Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1907-12-12
BY MISADVENTURE
F r A ~ K 3 A r r e T T
CHAPTER VIII \

l got TO the palings by the park, and
kept them in touch until at length
reached the carriage drive gate Of Fle1-
nore's house. By this time, what with
one accident and another, 1t, must have
been pretty nearly four o'clock. There
were lights in the house. Before the door
stood Lynn Yeames' mare, Flexmore's
gardener holding her head.
Afternoon, SIR" said he in an under
tone that spoke OF calamity. There was
foreboding silence, also, on the part OF
the maid-servant as she opened the sit
ting room door.
Miss Dalrymple was On her knees be-
fore a big chair drawn near the fire, in
which little Laurie sat, her face buried
In her hands. They were not aware of
my presence. l left them, closing the
door behind me in silence.
Where is Mr.. Yeames?' asked of the
maid who waited in the hall.
Upstairs in masters room, sir" she
replied lugubriously.
Yeames was standing by his uncle's bed
side; he thrust his hands quickly in his
pockets as the door opened and l entered
No one else was there. I went in silence
to the bed and looked down. Flexmore's
eyes were closed, but his jaw had drop
ped.
You're a bit too late with that will,
said Yeames, in a tone and with an ex-
preston on his face that implied a good
deaI-a tone of subdued popularity, cum
ming leer that babe me understand he
knew why l hadn't come earlier. why,
what have you been doing?" he asked
with surprise. You're a sight to be
seen"
How long has he been gomez" [ asked,
Indifferent to my appearance.
"Oh, not above a quarter of an hour.
Gertrudes just gone down. She did all
that was possible to restore vitality. But
it's all over this time. He won't come
back any more as the song says"
Have you sent any one for DR.. Aw-
drey? He ought to be here"
''Of course he ought but l suppose he's
got some interesting pauper to look after.
l went for him myself. The old boy
was shocking bad when l arrived here
after leaving you. l went over to Aw-
drey at once, but he was out; came back,
and by that time nunky was pretty near
"Was he in a state of consciousness at
that time or not?"
well, he was conscious enough to ask
for you, and wonder why you hadn't
turned up"
1t occurred to me that Lynn 4eames,
seeing his uncle's precarious condition,
had himself stretched that cord for me
instead of going for DR.. Awdrey, in order
to prevent my arriving in time to get
Flexmore's signature to the will.
DO you know why 1 did not turn up,
as you call it," | asked sharply.
Not l but you're not sorry, l sup
pose, that you did not get here in time. "
1t was on the tip of my tongue to re
tort, Not so sorry as you may have rea-
son to be, Mr. Yeames )" but l said moth
ing for l wished to see how far this
young mans faulty would carry him, and
contented myself with thinking of the
bitter punishment in store for him when
he should find out how completely he had
deceived himself. Certainly no self-de-
ception could be more complete than his.
Assured of my venality, led away by his
own hopes and over-confidence in the sue
cessful issue of his cunning, he apparent
" felt as sure of being possessed of his
uncle's fortune as though the thousands
were already in his hands.