Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-04-13

worth asked w ellis CareleSSiy.
Il should not think that the house, the
claim and the land would bring more than
$500 replied Twiggs submissively.
To the impecunious owners Of Zip Coon
Ledge it seemed "a large sum, but they did
not show it, t'You see, ;" continued Mr..
TwiSgs, its really a case of willing
away property from its obvious or direct
inheritors instead of beneficial grant. l
take 1t that You and your uncle were not
particularly intimate, at least so gathered
when l made the will: and his simple OBJ
Ject was to disinherit his only daughter,
with whom he had some quarrel. and who
had left him to live with his late wifes
brother. Mr.. Morley Brown, who is quite
wealthy and residing in the same town
snip. Perhaps you remember the young
LADY,"
Jackson Wells had a dim recollection of
this cousin-a hateful, red-haired school
Sirl-and equally unpleasant memory of
this other uncle. who was purse-proud and
had never taken any notice of him. He
answered affirmatively.
There may be some attempt to con-
test the will continued Mr.. Twiggs, as
the disinhcriting of only child and a
daughter ofends the sentiment of the peo-
pie and of judges and jury, and the law
makes such will invalid, unless a reason
is given. Fortunately your uncle has
placed his reasons on record I have
copy of the will here, and can show you
the clause He took it from his pocket
and read follows: II exclude my daugh-
ter. Jocelinda Wells. from any benefit or
for the reason that she has voluntarily
abandoned her fathers roof for the house
of her mothers brother, Morley Brown:
has preferred the feShpOtS of Egypt to the
virtuous frugalites of her own home, and
has discarded the humble friends of her
youth and the associates of her father for
the meretricious and slavish sympathy Of
wealth and position. In lieu thereof, and
as compensation therefore 1 do hereby give
and bequeath to her my full and free per-
mission to crafty her frequently expressed
a mr. hars larliC in, n1o pfy
self. and to become the adopted daughter
of the said Morley Brown. with the priv
hege of assuming the name of Brown
aforesaid" You see" he continued las
the young lady's present position is a bet
ter one than it would be if she were in her
fathers house, and was evidently a COM
promise. the sentimental consideration of
her being left homeless and pennless falls
to the ground. However as the Inherit
ance is small and might be of little ac-
count to you, if you choose to waive it
daresay we may make some arrangement"
This was an utterly unexpected idea to
the Zip Coon Company and Jackson Wells
was for a moment silent. But Dexter Rice
was equal to the emergency and turned to
the astonished lawyer with severe dignity
You'll excuse me for interferin,' but as
the senior partner of this yer Ledge and
jackson Wells yer bein most important
member. what affects his usefulness on this
claim. affects us. And We propose to carry
out this yer will, with all its dips and
spurs and angleS!"
to the other Rice continued: 'Ez far as we
Kin understand this little game it's the Just
punishment of high-fying girl as breaks
her pore old fathers heart and the reward
of a young fe11er eZ has bin to our knoWl-
edge ez devoted a nephew as they make
EN-. Time and time again. sittin' around
our campfire at night, we've heard Jacksy
say kinder to himself and kinder to us:
NOW L wonder what's gone o old Uncle
quincy. and he never sat down to a
square meal or ever rose from a square
ha oil I i
Ounce was only here now boys, I'd die
happy. l leave 1t to you, gentlemen. IL
that wasn't Jackson Wells gait all the
timer" There was a prolonged murmur of
assent and an affecting .corroboration from
Ned Wyngate of, That was him-that was
Jacksy all the timei'
Indeed indeed said the lawyer. nerv-
ousiy. Il had quite the idea that there was
very little fondness-''
Not on your side-not on your side" said
Rice quickly. Uncle Quincy may not have
his nephews rise. You know how it is
yourself in these things-being a LAWYER
and far-minded man-it's all on one side
generally! There's always one who loves
and sacrifices and all that, and there's al
ways one who rakes In the pot, That's the
way o the world. and that's why" con-
| tinued Rice, abandoning his slightly philo-
sophical attitude and laying his hand ten
derby and yet with a singularIy significant
grip on Wells arm. I'VE say to him
Hang on to that will and Uncle Ouincy's
memory And we hev to say it. For he's
that tender-hearted and keerless of money
having his own share in this Iedge-that
eli that girl came whimperin' to him he'd
let her take the 'prop'-and let the hull
thing slide! And then he'd remember that
ne mad rewarded that gal that broke the
old mans heart-and that would upset him
again in his work. And there, you See is
just where we come in! And we say, Hang
on to that will like grim deathr"
The lawyer looked curiously at Rice and
nus companions. and then turned to Wells
'Nevertheless 1 must look to you for in
Structions, he said. dryly
But by this time Jackson WelIs-aIthoupb
really dubious about supplantine the or
phan-had gathered the sense of his part
ners and said with a frank show of deci-
sion. Il think | must stand by the will"
Ihen III have 1t proved" said Twiegs
rising. "In the meantime If there is any
talk of contesting-"
If there is, you might say" suggested
Wyngate, who felt he had not had q fair
show in the little comedy, I'VE might saw
to that old skeesicks of a wife's brother If
he wants to nipple in, that there are four
men on the Ledge-and four revolvers! We
are gin rally far-minded, peaceful men but
when an old mans heart is broken and
his gray hairs brought down in sorrow to
the grave, so to speak, we're bound to at
tend the funeral. Sabe?''
When Mr.. Twiggs had departed again. ac
cOmpanied by partner to guide him past
the dangerous shoals of Tomlinson's gro
Gerry, Rice clapped his hand on Wells
IL II HduI Deen Tor me, sonny.
that shark would have landed you into
some compromise with that red haired gal!
saw you weakenin', and then 1 Clipped in.
may have piled up the agony a little on
your love for old Ounce, but If YOU aren't
an ungrateful cub. that's how you ought to
new been feelin, anyhow" Nevertheless
the youthful Wells, although touched bv
MS elder partners loyalty and convinced
or his own distnterestedness felt q nainfuJ
sense OF lost chivairous opportunity.
On mature consideration It was finallv
settled that Jackson Wells should make
his preliminary examination of his Inherit
ance alone, as it might seem Inconsistent
with the previous Indifferent attitude of
his partners If they accompanied him Rut
he was implored to yield to no blandish-
ments of the enemy, and to even make his
visit secret.
He went. The familiar flower-spiked
tree which had given it's name to Buckeye
Hollow had never yielded entirely to i'm
provements and the incursions of mining
enterprise. and many of them had even
survived the disused bitches, the SCARED
Hats. the discarded levels, ruined fumes
and rooiless cabins of the earlier occupa-
ton. SO that when Jackson Wells entered
the wide, struggling street of Buckeye,