The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1899-05-20
CHAPTER I.

| us Alvin behoSelle, vas IL
man pointed out to the youth of the rising
| generation as one whose career was to be
| emulated.
| The bank president was getting well on
IN years, in 1857; nor was he destined to
| see the termination Of that year, as the
reader will soon learn.
| On the 10th of August, and in vigorous
! health, aside from n rheumatic attiiction
| Of long standing-he had in the manner of
| former occasions celebrated his birthday
this time his 67th-by having gathered
round the festive board at Oak Hall a
| large number of his personal friends.
| To them it was q pleasure to drink to
the toast that had on at least twenty pre-
vious occasions Of like nature been pro-
| posed by Jerry Dobbs, the old attorney
Of the bank, who always occupied an hon
| ored position at the right Of the master
| of Oak Hail. But the toast? Yes, the
| toast. All, one of those birthday dinners
| would have been incomplete without I'm
Gle Jerry and his toast.
The old attorney was nearing his three
score and ten-he had been one of the orig
| lnal incorporators of 1.-THE Cape Fear
Bank" and all that pertained to it was
| dear to his heart-particularly so was
elect quarter of a century before, and
under whose management the institution
had fourished.
That the bank might flourish until the
end of time was the ardent desire of I'm
Gle Jerry.
That Alvin DeRosette and himself
might live to see the cash capital of the
concern a round million dollars was his
/ o hn oil VIC
coupled Alvin and the bank together.
lie felt that he should have included
his own name, as he was virtually part
of the bank, but he was fully aware that
Alvin would round up his toast in a salts
factory manner, so his words on these
occasions were these: THE Cape Fear
bank and it's president; may they live long
and prosper
And may the banks worthy attorney
live long to guide them clear of breakers,
were the words added by Uncle Alvin.
Now this was the toast. drank as usual,
at midday on the 10Th of August, 1857.
At o'clock on the ODD, only seven days
later, all that remained mortal of Alvin
DcRosette was consigned to the grave;
! and now Il will be necessary to revert to
the 18th day of August, the third day
| following that of Alvin DeRosette's 9th
birthday
The weather was intensely warm, and
the banker was seated in an armchair
near an open window in his private office
at the bank. He held in one hand Il fold
ed document. 1t was his will, and had
been drawn six months before this time
he had been reperusing it.
Strange" he said suddenly. both the
witnesses to this document dead; sailed
for Europe on the GoSmore and went
down within sight of the British coast
/ Only thirty saved, if | remember, of over
two hundred souls, and poor Lloyd and
Elliot were not Of the thirty,
Il should have other signatures now as
witnesses. Oh we'll, | will have Dobbs
bring in a friend tomorrow, and have
them sign-but for that matter, there was
no particular necessity Of the document
anyway, Where there is an only child
and the mother dead, there can be no
question as to who would inherit; but then
/ II is better so.
Il wished also to leave no question rs
70 what my intentions were regarding
/ Herman Craven. | had no desire to leave
him fortune. True, he is my nephew:
but have left him fully enough to dissi
pate-aDi enough, if he has the disposi
ton. to form the nucleus of a fortune.
Strange, sister Matte would marry
! stephen Craven when the whole family
/ told her how unworthy he was, and plead
ed with her to renouncc him. Well. she
/ would not listen; she became the wife of
! tlackieg md 4 gambler, and in three
! short years died of broken heart, leay-
/ ing behind child-who has grown m an
exact counterpart of his father. Now
If the father had died when Herman was
an infant, or even lad. and had had
! the boy to train, l might have instjIIed
! some principle into his mind; but coming
/ 10 me, with the information that his faith
I or was dead, ut twenty-five years Of one
4 his character formed, and ii n treacberous
one If am a judge, l have felt that I was
standing over 4 mine ever since | nlo,ad
him at the cashiers desk And vet no has
. been there year now. and al! has gone
( well, but he is notwithstanding sure
Wen, can watch him while live. The
death of TOombs made it necessary that
name q new cashier; | named nv
nephew, and have regretted it ever since
Every dollar of his salary goes. and | am
toid that he is hand-in- glove with a gam
! hIlns set. l have done my duty by him
III my wlll-of course, if he inspires more
confidence by his conduct, may add
codicil in the future.
Last will and testament. Signed and
Witnessed Too bad Jerry is so advanced
IN years. | shall probably outlive him.
VIII see Clark when he comes home next
/ week. Time enough for that; there is no
/ risk; the court would arrange it in case
/ Of necessity
i TDplo lr;r ora.o er,u,
/ passed ont into the counting room of the
/ hank. The huge iron safe was standing
/ with wide open doors directly behind the
/ cashier. The bank president drew out
/ one of the drawers and withdrew there
from bundle Of papers, around which
was q rubber band. He raised the band,
slipped under it his will, and restored the
package to the safe: then turning to the
cashier, said: We'll. Herman, | can give
/ you few minutes now. You stated that
/ there was something you wished to say
| 10 me. Come in my den. Mr. Talbot can
/ represent you for Il few minutes
/ Certainly" said Talbot, who was one
( Of the bank tellers.
Mr. DeRosette retraced his steps, and
! had resumed his seat when his nephew,
! with a flushed face and seemingly very
/ nervous, approached him.
! Herman Craven at this time had passed
| his twenty-third year. He was of rather
slight build, dark complexion. black hair
and mustachc, and restless, piercing eyes.
But for the prominence OF his white teeth
( he might have been considered attractive
/ looking.
We'll, sir" exclaimed the banker, look
ing up.
The nervousness of the cashier increas-
ed. but mastering his emotion as best he
could. he said: Uncle Alvin, have for
some time wished TO say TO you what I
now shall. hut have lacked the opportu-
nifty. At the house 1 never have one
How SO. sir:'
'oh, l did not like to ask you, in Hat
ties presence, for your consent to seek
her hand"
Her hand? Hattie's hand?" exclaim,
ed the banker, ezcitedly.