The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1898-05-17
TIE Kindness Of
Goddard Goodenou0h,
By JOHN ]. A'BEOKET.


evidently made up his mind quickly,
for he replied, with hardly any hesita-
t1on: Very well. Will you come up
stairs to my room? Though don't see
what tho - can want of me-"
He led the way to his sitting room
and invited the reporter" to be seated
Goodenough selected chair which
commanded view of the bedroom and
the bed. In swift glance he saw that the
box was there and also saw that it must
have been remarked and moved by Mr..
Wheeler, for it was several inches near.
or the side of the footboard than he had
left it, He breathed more freely. 1t was
probably all right, and he was half
sorry he had come. He must not
queer" the poor wife and spoil all he
had done in her behalf by any false
move.
Mr.. Wheeler" ne said with the
easy, somewhat familiar air he imagin-
ed reporter would assume, "thero has
been report handed in at the Office
tSat some important move is meditated
by large estate of which you are one
OF the executors. Can you give any de-
tails about the matter for publications."
The other young man had sat perfect.
ly motionless, his eyes fixed on Good
enough unwaverngly. He kept them
still more steadily-in fact, rather
piercingly-fiXed on him as he replied,
with some decision: "You will have to
be mole specific. 1 haven't the least
idea to what you refer "
"The report was that you and the 9th.
or two executors had withdrawn impor.
1npnnnntc tl,n l..
and were to arrange the details of this
transaction with tho heirs very soon, "
returned Goodenough, trying to meet
the others scrutiny with nonchalance
The young man had taken in his Wis.
itor in every detail. Before answering
him he quickly arose, stepped to the
door of his apartment and locked it;
then locked the door to tho bedroom.
Goodenough began to feel that he was
In for an adventure. He was not abso-
lutely comfortable.
The young man came back, stood in
front Of him, and letting his right hand
swing round toward his hip pocket re-
marked with great deliberation, IL have
nothing to do with any estate, have
never been an executor and know moth
ing whatever of the subject Of which
you speak"
Perhaps" returned Goodenough, q
little lamely, but acting Oh the inspira-
tlon OF the moment, sit may have been
your wife who is the person interested.
The young mans expression showed
trace of irritation, but his GOODNESS
did not forsake him II have no wife
and never had one. Will you please
state at once who the devil you are and
what the devil you are after?"
These questions were put savagely
and were rendered unduly or at least
unpleasantly emphatic by his drawing
small six shooter from his pocket
with businessike manner. He held is
with his finger on the trigger.
~ am afraid" said Goodenough, feel
ing movement Of temper himself, but
striving to retain his composure, "that
am tremendous fool. You may help
to convince me of it, But, first, do you
object to telling me what that box of
documents is doing on top of your fold
ing bed?"
He was SO confident that Mr.. Wheel
or had seen the box, from the fact that
1t had been moved, that he hoped to
force his hand bv showing thus ahrunt
young mans control his countenance
betrayed the most utter surprise. Re-
covering himself quickly he raised the
revolver, covered Goodenough with it
and said sternly: "Take tho key out of
my pocket and open that bedroom door
Take down the box and bring it here
If you make the slightest movement ex.
oept to do this, promise you l will
shoot, and there will be great likelihood
Of my killing you. That would be high
ly disagreeable at this hour of the night
and here, especially as am more than
half disposed to take you at your word
and believe that you are only fool"
II can assure you that l have no
doubt on the subject now,'' replied
Goodenough with conviction "But if
you will allow me to explain".-
"l shall assuredly do that, the other
replied emphatically, "but later. First,
this box-how came you to know it was
there?"
IL put 1t there myself" blurted out
Goodenough sheepishly. He had opened
the door, and as he glanced at the box,
which seemed to his excited vision even
nearer the edge than when he had first
seen it, he said boldly, "You must know
that it is there, for it is much closer to
the side than where put it,"
The young man glanced quickly at
the box. His nostrils flared, and though
he retained his astounding GOODNESS the
color in his cheeks grew fainter.
ave will discuss that later" he said
incisively. "Since you put 1t there, you
can take it down and throw it into the
street through the bedroom window
You have as much interest as in han.
ding it carefully"
Goodenough got the chair, climbed
up and possessed himself of the box. I'm.
pressed as he was by the other man g
manner, he was not without distinct
sense Of foolishness The box was near
ly foot nearer the side of the foot.
board. OF course it could not have trav.
eled there by itself. 1t might all be a
splendid bluff ON the part Of this cool
young man fer some reason best known
to himself.
He took the box carefully, however,
being as much concerned with carrying
out these second explicit directions az
to its disposition as he had been the
first. AS he took it he felt little crawl
Ii a. ...t.