Rock Island Argus., 1896-06-19


Dr.. blanchard Howard they regarded
as already dead, and they imagined
themselves the guardians Of the besu.i-
full sisters-the heirs Of the Weldon
estate in Virginia. But their conversa-
tion was interrupted by Bouton, whom
they did not dream to BE within hear
ing. But he suddenly appeared and said /:
''Of course you are shrewd as your
father, who has charge of the Weldon
estate ON the Great Kanawha, " just as
if he were talking about a subject in
which he was but little interested.
Tom Bliss Strengthened upon hearing
this and looked into Bouton's mocking
black eyes until his own fell under their
un1inching gaze In that brief time he
saw this man had discovered his secret,
no doubt from hearing conversations
between himself and Sim, for which he
mentally then and there cursed himself
and his brother. But from what Bouton
said he inferred that he knew more
than he could have overheard, and he
determined to draw him out. To do this
he knew that genuine candor was neces-
sary, for he could not deceive a man as
well versed in all the tricks of villainy
as himself. Tom had inherited quick
ness of thought and shrewdness from
three generations of backwoods lawyers,
to whom the term "shyster, " though de-
served, had not yet been applied. He
had underrated the ability of Bouton,
as all men underestimate the ability of
their tools, and now that the reaction
had set in he was inclined, as is the
rule, to go to the other extreme and give
him credit for powers which he did not
possess.
"Beuton, I'll be frank with you," he
said.
II like that
''And I want you to be frank with
me-"
lyon can count on that
Shielding himself and his father and
coloring all the facts in his own favor,
Tom Bliss told the story Of the Weldons,
and represented with considerable &C.
curacy the condition and value of the es-
tate of John Weldon, with the terms of
his ridiculous will. He did not say that
DR.. Blanchard or his children could con-
test the will, but he gave Bouton to un-
derstand that if the doctor and his son
were out Of the way that all would be
"plain sailing"
81 see,'' said Bouton. "If the doctor
and his son were out of the way, then
You think You and your father would be
safe, particularly if you and your BROTH
ers married the doctors daughters, eh?''
mo, not that; there are other heirs. I"
''In West Virginia?''
eyes"
"And they, you think, are the only
heirs i'll your way?'
''The only ones"
"Tom Bliss, you may be a good law
yer and as prime rascal as myself, but
you are mistaken about the heirs
How do You know that? What can
You know about it?'' asked the amazed
Tom Bliss.
''When we began to speak Just now,
l didn't think l knew anything, but
since l have heard you find l know
more than you do, q great deal more than
you do
''Then I hope you will be equally
candid and tell me all about it." said
Tom Bliss, who still believed that Bou-
ton was joking him.
''See here, Tom Bliss, how old do ]
look to be-" Bouton Strengthened him
self up and turned his face to the law
yer.
about 80, I should say" replied
Tom Bliss after judicial survey.
MANY thanks for the compliment to
ny youthful appearance 1t is the COM
pensation for my moderate life. am
now in my thirty-ninth year, and, like
every man, l am just as old as look
and feel, and never felt better in NV
life.''
''But what has your age to do with
this question:
More than You think, Tom. Eight
cen years ago was grown man.
Twenty one years of age!"
"Yes, and for four years l had been
guiding parties from Council Bluffs
west to the mountains"
Indeed.
Eyes, indeed And let me say, Tom,
that l guided many curious parties.
I've known men to leave Council Bluffs
with one name and to have another
when they got to the mountains. and
I've known men to start out with high
hopes and to die before they saw the
mountains''-
"Yes."
eyes, Tom, Just as sure as you're
sitting there beside me. Oh, I've had
lots and lots Of experience with people
from the states, but never met such n
curious outfit as the Weldons."
THE Weldons!'' exclaimed Tom
Bliss.
Eyes. Valentine Weldon and his wife
and two sons, with signs Of another
child. didn't guide them to the noun.
tains, but was with the man that
did,
To what mountains?'
II won't say. dare not say. But
I'll tell you this: know where valen-
tine Weldon and his family are"
"You do?''
81 do"
"And have they changed their name?''
"Yes."
What name have they now?''
THAT can't tell -