Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1901-01-12
CHAPTER /.
My American Millions.

NNNNA tto oiAhHNSp 80
awaiting, cir" and / read II twice,
without understanding 1t IN the very
east.
Could 1t be a hoax? To satisfy my
| self / sat up in bed, rubbed my as
lonished and still half sleepy eyes and
read 1t again. 1T ran as follows:
GRAY & QUINLAN. SOLICITORS.
101 Lincoin's Inn, July IL, 49,.
Dear S.r-It is our pleasing duty to
inform you. at the request OF our New
York agents, Messrs. Smiddy 81 Damn
Of 81 Chambers street, New York city,
that they have now definitely and con-
| Clusively established your claim as the
sole surviving relative and general
heir-at-law of their late esteemed
| client, Mr.. Aretas McFaught OF Church
Place and Fifth avenue, New York.
AS the amount OF your inheritance Is
very considerable and Is estimated APP
~proximately at between $l4. 900, 900 and
SIS, 900, 900, say three millions Of ster-
ing money. we have thought It right
TO apprise you of your good fortune
without delay, Our Er. Richard Quin-
ian will hand you THIS letter In person
and win be pleased TO take your In
structions. We are, sir, your obedi-
ent servants, Gray & Quinlan.
Captain William Aretas Wood, ID. S.
o., Il Charges street, Piccadilly.
IltlCg y NOiys WIN lOhbh 49,
DO you say he Is waiting? I'll see him
in a a minute" And sluicing my
head in cold water, l put on a favorite
old dressing gown and passed into the
| next room, followed by Roy, my pre-
cious golden collie, who began at once
TO sniff suspiciously at my visitors
EGGS.
found there a prim, little, old-young
gentleman, h I'M me curiously
through his gold -rimmed pince nee.
Although, no doubt, greatly surprised
for re did not quite expect to see an
archmillionaire In an old ulster with a
| ragged collar of catskin, with damp,
unkempt locks and unshorn chin at
that time of day-he addressed me
with much formality and respect.
Il must apologize for this intrusion,
Captain Wood-you are Captain
Wood?"
Undoubtedly"
Il am Mr.. Quinlan, very much at
your service. Pardon me-is this your
dog? Is he quite to be trusted?"
Perfectly, IL you don't speak to him.
Lie down Roy! i fear l am very late
a ball laet night. DO you ever 60 to
balls, Mr.. Quinlan?"
Not often, Captain Wood, but IL l
AVE come too early | can call later
on"
by no means. ! am dying to hear
more, But, first OF all, this letter. It's
all bona fide, l %suppose?"
without question. 1t is from our
firm. There can be no possible mistake.
We have made II our business to verify
all the facts-indeed, this is not the
first We have heard OF the affair-but
we did not think 1t right to speak to
you too soon. This morning, however,
the mail has brought a full acknowl-
| edgement OF your claims, so we came
on at once to see you"
How did you find me out, pray?"
1--WE have had our eye on you for
some time past, Captain Wood" said
the little lawyer smilingly. while we
were inquiring-you understandable
were anxious to do the best for you
I'm sure I'm infinitely obliged to
you. But still l can't believe 1t quite.
l should like to be convinced OF the
reality of my good luck. You see, /
haven't thoroughly taken 1t in"
Read this letter from our New York
agents, Captain Wood. 1t gives more
details" and he handed me a typewrit-
ten communication on two Quarto
sheets OF tissue paper; also a number
of cuttings from the New York press.
The early part OF the letter referred
to the search and discovery OF the heir
at-law (myself) and stated frankly
that there could be no sort OF doubt
that my case was clear and that they
would be pleased, when called upon, to
put me In full possession OF my estate.
From that they passed on to a brief
enumeration of the assets, which com
prised real estate In town lots, lands.
houses, stocks, shares, we'll placed in
vestments OF all kinds, part ownership
Of a lucrative road" or railway; the
controlling power In shipping COM
panies, coal companies, cable com
panies and mining companies In all
parts of the United States.
1T will be seen that the estate Is of
some magnitude" wrote Messrs. Smid-
dy & DanE, and we earnestly hope
| that Captain William a.. Wood will
take an early opportunity of coming
over to look into things for himself. We
shall then be ready to give a full ac-
count of our stewardship and to ex-
plain any details.
Meanwhile, TO meet any small I'M
mediate needs, we have thought 1t ad-
visable' to remit a first bill OF exchange
for $50, 000-say E10,217 It's Cd, at cur
rent rates-negotiable at sight and
duly charged by us to the estate"
The last part OF the letter Is con
Vincing enough" | said with q little
laugh, as l returned 1t to Mr.. Quinlan.
Always suppoSing that 1t is real mon
ely and will not turn out to be withered
leaves"
How would you like it paid. Captain
Wood? Into your ~bankers?"
IF you please. Messrs. Sykes &
Sarstield, the army agents, of Pail
| Mall"
TT shall be done az once. / will call
there, If you will permit me, on my
| way back to Lincoln's III. Is there
anything more? AS to your affairs
generally. IL you have no other law
yers, WI are supposed to be good men
OF business, and p~erhaps-of course we
advance no olaims--you may consider
that we have served you we'll already
and may intrust us further with your
confidence"
MY lear sir. 1 fully and freely admit
your claims. i should be most UNI
grateful If | did not. Pray consider
| yourselves Installed as my confidential
legal advisers from this time forth
Thank you sincerely, Captain Wood
Il can only express q hope hat as our
acquaintance grows you will have no
reason to regret this decision. / will
now-unless you hav any further
commands-wish o a very good
morning."
l. With a stiff, studied bow he ben be-
fore me and vas gone. He left me a
perry to many emotions-surprise, be-
wilderment' still predominating, but
withal q sence Of ~pleasurable excite
ment.
1t was indeed a change, a revolution
~ my affairs. Hitherto, like most men
OF my cloth, I had been constantly
hard up; OF late all but in Queer
street." for j had yielded only too
readily to the Vaccinations of London.
After many years of service abroad.
this spell at home, In the heart and
center of life, vas enough to turn any
ones head. / was now on the head
quarters staff, with an appointment In
the intelligence department. and
found people were very kind; shoals OF
invitations came in, and ! accepted ev