Los Angeles herald., 1906-08-12
Gbe STORY OF q NDan UUbo
B@camo@ dF1tS Own ETGcQQtor

saved trouble. As It is, the situation is extreme
4 ly awkward-for you, l mean"
For me? / don't see why. I'm alive instead
Of being dead-that's ALL"
But, my dear fellow, think of the scandal
Scandal? Wherein is it worse for man sup
posed to be dead to be living, than for dead
man to be supposed to be alive|
! All, you don't comprehend your real POSITION,
said Burnett impressively. Legally you are
dead and buried the books of the Coroner and
the cemetery prove so much. You can nave your
legal life restored-at least / suppose you can
but there will have to be court proceedings, and
all kinds Of complications, and the newspapers
will make your name a jest and byword, and
all that sort of thing. That's what meant by
scandal. just consider how trying it Will be for
everybody concerned"
All through the investigation Mr. Burnett had
been the leader, twisting facts to fit his theory
and now before him was living proof that ne,
the most conservative and careful OF men, had
made himself most egregious ass.
"a drunken chap hailed on the bridge"
said Creigh, rehectively. Probably he was the
victim. I'd see the widow, and tell her what
think, if only there was time But ] must leave
the city speedily I'm going to Europe"
"a good plan-a very good plan,' cried the
other, with inhosptabe heartiness You'll en-.
JOY the ocean trip immensely; most pleasant at
this season."
"Glad to hear il. But first I'll have to attend
office, and so on. BY the bye, I'd like that will
of mine"
Burnett turned again to the desk from which
he had produced the newspaper clippings, and
brought to light document which he fingered
nervously for moment before he passed it to its
owner.
There's an explanation necessary" said he.
"This is copy I've been forced to make some
use of the original After your-that is, after
the Coroner's verdict, a shyster, who had heard
that you had left little property and who con-
jectured that you'd-well, that you'd died intes-
tate, applied to the Probate Court to be ap-
pointed your administrator. Getting wind of his
scheme baked it, but to do that had to file
the will with the court. 1t would take too long
to describe all the proceedings, but you have
the substance of the story. Since then I've been
trying vainly to communicate with the executor
you named. I've sent half dozen letters to as
many addresses, but without result. Nobody
seemed to know where Richard Creigh was to
be found. | say though, Roger-Mr Creigh, 1
mean-here's queer complication
Burnett paused, if uncertain how to frame
the next sentence.
| ''Well what is it?" the other asked, with
the patience of one to whom fresh tangle made
very little difference.
'Why, you made Richard Creigh your exec
utor."
Certainly: he was my closest friend, and I
supposed him likely to outlive me-"
ana now you yOuTSe1 are hlCndru OTclBu'
''No doubt that is the only name to which l
now have legal right the young man admit
ted. "But it won't be difficult to explain
how"
''Explain" Burnett broke in. Don't you see
the point? Explanations will involve publicity,
talk, gossip, scandal. That's precisely the point
you fail to appreciate"
'1f hadn't lost my head" said the visitor,
regretfully, "I wouldn't have forgotten that I'd
named him as executor But the news that he
was so i'll fairly carried off my feet. All ]
thought of when his message came was to get to
him without moments delay. Still, what great
difference does it make? He was Richard Cregh
then; I'm Richard Creigh Besides, as I'm
alive, my will doesn't count"
Maybe not; but remember the Coroner's YER
dict: it's matter of record"
| ooh bother the record" cried the young
man. 'Here's another to offset yours. Here's
the certificate, or whatever they call it, given
me by the Judge who granted my petition for q
change of names. Read it and be convinced
| He tossed folded paper to Burnett, who,
opening it with considerable curiosity, perused
it from beginning to end. There was new light
in his eye as he looked up.
whats the date of the will?" he asked.
"May the twenty fifth. Hadn't you noticed
it?"
eyes, had noticed it," said Burnett, dryly.
''That is Just why 1 spoken order to call your
attention to the fact. You see, this certificate,
too, is dated the twenty-ffth of May"
Creigh rose and snatched the paper from his
seniors hand.
"Deuce take the careless judge, so it isl" he
cried. ITS mistake, of course He wrote
May instead of 'June'-that's all"
"Quite enough to make you lot of trouble y
oltoth Burnett, oracularly. "Tell me, though, at
what hour of the day this thing signed?"
Between three and four o'clock in the after
noon"
"And your will?'
about half-past four, 1 remember"
"Indeed!" said Burnett, with vast meaning
eff Pm not mistaken, central time, which is an
hour later than our Eastern time, prevails in
the region where you dropped the Roger Golden" "
"What if it does"
Merely that, on the face of the records, no
body can tell whether your will the certificate
was signed first. Going still by the records, my
boy, nearly I can make out, it's pretty
question whether you haven't appointed your
self your own executor"
"Thats impossible"
"In fact, yes; in law-I tell you law is I'm
certain; it's hard to tell just what, from legal