The Press., 1894-04-19
A Search For an HeireSS.
By ROB F. WALSH.
[Copyright, 1894, by American Press Associa-
 ton. fu PTTR I

[Copyright, 1894, by American Press Associa-
 ton.
 CHAPTER 1.
 Life was becoming unbearable. Here was, at 25, senior wrangler of Har- yard, an excellent all round athlete, thorough musician, possessed of oft ad- mired physical beauty and admittedly "a very decent kind of fellow, but minus the wherewith-th the yellow metal ito enjoy these gifts and accomplish ments. From some way back relative had inherited the munifcent income of $500 per annum. And here I am, with a chest full of rejected manuscripts literary failure, with not ghost of an idea how to pay my next month s board bill. And unused:
 I wish I hadn't gone to school. Then would not have become ambi- tious. believe I would have made an excellent blacksmith. There is, to me, a positive glory in watching the rigid metal yield to the blows of the sledge and the sparks fly around in geometric regularity, but with spiteful hiss, as if resenting the onslaught of the smith. In that there is manful exercise, room for some play of inventive genius, too if you have any-and income. And what exquisite rest, when after hard days work, banging and pounding and hammering that ugly, unyielding mass of metal into something shapely and pleasant to look upon, one sinks into dreamless sleep!
 Ah, me! But who the deuce have we here? Ye gods! letter-the first l have received in six long months. But I dare say it is from my tailor. The last I received was also from him. Yes, it looks like his caligraphy; I shall read it for dessert. Now, if my ''poor but re- spectable parents s''-God rest them had not been seized with the belief that had genius, they would have appren- ticed me to a blacksmith or to some such respectable tradesman. But, no. l was to become great man, shining light of some kind or other, and conse- quently the money, which would prob ably have prolonged their lives, and after their deaths have rendered my lot | less unbearable, was pocketed by the tutors and college professors, whose | teachings have unftted me for the bat tie of life.
 Confound itl We'll, anyhow have to | thank them for an excellent constitu- | tion.
 | I dare say shall have to do some | thing-education won't burthen me much. Among strangers descend to plain, everyday labor. This is undoubt- | edly the irony of fate." Yes, I was particularly unhappy on the day when my injured feelings expressed them selves as above. I was reduced to soli- tary dollar, and my quarterly stipend would not be due for 10 days. There seemed to be nothing for it but to sell my books and few old trinkets, and adding the proceeds to the $125 which my lawyer would send me on the 18th bury myself in some western goldfelds or in some other-as then put it-God forsaken part of the globe. But the idea of rushing off to parts unknown without settling with my obliging and indulgent tailor seemed to be unworthy of member of the house of Paton-so famous for its polony and other delicate brands of sausage meat. Therefore I decided then and there to open the letter, discover how much owed him and give him draft on my lawyer for thc amount.
 It was the old story of 'honesty meets it's reward,' for when I opened that | tailor's letter, 10, and behold! there fell | from it check. I didn't throw my hat l in the air or do any of those other silly things which men are reported to do upon being pleasantly surprised. No, was simply astounded- very astound- ed that sat upon my hat, which had lain on the chair, and didn't notice it. And positively gasped:
 "A check from my tailor! What in | the name of goodness does he mean! The man must have gone mad But, no, he hadn't. After a littl | while I investigated that precious envel- l ope further, and discovered that the check had not come from the tailor. It was from lawyer named Dustie, and his letter was such thunderbolt that it crushed to atoms my recent dreams | of the heavenly delights of the gold fields. Here is true copy of the docu, ment:
 | MT. Ebenezer Patton:
 | DEAR SIR-In accordance with the will of the late Miss Sara Cullom I herewith inclose you l nay check for $500 to enable you to come to Bos. | ton at once. You will please make no unneces | sary delay about coming to this office upon your arrival in the city, as failure to appear be- | fore o'clock on Thursday next might preclude the possibility of your securing any portion o1 | the said Miss Cullom's millions. Your obedient | servant, HOSEA DUSTIE. l didn pause to consider whether the entire story was hoax-other people might have been skeptical. But, al though had never heard of such per. son as Miss Sara Cullom, I instantly seized that check, rushed to the bank, l got 25 crisp $20 notes in exchange and was on board special train as fast as it could be got ready. The only things | ] could remember wel that millions were waiting for me. and that I had but two hours to cover 50 miles and reach MT. Dustie's office.
 The minutes flew by like seconds as %n,oS 701 II E--I