The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1907-03-23
CHAPTER I.-Continued.
Copyright iSo by Bobo.-AeIriii Co.

my cigarette case ana passed II across
the table.
After you, They're made quite
specially for me in Madrid"
You forget that l never use tobacco
in any FORM
You always did miss a good deal of
the joy of living" observed, throwing
my smoking match into his waste
paper basket, to his obvious annoy
ance. We'll, I'm the bad boy of the
story books; but I'm really sorry my
AQheritance has string tied to 1t. I'm
bout out of money. l suppose you
wouldn't advance me few thousands
on my expectation"
Not a cent" he declared, with quite
unnecessary vigor; and l laughed
again. remembering that in my old
appraisement of him generosity had
not been represented in large figures.
'It's not in keeping with your grand
fathers wishes that 1 should do so.
You must have spent good bit of
money in your tiger hunting exploits"
he added
Il have spent all I had" I replied
amiably. Thank God, I'm not clamy
I've seen the world and paid for it, and
ask nothing Of you. You undoubt-
edly share my grandfather's idea of
me, that I'm a wild man who can't
sit still or lead an orderly. decent life;
but I'm going to give you a terrible
disappointment. What's the size o.
the estate?"
Pickering eyed me-uneasly. l
tl.ooght-and began playing with
pencil. l never liked Pickering's
hands they were thick and white and
better kept than l like to see a mans
hands
Il fear it's going to be disappointing.
In his trust company boxes here l
have been able to find only about ten
thousand dollars worth of securities.
Possibly-quite possibly-we were all
deceived in the amount of his fortuee.
Sister Theresa wheedled large sums
out OF him. and he spent, as you will
see, small fortune on the house at
Annandale without finishing it. 1t
&snt a cheap proposition, and in ITS
unfinished condition it is practically
valueless. You must know that Ilr.
Glenarm gave away a great deal OF
money in his lifetime. Moreover, he
established your father. You know
what he left,-it was not a small for
tine as those things are reckoned"
was restless under this recital. My
fathers estate had been of respectable
size, and had dissipated the whole of
it. My conscience pricked me as l
recalled an item of 100000 that l had
suent-somewhere grandly-on an ex-
pedition that l led, with considerable
satisfaction to myself, at least,
through the Sudan. But Pickering's
words amazed me-.
Let me understand you" | said,
bending toward him. My grandfather
was supposed to be rich. and yet you
tell me you find little property. Sister
Theresa got money from him to help
b, lid a school. How much was that"
Fifty thousand dollars. 1t was an
zen account. His books show the ad-
W.nces, but he took no notes.
And that claim is worth"
1T is good as against her individu-
ally. But she contends
Yes. go on"
l had struck the right note. He was
annoyed by my persistence and his APP
parent discomfort pleased me.
She refuses to pay. She says Mr..
Glenarm made her gift of the money"
That's possible, isn't it? He was
forever making gifts to churches.
Shools and theological seminarics
were sort of weakness with him"
We'll pass that. If you get this
money the estate is worth 100000, plus
the value of the land out there at
Annandale, and Glenarm House is
worth"
There you have me."
1t was the first lightness he had
shown. and it put me on guard.
Il should like an idea of it's value
Even an unfinished house is worth
something"
Land out there is worth from 800
to $3.50 an acre. There's an even hum
dred acres. I'll be glad to have your
appraisement of the house when you
get there"
"Humph! You flatter my judgment
Pickering. The loose stuff there is
worth how much?"
Its all in the library. Your grand
fathers weakness was architecture"
$50 I remember" l interposed. re-
calling my stormy interviews with
John Marshall Glenarm over my
choice of profession.
"In his last years he turned more
and more to his books. He placed out
there what is, suppose. the finest col
lection of books relating to architec-
ture to be found in this country. That
was his chief hobby, after chuNh af-
fairs, as you may remember, = sAd he
rode it hard. But he derived a great
deal of satisfaction from his stucies."
/ laughed again: 1t was easier to
laugh than to cry over the situation.