Los Angeles herald., 1906-08-12

standpoint, you've done or what Won haven,
done. Yours is most embarrassing position.
NO layman can guess what conclusion the law
would reach from such premises"
Suppose | go into court and declare myself
to be Richard CreghY" said the victim of cir
cumstances, with effort at sarcasm. "Do YOU
think I'd be allowed TO qualify as Roger Goldens
executorY Perhaps, you say, the law would go
to even so absurd lengths"
i don't say that" Burnett answered, reaec-
lively, but l will say there's no telling what
might happen. Anyway, there would be DELAYS
and delays; you might be held here for months
before everything was Strengthened out: you
wouldn't be pleased to postpone your trip abroad
indefinitely And there'd be a great to-do and
no end OF sensational stories, and scandal which
would please none Of u.s."
He harked back to the old cry at every op-
portunity, The repetition annoyed Creigh.
What If there is talk?" he asked, curtly 'Tt'll
XII nobody. Personally I want this dead-and-
alive business ended right away"
Naturally, my boy, naturally. But you must
consider others. Publicity will be narrowing to
me, for instance, and to that woman who made
the scene,-think how it will agitate her,--and
to all your friends, and" he paused for mo-
ment to add force for his closing argument-"to
the young lady who is mentioned in your will.
The papers will surely refer to her. l barely
succeeded before in keeping her name out of
them, but if the case is revived they'll show no
mercy. They'll print what they'll call pictures
of both of you; they'll"
Mr.. Burnett broke down; he could pile no
further terror upon the mountains he had thus
capped. In fact, he needed to do nothing more
for, in few words, he had carried his point.
Creigh, leaning upon the desk, picked up pen
and absently jabbed its point into the top of
the costly piece of furniture It was gold pen,
dear to the heart Of its owner, but the latter
made no effort to rescue it from destruction. He
would have cheerfully sacrificed even more valued
household goods at that moment.
We'll, Burnett" the young man said, at last,
IT guess there's some justice in the way you look
at things l don't quite see how this publicity
you dread so much could harm you, but if there's
any danger of causing her annoyance why. 1
yield, of course. Eventually this muddle will
have to be cleared up, but I'll promise to do
nothing about it until my return from Europe.
BY the way, can't you manage quietly to get that
confounded will out of court in the meantime
If you could, matters would be simpliied won
derfully."
agreed" cried Burnett, with ill.concealed
satisfaction. "I know the probate Judge, and no
doubt he'll not object to what we want Well
recover the will, and nobody will be the wiser.
Don't worry on that score. When can you leave
town."
"Tve little to keep me here. There's my office,
and the room at Mrs. Macl's-"
IT gave them up for you long ago."
about the time you gave me up as well?"
eyes, approximately" the other confessed
"Much Obliged for your forethought. Then
I've only one errand to perform before my de-
parture"
you'll get away tonight?"
Possibly" said Creigh, rising and picking
up his hat. "At any rate, you won't see me
again. I'll send you my London address, and
you can notify me by letter of events here
abouts."