Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1899-08-20


ing his finger on the spot where he has
] written his name. and pronouncing
| the usual formulary. Then Mr.. Wool
/ ct signs, and after him the compliant
| clerk.
Now" exclaims the lawyer, "the
document is complete-signed, sealed
and / hereby deliver it.
| AS he makes this little play OF speech
he folds the sheet of foolscap, places it
| in an envelope, and hands it to his
client. at only needs probate he
adds, "and l hope, General Harding, it
mag be many, many long years before
-
| Come, come. Mr. Violet" bluntly
interrupts the old soldier. Il want no
sentiment What's your charger"
The lawyer, so suddenly brought
down from his high horse. turns his
eyes upon the table, and for a moment
stands silent. How much shall he
say? Should it be bird in the hand
worth two in the bush? Or is there
hope this little job may be only the be-
ginning of big business-the opening
of nice account with his new client?
Embarrassed, he has no time to de-
| termine which would be the better
course and answers mechanically, ac-
cording to habit:
my fee? If you please, one guinea
"There," rejoins the General, placing
a sovereign on the table, with shill-
ing on top of it.
"You wish a receipt, General?"
mo. not worth while for such tri-
fe Good day, sir"
Good day, General. Mr.. Jenners,
attend General Harding to his car
riage."
The clerk, preceding, opens the
street door, while the footman holds
open that of the chariot, into which the
General steps, and is driven rapidly
away, on return to his own residence.
Mr.. Violet stands at his office win
dow, watching the carriage as it rolls
| off-watching and wondering. All
that has passed seems to him like a
dream-the realization of hope he
has long been indlulging in, but hith-
erto in vain. One of the big flies has
at length fallen into his trap-the big
! ~ Of
But is he caught? Has he been surely
| entangled, so as to stay, or rather,
come back again? That is the ques-
ton that requires answer-the point
that still needs confirming.
"Jenners!" he calls to his clerk, as
the latter enters the Office, have you
taken down what was said?''
EVERY word of it, sir. It's in short
hand Shall l write it out?"
mo, you needn't now. Only the
will; make a clean copy of that, in
| stanter."
Sitting down 10 the table. and
| spreading before him a sheet of fools
! cap, similar to that upon which the
original draft was written. he makes
the copy, as directed, and hands it to
the lawyer,
The latter, looking it over, and see
| ing it is verbatim, just as the General
| delivered it, says:
you're clever, Jenners. You're lost
down here in Clayfeld. Your proper
place would be in Londan. as Parlia-
mentary reporter for the Times" At
ter the facetious fattery adding in SER
ious tones: mot a word of this will
to anyone If | hear of it outside"
| Well, l needn't threaten-you know.
! Now you can go get your dinner.
| There's half a crown to pay for it, with
| a bottle of Bass BESIDES
Jenners gleefully accepts the douceur
and with a satisfied smile lighting UP
his ghoulish features slides out of the
Office, carefully closing the door behind
| him.
There's something strange about all
this" soliloquises the lawyer, left
| alone. 81 should say very strange,
very puzzling-in short, an enigma,
and in more ways than one. First
place, why should the General come TO
me to make this. instead of going to
/ his own solicitors. Lawson and Son?
And why such will, disinheriting his
! younger son, or what's virtually and
substantially the same? A thousand
pounds, The property's worth a cool
couple of hundred thousand, And to
be left to that sallow-faced sneak of a
half-Hindu, when everybody supposed
the other, and by all odds the better
| fellow, would inherit at least the mole
ty of it. The things incomprehensi-
BILE.
mo, it isn't either" after a pause,
contradicting himself. 81 think l see
| the drift of it. The Generals spited
with his younger son, for several rea-
sons I've heard of; and he's just such
a man as would shew it in that way.
| That must be the motive of the Will,
| which. of course, he can change or CO.
!