The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1905-10-18
his chin with his thumb and hnggi

fix is, if thar's nothin' in .it-ye'd keep
it a secret an not t.raiseiany false;hopes
in the minds o them as isl near and
dear to me-"
IT'S a lawyers professional duty
never to disclose any business conf
dence that a client may con6de to
him." answered Frye, with dignity,
"and in this matter infer you wish
to become my client Am right, Mr..
Terry"
II didn's 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 I knew an see that them as
had rights got justice. AS told ye in
the fust ont, I'm keeper O. the light at
the end O. Southport island, an have
been for thirty year.
"One night in March, just nineteen
year ago comm this spring. thar was
small bark got a-foul @ White Hoss
ledge right of'n the pint and stayed
thar hard an fast. seen her soon
as twas light, but thar was nothln'
that could be done but build q fire an
stand an watch the poor critters go
down. Long toward noon I spied a
bundle workin' in, an when it struck
I made fast to it with boat hook
an found a baby inside an alive. My
wife an I took care ont and have
been doing so ever since. 1t was a
gal baby, and she growed up into a
young lady. Bout ten years ago we
took out papers legally adoptin' her,
an so shes 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 a locket round
the childs neck an 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 rehectively,
stopping over as he did and watching
his visitor with hawk-like eyes.
"a very well 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 state% asked Frye.
"I 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 ye the facts" re-
piled Uncle Terry, "an' if the gals got
money comm I'd like to see her gil
it. What's goin' to be the cost O doin
the business"
"The matter of expense Is hard tc
state in such a case as this" answered
Frye cautiously. 1.-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. I 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 al
the legal weapons Uncle Terry so much
dreaded In the end he decided to pu,
the matter in Frye's hands and hope
for the best.
"I shall want you to send me de
tailed story Of this wreck, sworn te
by yourself and wife," said Frye; "alst
the articles found on this child, an6
I will lay your amdavits 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.
II s'posed I'd git skinned" be NUT
tered to himself after be was well OF
! his way home, 'an' I reckon I have
A lawyer knows farmer at sight, an
when he ketches one he takes his hay
Hes taken mine fur sartn, an begir
| to think I'm consarned old fool, thai
don't kuow 'nuf to 90 in when it rains
How I'm goin' to sit the wimmin te
! give up them trinkets 'thout 'lowln
| I'VE lost my senses is one too many
! fur mer'
CHAPTER XIV.
IN 1HE effect Of Albert Pages Wig
orous efforts TO attain success