The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-09-30

she always acted before she thought I
wondered at Cabanissis daring, for I knew
that though he could be desperate it wal
only as a last resort against the intolerable
pangs Of cowardice.
/ saw nothing Of the two ladies', nor vas
there further reference to them in the Leaf,
other than that they remained secluded at
home. declining to see any one or to make
any statement regarding the case. Could the
contestants story be true, after all, and
did they intend surrendering fame and
fortune without q fight?
One morning Mr.. Savage called me into
his private Office.
4 want you to go down to the Probate
Court, Buffum." he said sharply. "Cabaniss
has found it convenient to betake himself
to the further END Of the State on the plea
Of some political deal, leaving me, as usual.
to hold the fort while he skulks. The
Schrigley contest comes on, and / must
be kept in close touch with it. Watch out
for snags; the course has been well laid,
but It's the unexpected that must be ex-
pected these days"
l found myself presently by tho grace
Of reflected greatness admitted within the
rail Of the stuffy and gloomy court room.
The meagre space in front Of the desk
where Surrogate Selden, sat, complainant,
as II the Sequoia Senators did not own
him body and soul, was crowded.
l was glad TO slip into the one vacant
chair, not recognizing the lady who so
obligin gly swept aside her skirts until I
was seated. Then l saw that / was next
to my partner at the Regents dinner, Miss
Skeed, her wrinkled face drawn and bag
gard, and that just beyond sat Geraldine
Sohrigley, unusually pale and sombre.
wen allowing for the effect Of her. heavy
Grape draperies.
And while the lamp holds out to burn,
the vilest sinner may return y quoted the
spinster with a pitiful shade Of her former
spirit. Shall I tell our lawyer, Rufus
Nectern, Mr.. Bufum, that you are come
TO lend a helping hand?'
your lawyerF" I gasped.
Most assuredly. Isn't Mr.. Nectern the
leader Of the State barr"
Indeed he was and that gave him a
commodity for dishonorable trafHc. 1 be-
gan to see why Cabaniss had been so daring.
even II he had skulked at the last hour; why
Mr.. Savage felt so confident, barring snaRs;
why the spinster was 30 troubled and the
girl so spiritless.
Nectern was as much our man, body and
soul, as was the Surrogate, as was the Hon.
Mark Glacier himself. With the odds three
to none against them, what chance did the
poor women have2
Wasn't IL likely, wasn't IL positive, that
already their ounsel had warned them 10
prepare for the worst? Wasn't il likely,
wasn't il positive, that they had learned
Of some spot in the late lamented Gov
emor's past 30 dark that it seemed il must
now o~vershadow their future2
I couldn't help it; l tried honestly to work
for my job; but not without some sort Of a
moral reservation.
you mean he is Miss Schrigley's lawyer?"
I went on breathIessly. He doesn't repre-
sent you, Miss Skeedl"
-Of course not, except as Geraldine and
I are one"
But you have a distinct, separate inter-
est. one which entities you to appear, to be
heard, should a settlement, for instance. be
attempted. Think for a moment-I can't
say m~ore-might it not be prudent II you
know any one absolutely reliable and
friendly to ask him to come here. 10 inter-
vene, to watch Outi'