The Roanoke times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1897-1977, 1897-10-02
LOST, A FORTUNE.


term, part five, of the supreme court
the other day with cigar in his mouth
and remained smoking in the room
where no court was being held until an
attendant told him that Justice Russell
was ready in another courtroom to hear
his application for writ of habeas cor
pus.
While the lawyer walked leisurcly
from tho room he pulled away and did
not notice shabby man who followed
him. just as he reached the door Omen
ing into special term, part two, the law
yer let the cigar drop to the floor and
entered tho room.
Tho shabby man glanced hastily
around, and, finding that no ono was
watching him, advanced cautiously to.
ward the still smoking stump. He care
lessly dropped his handkerchief over tho
cigar stump, and when he picked up
the handkerchief the butt was inside il.
a few minutes later tho solicitor-for
the shabby man is always addressed by
his fellow benchers as the solicitor
with the cigar between his thin lips
Joined dozen other benchers in ono of
the unoccupied courtrooms.
With bow to those present the So
licitor removed tho cigar from his
mouth and remarked:
1T is remarkable, gentlemen, what
poor tobacco is sold in this city. This
20 cent cigar is not equal to what I
have bought for 10 cents i'll other towns.
It's II swindle.' -
The solicitor pulled away ut the cigar
for a few minutes and then said,
speaking of swindles reminds me
off,
"How that landlubber stole my
watch tho other day." remarked the
proctor. with sad smile.
Nc 1 am thinking of how 1 was
cheated out of 100000" replied the
solicitor
"How was tEat?" asked the Judge.
Il will tell you" replied the solicit
or. 1T was in 1859, when J was prac-
ticing law in--well, never mind that
He doesn't want to tell where, -
whispered the proctor to tho dean, she
cause he was disbarred from practice
for questionable transactions. -
AS l was saying" resumed the So
licitor, 1T was in 1859 1 was younr
man then and had some little practice
one night after / had retired and was
just about to fall asleep I was aroused
by knock Mt my door and was told
that Squire - wanted me at once.
was delighted. Visions of o big fee
loomed up i'll my mind, for Squire -
was reputed to be worth several mil
lions.
Tho squire was bachelor and had
no relatives nearer than grandniece.
He was miser and lived in a miserable
little house.
"When I had finished dressing, the
sources only servant, q boy about IA
years old, who had come for me, con-
Quoted me about half mile across a
field and into the squirrels presence. He
was propped up in bed, and the physi-
clan in attendance whispered to me
that the old mans life was rapidly ebb-
ing away. With much effort the old
man-he was nearly 8O-told me he
wanted me to draw his last will.
pulled out roll of legal cap and, hav-
ing found pen and some ink, began to
write.
II will not boro you with the details
OF tho will. After had written the
formal introductory the squire told me
to put i'll bequest of $500 for the sa-
loon keeper from whom he had pur-
chased his whisky for the past so years,
remarking, with wan smile, 1t must
have been good stuff or 1 couldn't have
stood it so long,
He then told me to draw the will so
that the grandniece would have all the
residue of the estate. did so, and then
tho old man closed his eyes and re-
manned silent for few minutes. dur
ing which Twas calculating how much
my fec would be. had about decided
on 5000 when tho squire opened his
eyes and said, No; mako that read "all
tho residue except 800, 600, which be-
queath to Lawyer - naming me-
L protested, but the squire insisted that
my father and h:d each been kind to
him, and it would DO the best disposi-
ton ho could make of tho $fB0, 900.
finally consented to accept the beuuest
and finished the will. Witnesses were
called i'll, and tho squire signed the will.
left 1T with him aud returned home.
The following day called several of
my friends around NE and told them Of
my good fortune. The squire was still
alive, but rs ho could not live more
than few days drew out of bank all
of my money, some $500, and gave my
friends the best dinner that that town
had ever seen.
= a few days later the squire died /
was one of the chief mourners at the
funeral. had new black suit Oh and
wide Grape band OH my hat. After
tho funeral, with tho squire's grand
niece leaning on my arm, we entered
his bedroom and under his pillow found