Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1900-08-30
CHAPTER w.

seen you Tor long time. Lawyer
Cheatham rose from his Office desk and
shook hands with short, horid man of
thirty, whose dyed mustache and profuse
display of jewelry showed he entertained
40 mean opinion of his personal attrac-
lions
"Well, Uncle Dave, if you haven't seen
me you've heard from me often enough,
so guess you amt been worried on that
score" replied Simeon Cheatham, as he
released his uncle's hand, and drew up
chair to the desk.
"You are looking very well, and pros
pering, hope" said the lawyer.
Looking we'll enough, like yourself, but
cannot say that | am making more
money than l know what to do with. All,
If had your chance, uncle" sighed Sim
Cheatham.
my chance?'
Eyes, but don't play innocent by asking
me to explain. How is Miss Miriam?
How comes on the search? What is your
detective doing?" Sim Cheatham laugh
ed as if each of these questions con-
tanned a choice joke.
"Paul Neville was here last night. So
Gar he has been doing exactly what | ex-
pect Of him
''That is less than nothing?"
"He has been doing what l expect of
aim continued the lawyer, "but he has
done one thing / did not expect"
"Indeed?
''He found a woman who claims to be
your wife; and she had dead child in
her arms. He came to me for help, but
of course I could give him none, for the
woman is an impostor and has assumed
your name without authority"
Its lie!' Sim Cheatham managed
to exclaim II know nothing about any
such woman.
''Of course not; that's what I told Ne
vile, but he didn't believe me-"
"Was it to tell me this that you sent
for me?" asked Sim Cheatham, slowly
recovering from the shock his uncle's
words had given him.
"Sot at all, Sim; not at ALL" The law
yer drew nearer, and lowered his voice,
while his whole manner bespoke caution
and secrecy. even if the story was
true, | would not mind it. L was once
young and wild myself, and l have no
doubt | made my share of blunders. l
wanted to ask you if you have seen Clay
aately?'
II sec him nearly every night" repyied
Sim Cheatham, now quite himself
t'Do you enter the groundsY
ono, | row down and remain in the
boat till he comes"
Miriam and Mrs. Hope like him, and
he can stay there, without suspicion, till
we get through with him."
"Of course he can; but he'll be an ugly
man to take care of after we do get
through with him." said Sim Cheatham
'I'lI see to that; leave that to me. He
believes that he poisoned Mr.. Hermann,
and I hold that over his head, though
he swears L limited that he should do it.
But that is not the point; we can easily
get rid of him when the time comes.
First, however, we must make two
POINTS, This was said in a whisper.
{ 1.-Two points, uncle?
81 said two points. Now, I am as sure
as that YOU sit there, that this Charles
Carpenter will never put in an appear
ance."
$50 am t.
Yet in case that he should we must
be prepared to block his game"
You mean you must be prepared, I'M
Gle Remember, l am only working on
commission, with some small advances to
pay running expenses"
Il will see that you are well off when
we have finished l am not as close as
you think me, Sim; and though you may
not believe it. if l had plenty of money
you wouldn't want as it is But to come
back to the point"
Lawyer Cheatham drew from a pack
age he had been toying with, a yellow
paper written in cramped characters, and
carefully unfolding It, he continued:
E"This is later will than the one ad
rnitted to probate. 1t gives me better
hold on the estate, thus showing the old
mans confidence"
Just So" laughed the nephew.
Il cannot tell how | found it: but il
must be found again, and in Hermann's
house"
II see
Clay must admit you to the house
some night, and that very soon and once
In there you can put this will between
two leaves of the big German Bible.
will see that it is found. When that is
done the first point will be gained"
''And the second point will be, sup
pose, to secure to yourself the hand, il
not the heart of the beautiful Miriam"
Not so loud. Sim, not so loud. Yes
want to care for her, to have her to my
self. and so shield her from the crue
world"
Just So!
"But. Sim, there is one person stands
In my way"
But one person?
"Only one person, Sim. Can you guess
who it is?'
Il can't"
Mrs Hone"
1.-The housekeeper?"
The housekeeDer! II I had her GU
of the way the road would be clear. d,
you know who she is 2"
Only that she was an old servant o
1ermann's, and became his housekeepe
when his wife died." replied Sim Cheat
ham.