The Jamesburg record., 1899-10-21


you might make the will and then have
Dupray sign the settlement, or at least
have it all drawn up so that 1t can be
signed when the time comes. | am free
to tell you that | want to draw that
paper, for while your foreign son-in-
law may be the best fellow in the world,
and willing to promise everything now,
l am going to put British law about his
neck, so that he will have to keep his
promise by-and-by if he should want to
change his mind
"The old man laughed.
"1 know YOU were always in favor
of that Young doctor, and he's good
enough fellow. but now that better
man has come along and wants my
girl, and she is willing. he's going to
have her. But it's right that every
thing should be done in proper form,
and I'll bring Dupray down in day
or two and we'll fix the things up
"Three days later. one afternoon. Le
roy and the Frenchman came into the
office. Dupray was as polite as enc
could ask. and yielded a quick consent
to all the suggestions | made with re-
lation to the papers to be executed;
but, somehow. as began to write,
felt that he was not friendly with me,
and that he laid ii at my door that these
papers were being brought to head SO
certainly before the marriage.
"You may be sure that when that
idea took possession of my mind, was
stubborn enough to determine that the
papers should be drawn and signed that
day; and when Leroy proposed that
they should leave me to my writing,
while they went and had a smoke, I
said:
"'No, smoke here; and then when
want you to sign shall not have to
run after you
"And they sat down again.
LEROY took out some cigars, and Of
fered one 10 the Frenchman and one
to me. / declined. as ! do not like to
smoke and work, and the Frenchman
declined, saying that he preferred a
pipe, produced from his inside pocket
a handsome meerschaum, and proceed
ed to fill and light it.
Remember that this was more than
five years since my brother-in-law had
told me of his foreign experience, and
l doubt if had thought of it even for
half that time.
"Well, the two men smoked and
wrote, but all the time with that un-
easy feeling that sometimes comes
when you are not in accord with your
surroundings. and it was with salts
faction that after an hour completed
the first draft of the paper and laid
down my pen to read it to the high con-
tracing parties.
"As l turned in my chair with the
agreement in my hand, Leroy threw
away the stub of his third cigar, while
the Frenchman removed his pipe from
his lips and drew nearer to me to listen
carefully to the legal bars that he knew
I was preparing to keep him out of
the money. l felt pleased to think that
it was so, and perhaps my face showed
a trace too much of that pleasure.
"As l began to read, the man re-
placed his pipe in his mouth, and from
time to time blew clouds of soft, aro-
matte smoke in my face; but as was
a smoker myself. l determined not to
allow this to disconcert me, as had no
doubt he intended it to do, but read
steadily on. When an agreement had
been covered l would pause and look
at Leroy for his approval. then con-
tinue to read.
'At one of these pauses, for no known
reason, my eyes turned upon the pipe
held loosely in the Frenchman's hand
as he sat listening at my side, and my
heart leaped into my very mouth as |
saw that it was Turks head, small
and with flowing hair and beard, with
an open, laughing mouth, wherein
cleaned single small gold tooth.
ut was the pipe that my brother-in-
law had described to me as having been
stolen by his valet.
MAY l see your handsome pipe?'
said 1, extending my hand, while my
eyes studied the face of the French
man. 1t certainly is beautiful one,
and very odd. Where did you find it?'
For an instant the fellow hesitated,
his mouth twitching, then he handed
the pipe to me, replying:
~ purchased it in Paris some years
ago, from friend who imports them.
1 think it rather curio in its way my
self
"'It surely is,' said, for 1 never saw
but one like it, and that belonged to
naval officer, Lieut.. Merriam. 1t was
stolen from him, think, in Paris
fooo o. =,
'What!' he cried, do you accuse
me of stealing this pipe? Do you call
me thief?'
"As he spoke, the door of the outer
office swung slowly open, and man
entered who advanced directly to our
group. l looked up in surprise, but