Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1907-06-08
CHAPTER IN.


As MT. Carney was ushered into
my private Office 7 rose TO greet him,
and stepped from behind my desk with
outstretched hand, but as he raised
his face TO mine drew back In amaze
ment and disgust and mOtioned him
10 a chair with scant ceremony.
Drunk! the beastl" l muttered to
myself. as he shambled drowsily 20
the seat had Indicated and dropped
into it with a thickly uttered Thank
YOU"
He seemed 90 fall asleep for a mo-
ment. and 7 eyed him steadily for some
time before 7 could bring myself TO
speak. And so the handsome. straight
forward manly fellow OF three years
ago had sunk 90 thisl A sodden de-
graded wretch unfit 90 associate with
pigs in a sty and yet the heir TO a
vast estate and the sole legitimate
protector OF the sweet-faced orphan at
Carney-Croft who awaited his coming
with the imQa,ience born OF love and
hope and conhding trust! God help
the poor gir now. and God help the
accursed wreck that sat opposite me!
His heavy breathing wheeling in
and out OF his throat; his listless.
stupid face. flushed and notified from
the effects o. his excuses; his body,
dripping with Precipitation which stood
out in beads on his forehead and
gllstened on his hand as Il lay tn the
sunlight; and his dropping. blood-shot
|, eyes. now hsf closed and again wan
I dering aimlessly about the room; all
F! combined 90 make a disgusting pic.
ture. Il was with the utmost dimculty
| that ! could restrain my feelings SUI
| ficienuy 10 address him with ordinary
civility. Finally. my judgment pre-
vailed over my Indignation. and re-
membered that 7 was the legal ad-
wiser. only. OF the house OF Carney.
and not in any way concerned with
the mora conduct OF its head
You had a comfortable journey. I
/ hope" ] remarked icily
! LAS comfortable as such a Journey
/ can be-" he wheezed. turning his
bleary eyes toward me as he spoke
This conditions which made my home
coming necessary did not make my
! trip enjoyable. and travelled with the
greatest possible haste. as there are
certain matters that I want you to ar
! range for me at once"
He spoke his words with force and
| precision unusual In a man in his con-
! dition, but he was evidently control
ing himself to the utmost degree and,
as he talked, his face flushed in great
blotches his blood.shot eyes seemed
almost bursting from his head. and
the perspiratien ooEed from his body
and trickled in little streams down his
cheeks and neck.
DO you wish to hear any Of the de-
tails OF your fathers death?" I asked
in a most matter OF fact tone.
mo, thank you" he said, with some
EFFORT Il found a long letter from
Florence at my hotel this morning and
she has told me everything. I wish
merely 70 arrange some money Affairs
with you and make my will, and I
wish 70 do so at once"
How much money do you need for
the present?" 1 asked. sarcastically.
How much money do / need?" he
repeated. In a bswildered tone. why
/ don't need any. have all the read,
cash that l want only want 10 ar
range for the future, you know"
Very glad to hear It," observes
dryly. Now. as TO your will Do yo'
think. Mr.. Carney, that your state o
mind today IS such that you are quite
ready to make & Will? Would Il no
be better for you to wait day OF 81
until-er-until you have had an OF
portunity TO rest from your journe.
and your-ahem-your health has i'm
proved somewhat"
regretted my words on the instant
In spite of the mans condition, the
seemed to have cut him to the quick
An expression of anguish, pitIful I
see. passed over his face and his Who'll
body trsmbled. After q moment h
said slowly with the same wonderful
self-control:
MY health, as you choose to call &
Mr.. Ware, will not improve to any al
probable degree. and my mind is, 8
this moment. as clear as 1t will eve
be. wish you to draw UP a will lea'
ing everything possess to my sistel
Florence Carney. and / wish, also. I
give you power Of attorney so tbs
from this time on, you can conduc
the estate In my stead and supply he
with such funds as she may need.
do not expect to spend much time Q
Carney-Croft and want these ma
ters attended to now, before 20 ther
1T ALL
His ideas were so thoroughly In a
cord with his duty to his sister that
was now anxious to carry them out I
once as he requested. lest another o.
J portunity might never occur. 1t too
but a short time to arrange the detail
OF the will. and then II and the pows
of attorney were signed by him In
: trembling hand and witnessed b