Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1896-09-17

enthusiastic they. got. suggested to
them that it might be well to take their
$500 and let we'll enough alone, but
they wouldn't have it. Fox said that,
OF course, it would be pretty hard on
Robbins, who wouldn't get anything at
all but he wasn't going to lose a fine
girl, worth cool million in her own
right, for any measly 100000, and"Rob-
bins said Fox had been talking in an
impudent and disagreeable way, and
he was going to get even with him by
scooping the whole outfit. In this
frame of mind they went off to hunt up
a lawyer.
About two weeks afterward they
came back looking very disconsolate.
They had procured a copy of the will
and taken it around to number of legal
lights who had severally and jointly de-
clared that it, was an absolutely un-
breakable instrument. It had evident
ly been drawn up, they said, with
the utmost care, and any attempt to
dispute its provisions was bound to re-
suit in an ignominious failure.
"Well," said /, "the only man who can
break will like that is the one who
made it. DO you know who he was"
''Why, yes" said Robbins, at was
drawn up by that fellow Peters, who
used to go out riding with Miss Barnes.
You remember him, don't you, Fox?"
''Of course, / remember him." said
Fox. Regular crank, though, and 1
never thought much of him. l don't
sec how a fellow like that ever man
aged to draw up such a good will"
'Well," said /, II think you'd better
write to him about it, anyway, and see
what he says"
"Oh, all right" said Fox, "Pll write to
him, and I'll come around and tell you
what he answers" ..,. '.r ..,.
. In about ten days Fox put in an ap-
pearance quite radiant with joy.
Look here" said he, producing a let
ter. Here's letter from Peters in
which he says ne has had the matter Of
old Barnes will under consideration,
and he is of the opinion that there are
several fatal flaws in it which invali-
date it completely. He says if we are
willing to put up the necessary costs for
entering suit he is confident that the
thing can be broken into 10000 pieces.
1t won't be worth a continental cent"
Fox waved his arms and grew quite
llrid as he described what Peters would
do to the will.
Il was deceived in that chap" said
Fox. Hes downright clever fellow"
The cost of court proved to be lit
tie bit steep, but both Robbins and Fox
put up their money with a great dis
play of nerve and confidence. AS for
Peters fee, Robbins said he would pay it
all afterward, as it would be hardly fair
to expect Fox to put up money for some
thing he didn't get. Fox said it would
be healthy thing for Robbins if he
made him pay half the fee anyway, but
that he knew he wouldn't have the heart
TO do it. The process of contesting the
will, guided by the experienced hand Of
Peters, went along very smoothly.
Point after point was scored by this
astute logician, who traversed little by
little the labyrinth of the law. Between
Fox and Robbins there arose, as the end
drew near, a decided GOODNESS. They
passed one another on the street with a
naughty air, and no longer frequented
together the economical lunch house
where they had been accustomed to re-
gale themselves. When they visited
me they came separately and spoke Of
each other with evident distrust and i'll.
feeling.
II was therefore with considerable as
constituent that / came across them one
day as 1 was going through the park
seated together on a dilapidated green
bench, Fox with his head on Robbins'
shoulder and Robbins with his arms
around FoN's neck. Their eyes were
closed, and they appeared quite lost to
this world and all it's variegated con-
tents. Lying at their feet was an open
letter. In idle curiosity L picked it up
and read it. It said:
"Messrs. Fox and Robbins: Dear Sirs-
The court has to-day decided the will left
by the late William Barnes to be null and
void. His entire estate goes to his daugh-
ter. She and L were married yesterday.
You will find nclosed my bill for $500 for pro-
fessional services. Permit me to con-
graduate you on the entire success of your
suit Very respes ssHMttEn PETERS"
Presently Robbins raised his head in
an aimless sort of way.
Fox" said he, "they didn't do q
thing to us."-N. o. Times-Democrat.