleasant remark or so, but ! knew the
man nav employer was. / had tried it
once before and never forgot the Incl
dent
While he read the document ] gazed
at him in q sort of half-interest-
ed manner, my mind dwelling on III.
fact that no would not live much long
or. His appearance readily spoke
that l began to wonder what DISPOSE
ton he would make OF his wealth. for
he was very rich. and whether there
would be the usual fight over his for
tune. At NV ATTY minutes past eleven,
Mr. Vantwiller laid down his pape-
Mr. Thurston, said he. y have a
very important errsnd for you to per-
form to-day; draw q chair up 10 the
desk. and viii explain"
did as he hade To make a long
story short, the old gentleman had
made his will he acquainted me with
its contents and desired that I convey
it TO his lawyer, on my way home that
afternoon.
mir. Thurston," he concluded, -
hope you appreciate the position ia
which have placed you. You are the
only one who knows the contents Of
that paper save myself and my lawyer.
This document must Of course, Dc kept
absolutely secret until l am dead
Therefore, IN conveying j, - Mr.
Brunson, you viii, OF course, use every
precautiou not 10 lose Il. Il is neces-
gary that he should have it to-day. L