Walker Lake bulletin. (Hawthorne, Nev.) 1883-1926, 1902-03-21
81 7 may safely be laid down that

81 I may safely be laid down that
when a millionaire dies there is
usually more interest taken in the
subsequent fate Of his pnsparty tiisari
sorrow felt for the loss of its late own
er Millonaires die so seldom, for OBJ
vious reasons, that this statement MAJ
perhaps be taken rs it stands without
further argument.
Mr.. William Gully was no exception
to the rule. Having spent the greater
part of his life in amassing money. and
having never spared any time for the
cultivation of the domestic affections,
1t is not surprising that his family
hardly mourned him beyond dropping
the conventional tear on his oaken cof-
lin. His vast fortune had been rapidly
built up by the immense popularity of
the penny weekly newspaper of which
Mr. Gully had for years been the pub
Usher and owner.
The millionaire never made any
friends, and when he retired, at the
age of sixty, from taking an active part
in the business, he settled down almost
into the life of recluse. His one di-
version was the study of Eastern phil
osophy and occult science, in which
subjects he took a very deep interest.
In the pursuit of this hobby he was
assisted and encouraged by his pri-
yate secretary, a half-caste native of
India. This man went by the name of
IN nd A 1iar
sonage. His general appearance sug-
gested that of typical temperance
lecturer, run to fat in some hot eli
mate. Add to this an habitual air of
Difference, coupled with a shifty look
about the eyes, and you will have some
idea Of the man. TO those who were
curious to know his history, he would
explain that he had been in the service
of the King Of Oudh before its absorp-
tion In the British dominions. and had
risen to high distinction in that state
On the death of his royal employer,
Mr.. Hunt, owing to difficulties with his
successor (as he eXplained), was obliged
to leave The country, and started to
make his fortune over again in London.
1t was here that he met the millionaire,
whom lie won over by promises of in
struction in the occult sciences.
Hunt in time became a permanency
IN Mr.. Gully's household, much to the
disgust of the other members OF the
family, who neither believed in his pro-
fessional powers, nor liked the color of
his skin. In fact, none of the family
sympathized with their parents re-
searches into the unknown, regarding
them as indication of chldishness in
his old age.
There was one exception to this atti-
tude and that was in the case of his
youngest daughter, Florence, who, at
the time Of her fathers death, had Just
turned twenty-one. She had been edu-
Gated at Newnham, where she had at
tanned the highest honor granted to
women by a not too generous alma
mater Florence had been a favorite
of her fathers from her childhood, and
although she could not participate in
his trusting belief in all Stavely Hunt
IL
interest in physiological research-in-
deed, it had been her pet subject at
college.
A word or two here as to the com
position of the Gully household may
not be amss Besides Florence, there
were four other daughters, two OF
whom were married. The two sons
practically carried ON the business; the
elder John, editing the newspaper, and
the younger, Peter, attending to the
publishing department. John Gully In
herited his fathers capacity for bust
ness, and surpassed him in ability to
make n good bargain and showed an
even stronger spirit of miserliness. and
morose nature prevented him from
enjoying the money he so easily gained.
Anna. Mr. William Gully's second
wife, had originally been Florence's
governess. She had been Mrs. Gully
some three years before becoming Il
widow. There was no love in the con
tract, and among her friends and ac-
quaintances 1t was limited, If not open
long marry former sultor of hers who
was considerably waiting till the old
mans death should set her free
Mr.. Gully died quite naturally, sud
denly indeed, but with no such attend
ant circumstances as to Justify an in
quest. After the funeral it was found
that his testamentary dispositions were
arranged with due respect TO the varl-
Gus needs of the members of his fam
lily, and every one was satisfied, or fair
ly so, with the exception of Mr. StaVely
Hunt, who seemed to consider that Lis
past services justified more substan-
tial legacy than five hundred pounds.
The will had then to be proved. proc
css which, owing 70 the eagerness OF
the inheritors to obtain possession of
their legacies, was finished in less than
fortnight During the interval be-
tween the reading of the will and the
proving, John Gully occupied himself