The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1904-10-20

him." answered Frye, with dignity,
''and in this matter l infer you wish
to become my client. Am l right, Mr..
:~Terry?"
II didn't cum here exactly purposin'
to hire ye," answered Uncle Terry. Il
cum to find what's in the wind, an if
twas likely to mount to anything to
tell all knew an see that them as
had rights got justice AS told We In
the fust ont, I'm keeper O the light at
the end O. Southport island, an have
been for thirty year.
zone night in March, just nineteen
year ago comm this spring, thar was
small bark got a-foul O. White Hoss
ledge right off'n the pint and stayed
thar hard an fast. I seen her soon
as twas light, but thar was nothin'
), that could be done but build fire an
stand an watch the poor critters go
down. Long toward noon I spied
bundle workin' in, an when it struck
I made fast to it with a boat hook
an found baby inside an alive My
wife an I took care ont and have
been doing SO ever since. 1t was
gal baby, and she growed up into
young lady. Bout ten years ago we
took out papers legally adoptin' her,
an so she's Ourn. From paper we
found pinned to her clothes we learned
her name was Etelka Peterson, an
that her mother, an we supposed her
father, went down that day right in
sight O. us. Thar was locket round
the child's neck an a couple O. rings in
the box, an we have kept 'em an the
papers an all her baby clothes ever
since. That's the hull story"
"How did this child live to get
ashore?" asked Frye, keenly interest
ed.
That's the curis part" replied Uncle
Terry. "She was put in a box an
tied tween two feather beds an cum
ashore dry as duck"
Frye stroked his nose refectiVely,
STOPPING over as he did and watching
his visitor with hawk-ike eyes.
"a very we'll told tale, Mr.. Terry"
he said at last "a very we'll told tale
indeed! OF course you have retained
all the articles you say were found on
the child?"
Eyes, we've kept 'em all, you may
be sure" replied Uncle Terry.
"And why did you never make any
official report of this wreck and of the
facts you slater" asked Frye.
II did at the time," answered Uncle
Terry, but nothin' cum ont. I guess
my report is thar in Washington now,
if it amt lost"
And do I understand you wish to
retain me as your counsel in this mat
ter and lay claim to this estate. Mr..
Terry" continued Frye.
"Waal, I've told We the facts" re-
Piled Uncle Terry, "an' If the gals got
money comm I'd like to see her git
1t. What's goin' to be the cost o. dom
the busfness?'
The matter Of expense is hard to
state in such case as this" answered
Frye cautiously. ''The estate is large
one. There may be, and no doubt will
be, other claimants. Litigation may
follow, and so the cost Is an uncertain
one. l shall be glad to act for you in
this matter and will do SO if you re-
tain me-"
1t is said that those who hesitate are
lost, and at this critical moment Uncle
Terry hesitated
He did not like the looks of Frye.
He suspected him to be what he was
shrewd, smooth, plausible villain.
Had he obeyed his first impulse he
would have picked up his hat and left
Frye to wash his hands with invisible
soap, and laid his case before some
other lawyer but he hesitated. Frye.
he knew, had the matter in his hands
and might make the claim that his
story was false and fight it with all
the legal weapons Uncle Terry SO much
dreaded In the. end he decided to put
the matter in Frye's hands and hope
for the best.
II shall want you to send me de-
tailed story Of this wreck, sworn to
by yourself and wife," said Frye; .salso
the articles found on this child, and
1 will lay your afRdavits before the at
torneys for this estate and report
progress to you later on"
When Uncle Terry turned his face
toward home his pocket was lighter
by 5000.
Il s'posed I'd git skinned" he NUT
tered to himself after he was well ON
his way home, "an' I reckon I havel
A lawyer knows farmer at sight, an
when he ketches one he takes his hay!
He's taken mine fur sartin, an begin
to think I'm a consumed old fool, that
don't know 'nufr to 60 in when it rains!
How I'm goin' to git the wimmin to
give up them trinkets 'thout 'lowin'
I've lost my senses is one too many
fur meY'
CHAPTERS XIV.
1~1HE effect Of Albert Pages Wig
orOus efforts to attain success
~ was not lost upon his friend
~ Frank.