The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1907-02-14
Copyright fsos % bethsAeF
CHAPTER Z.

chickering's letter sbringing news of
my grandfather's death found me at
Naples pearff In october. John
Marshall Gfenafm had died In June,
leaving a win which gave me his prop
erty conditionally. Pickering wrote,
and il was necessary for me 60 return
Immediately to qualify as iegatee. IL
was by the merest luck that the letter
came TO my hands at all. for II had
been sent TO Constantinople. in care
of the consul general instead Of my
banker there. and It was not Picker
ing's fault that the consul was friend
Of mine who kept track OF my wander
ings and was able 60 hurry the execu-
tors letter after me TO Italy. where
Z had gone 10 meet an English finan-
cier who had. was advised. unlimited
money to spend on African railways.
L am an engineer. a graduate Of an
American institution Familiarity known
as The Tech" and as my funds were
running low | naturally turned TO my
profession for employment.
But this letter changed my plans,
and the following day I cabled Pick
ering of my departure and was out
ward bound on steamer for New
York. Fourteen days later sat in
Pickering's Office In the Alexis Build
ing and listened intently while he
read, with much ponderous emphasis.
the provisions OF my grandfather's
will. When he concluded laughed.
Pickering was a serloas man. and
was glad to see that my ievity panied
aim. l had. for that matter. always
been a source Of annoyance TO him,
and his look Of distrust and rebuke
lid not trouble me in the least.
I reached across the table for the
paper. and he gave the sealed and be
ribboned copy OF John Marshall Glen
arms will into my hands. ] read II
through for myself. feeling conscious
meanwhile that chickering's cool gaze
was bent inquiringly upon me. These
are the paragraphs that interested me
most:
Il give and devise unto my said
,gvnndson. John Glenarm. sometime q
resident OF the city and state OF New
York. and later a vagabond OF parts
unknown, a certain property known as
Glenarm House. with the lands and
hereditamentsf thereunto pertaining
and hereinafter more particularly de
scribed. and an personal effects, goods
AID other property that may be
located in the premises and on the
land herein described. Tho said realty
lying in the county OF Wabana In the
state of Indiana. upon this condition,
faithfully and honestly performed:
THAT said John Cicnarm shall re
main an occupant OF said Glcnarm
House and OF .5 lands appurtenant
thereto, demcaning himself meanwhile
in an orderly and temperate manner.
Should he fail at any time during said
year to comply with this provision.
said property shall at once revert to
my general estate. shall become, with
out reservation and without necessity
for any process OF law the property.
absolutely. Of Marian Deyefeuk. OF the
county and state OF New York"
''wen.'' ne demanded. striking his
hands upon the arms OF his chair.
what do you think OF III"
For the life Of me could not help
laughing again There was. In the
first place. a delicious irony in the
fact that should learn through him
Of my grandfather's wishes with re-
spect to myself Pickering and had
grown up in tho same town in Yer
mont; we had attended the same pre-
paratory school. but there bad been
from boyhood a certain antagonism
between US. He had always succeeded
where l failed. which Ia 20. say, i must
admit, that he had succeeded, pretty
frequently. when / refused TO settle
down TO my profession. but chose TO
see something Of the world first. Pick
ering gave himself seriously TO the
law, and there was. J knew from the
beginning. no manner OF chance that
he would fail.
1 am not more or tess than human,
and remembered with joy that once
I had thrashed him soundiy at the
prep school for bullying a smaller boy.
but our. score from school days was
not without taIiieg on his side. He
was easily the better scholar grant
him that: and he was shrewd and
plausible. You never quite knew the
extent of his powers and resources,
and he had, always maintained. the
most amazing good iuck.--as witness
The fact that John Marshall Gienarm
lad taken friendly interest In him.
II was wholly like any grandfather,
who was man OF many whine. TO
dive his affairs into Pickering's keep
ing: and could not complain. for I
rad missed my own chance with him.
It was. knew readily enough, part Of
any punishment for having succeeded
30 signally in mourning my grand
fathers displeasure Hat ne had made
IL necessary for me. TO treat with
Arthur Pickering th'is matter On the
VIII; and Pickering was enjoying the
s,tuation TO the full
But there was someihssg not wholly
nonost In my mirth. for my conduct
Snrlng The three preceding years had
Aen sc,, rhcnsibte. had used my