Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1907-06-07
CHAPTER III.
John Carney.

John Carney.
As Mr.. Carney was ushered into
my private ONCE I 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
rnent' and disgust and motioned him
70 Q chair with scant ceremony.
Drunk! the BEAST" l muttered 10
myself, as he shsmbled drowsily to
the seat l had indicated and dropped
into 1t with . thickly uttered Thank
you
He seemed To fall asleep for a mo-
ment, and l eyed him steadily for some
time before l could bring myself to
speak. And 30 the handsome, straight
forward, manly fellow Of three years
ago had sunk to this! A sodden, de-
graded wretch, unit to associate with
pigs in a .sty, and yet the heir to Q
vast estate and the sole legitimate
protector Of the sweet-iaced orphan at
Carney-Croft who awaited his coming
with the impotence born Of love and
hope and connding trust! God help
the poor girl now, and God help the
accused wreck that sat opposite mel
His heavy breathing wheeling In
and out Of his throat; his listless,
stupid face, flushed and notified from
the effects Of his excuses; his body,
dripping with perspiration which stood
out in beads on his forehead and
glistened on his hand as 1t lay in the
sunlight; and his dropping, blood-shot
eyes, now half closed and again wan.
Nering aimlessly about the room; all
combined to make disgusting pic
ture. 1t was with the utmost difficulty
that I could restrain my feelings sui.
ficiently to address him with ordinary
civility. Finally, my judgment pre-
vailed over my Indignation, and l re-
membered that / was the legal ad.
wiser, only, Of the house Of Carney,
and not in any way concerned with
the moral conduct Of its head.
you had a comfortable journey, I
hope" remarked icily.
"As comfortable as such a journey
can be-" he wheezed, turning his
bleary. eyes toward me as he spoke.
"The conditions which made my home
coming necessary did not make my
"trip enjoyable, and l travelled with the
greatest possible haste, as there are
certain matters that l 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
iblotches, his blood-shot eyes seemed
almost bursting from his head, and
the perspiration oozed from his body
and trickled in little streams down his
cheeks and NECK.
y DO you wish 70 hear any of the de-
tails Of your fathers death?" asked
a. most matter Of fact tone.
mo, thank you,T he said, with some
effort. 81 found a long letter from
Florence at my hotel this morning and
she has told me everything. I wish
merely to arrange some money affairs
with you and make my will, and
wish to do so at once"
How much money Do you need for
The PRESENT." l asked, sarcastically.
How much money do l need?" he
repeated, in q bewildered tone. why
I don't need any. ! have all the ready
cash that want, l only want to ar
range for the future, you know"
VERY glad to hear It," observed
hryly. Now, as to your will. Do you
think, Mr.. Carney, that your state Of
mind to-day Is such that you are quite
ready to make a will? Would 1t moi
be better for you to wait day or 50
nntiEer-until you have had an op'
portunity to rest from your journey
and your-ahem-your health has i'm
proved somewhat"
regretted my words on the instant
ln spite of the mans condition, they
seemed to have cut him to the quick
AN expression Of anguish, pitiful to
pee, passed over his face and his whole
body trembled. After a moment he
said slowly with the same wonderful
self-control:
. MY health, as you choose to call it,
Mr.. Ware, will not improve to any ap.
preciable degree, and my mind is, al
this moment, as clear as it will ever
be. / wish you to draw up a will leav.
sng everything l possess to my sister,
I~~
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