Walker Lake bulletin. (Hawthorne, Nev.) 1883-1926, 1895-11-27
HIS WINDFALL.

1t was a cold, blustery night In January
Mortimer Sluke sat by the bright fl re tina
blazed In the open CRATE in his own room
the White Swan. his head resting agains
the soft cushions Of the chair. his eyes close,
as IL at peace with all the world Though
a brieilcss and penniless lawyer, Mortime
Sluke was not the man to waste his day!
and impair his digestion by worry and use
less frettinR What If he were u month IL
arrears for his board and lodging9 Mer
before him had been in the same predica
ment and had lived to laugh at the trivia
circumstance over a bottle Of burgundy
Why should not fortune so favor him9
1t was true the innkeeper of the White
Swan had lost much of his affability under
the strain of deferred hopes and unfulfiled
promises of liquidation and there were
times when there was almost touch oil
insolence in mine hosts tones as he re
ferred to uncanceled obligations but time
would reRovcall these petty annoyances--
as 1t had done in numerous cases before
There was Tom Packet Mortimer reime,n
bered his case SO well now, because II was
not unlike his own in respect of debts
Tom had been "a schoolmate and chum of
Neutrality-suspicious. as church mouse and
VseAA nv PioopOOu VI SOObiuS vi III tDc
world for no always would look on the
dark side of life Poor Tom, people had
said, "he Is subject for the almshouse or
the suicides grave, and it seems that
they had not been far wrong, for he was
actually contemplating blowing out his
own brains when he was interrupted in
the proceeding by the arrival of the post
man. who brought letter announcing the
death of distant relative who hal left
him fortune of nearly 81 OO0 coo a week
from that time Tom related the circum
stance at IA costly banquet which he had
given to a few of his old friends
But there was no relative whom Nor
timer Sluke could think of just then who
could be depended upon to die at so oppor
tune time, and even If they should the
absence of wealth among them precluded
all possibility of II rich inheritance coming
to him. And as to clients-well they had
been SO tardy In the past that the possibil-
ity of their arrival seemed so remote us to
afford no basis upon which to build pros
poets for the future What them
AS il in answer to this question there
came soft rap at the door The next mo
ment it was opened and woman entered
IA girl rather--one whom Mortimer had
seen arrive at the Inn that evening and
had afterward met Mt the supper table
She nodded as she came in then advancing
with a graceful STEP threw herself into a
chair before him.
AS Mortimer's eyes dwelt upon her no
saw a slender, supple figure, full of I'M
studied grace and energy; well shaped
head covered with rebellious mass of
burned gold curls; face of more than
passing loveliness, with a suspicion of co
quetry In her glance.
She seemed perfectly at ease under his
scrutinizing gaze, and with cool dclibera-
ton removed her gloves, drew a silver card.
case from q leather hand satchel which she |
carried and extracting delicate bit of |
pasteboard therefrom, tossed it upon the |
table at Mortimer side. He took mp he |
card and read, Florence Dangertleld
Rushwood Hall"
Pardon my abrupt intrusion, she said
In low, well modulated voice. You are
Mr.. Mortimer Sluke, the attorney pre-
sumep''
Mortimer bowed assent, a look OF pleas
ing expectancy upon his face
III you are not otherwise occupied just
now, " she went on, fixing pair of very
large gray eyes upon the young attorney
Il should like to consult you regarding
matter that requires me to have the coun
sci of legal adviser at once
my time is yours l shall be only too
happy to serve you, Miss Dangerfeld, " re
piled Mortimer. in an affable tone, throw
ing degree more of stress on the miss
than the occasion called for
A slight coloring suffused her cheek as
she made graceful inclination of the head,
and the young lawyer noticed with feel
ing akin to qualification that she did not
correct him in the use of the prefix, for
Mortimer Sluke was one of those individ-
uals to whom beauty is inconceivaby more
interesting when free from the meshes of
the matrimonial net
II hardly know how to begin that which
wish to say to you, she continued.
faint shadow crossing the transparent
beauty of her face 1T Is a subject that is
painful to me, and one which would will
lngly avoid II could do SO =
She paused, and for some moments
seemed debating as to how she should pro
,eed
Mortimer watched her closely, feeling
IF vague perplexity as to the object of her
visit stirring in his breast, a look of un
disguised admiration upon his face A
,wift glance at the visitor was sufficient to
convince the attorney that his prospective
silent was person of ample means The
-ich laces that graced her costly, close fit
ing gown, tie CLEAN of diamond rings
upon her white shapely fingers. as well ms
1er appearance and manner, all served to
this conviction, and caused
7isions of crisp, new bank notes and divers
cancelled obligations to fit before his
pleased Imagination
The matter of which wish to speak.
aid the fair visitor, tapping the arm of the
hair with a gold tipped pencil and fixing
! most engaging look upon her auditor
rs In reference TO the very trying position
n which | AIN placed by reason of certain
provisions In will where l am the chief
beneficiary
The position imposed upon me- she
snt on, us not only very trying and dis
seable to myself but bids fair to d-.
-,