Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1906-02-01

y 80
HsLR
Ar. Greenstreet received me acith cere-
mony.
strange that a purchaser should have
been SO instant; l had understood that
the experience was uncommon in the
property market. AS l sat contemplate
ing the letter Mr.. Greenstreet inter
posed.
well, sir" said he. smiling. "am 1
to entertain the offer:'
NO" l answered, though 1 could
hardly have said why.
You will live on the property? @ in
quired the lawyer.
Yes l replied. adding, for the
present"
But. in truth, l was in no state of
mind to determine upon any particular
course with definition. so involved were
my emotions in the face of the e1traor-
binary news l had heard. 1t was an
amazing stroke of good luck which by
a signature of a dozen letters convert
ed a comparatively ~impecunious and
brietiess barrister into the proprietor Of
an ancient estate. These thoughts and
feelings moved me as l rode back to
the castle, quite oblivious Of my earlier
resolution to be gone from Raymond
and the scene of that disaster. 1t
seemed now that l was definitely bound
less l accepted Greenstreet's offer to
negotiate a sale of the property for me.
l had fallen into a reyerie-nor I'M l
ashamed to confess that it was q very
pleasant reverie-when l reached the
top of the hill upon which the castle
stood. That hurried drive which Mr..
kesteven and l had undertaken three
days previously had obviously been for
the purpose Of executing the will. I
now asked myself the motive which
had induced him so to favor a casual
acquaintance, but l could find no an
swer save in the general eccentricity
Of his conduct. He had died without a
relative, even without a friend, as it
appeared. and to that fact the mere adj
dttion of a passing whim, generated
possibly under q stress Of unknown
emotion, must suffice to explain his be-
havior. At that phrase of my own.
unknown emotion" l was pulled up
sharply ~ more. What was there at
the back of all these incongruous and
incomprehensible incidents: In the
current of these reflections l almost
rode over the innkeeper Hood by the
entrance Of the park. He saluted me
deferentially. stepping aside to let me
pass and gliding noiselessly to open the
iron gates. At the sight of him the
lawyers statement as to the contents
Of the will required to me, and l reined
in, giving him good day.
This has been a sad business, Sir"
he ventured In his even tones.
I nodded, replying with some com
monplace.
ESPECIALLY, sir, for poor Mr.. hes-
teven, who was, in a manner Of speak
ing, quite alone in the world
Yes said 1, though the remark w
perhaps irrelevant. $50 Mr.. Green
street, his lawyer, tells me-
Hoods glance met mine, as though
he would inquire Of me; but feeling, no
doubt, that this would be too great a
liberty, his eyes reverted to the gate,
which he still held open respectfully.
Mr.. G~reenstreet tells me-" I went
on, ian I suppose an free to repeat
it, that your old master has left you q
small legacy"
The man started vsibly, and for a
second his dark eyes shone on mine.
He seemed almost as surprised as I
had been, but he recovered his aston
ishment next minute and dropped his
gaze.
Thank you, sir. 1t is very kind Of
him-A1r. kesteven, l mean. l served
him three years, and a better master
no mar need want"
"ie paid you a similar compliment"
said /, smiling.
He was always very good to me,
sir"
He stood silent, as though for me to
enter, but as l did SO he said aspect
fully:
i suppose we shall be losing you,
Sly! It's II great thing for Mr.. Kes-
teven TO have had you with him in his
trouble"
Well" SAID l, with a little laugh,
which really could not restrain Ia my
excited condition. not just yet, Hood.
think. I'm afraid you'll have 10 put