Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1907-12-12
looking about for the pellet Of paper
was carrying away in my pocket
CHAPTER K

CHAPTER K.
/ have in my Office what l call my
handy drawer good large drawer
that slides easily and fastens with a
patent key, and divided into score of
compartments. In this 1 put away any
thing that l think may come in handy
at some future time, and an alphabetical
index on a side Of paper tells me at a
glance in which nest to find what | want.
l recommend a drawer Of this kind to
any one of a practical and methodical
turn of mind; he will have recourse to
it more frequently than he anticipates,
and find it occasionally of inestimable
value.
Well, into this drawer, Nest Y, put
that pellet of paper after making a care
full examination of 1T, and indexed it
thus: 'Yeames.-Pellet of paper jerked
out of his pocket, day of Fle1more's
death, Dec IS, 1855" I shall have
more to tell about this later on-a good
deal more.
In the evening of that day saw DR..
Audrey; he came to me with face as
long as a fiddle.
That's an unfortunate accident that
happened to you this afternoon" he said.
1T might have been worse" said l,
feeling my nose. Il came plump down
on it. Wonder I didn't break it."
I'm not speaking of that" said he, put
ting down his hat and seating himself.
"Oh, you're thinking of your prop
erty." The poor old nag had put his
shoulder out and had to be killed, and
-lo 20 @ln IL
well, if your old horse had not been
thrown down, you would have been thou
sands out Of pocket"
you know what l mean; 1t is an I'M
fortunate accident that prevented your
arriving in time for F'lexmore to sign the
new will as he wished"
'There we differ. l do not regard the
accident as unfortunate from that point
of view
well, what is to be done about it? The
old will is virtually revoked"
But actually it stands as good as ever
it was, and so it shall stand"
"Supposing l refuse to accept the
guardianship of Flexmore's child?"
you can't refuse. Common sense will
not let you; humanity will not let you;
III lOl ltL gOu. Lave yOu Seeu Lyuu
Yeames since his uncle's death?'
NO he had left the house five minutes
before l arrived. l hear he called at
my house, but l came by the other road.
Since then have been unable to find him
anywhere"
That's a pity. l should have liked
you to see him as I saw him. He is so
confident of being his uncle's heir that
he has thrown off all restraint, every pre-
tense of decency, and shows himself the
hectoring bully, the heartless rascal I
have always believed him to be-"
"Impossible!" he exclaimed, looking in
credulously at me, whom alone of all men
he doubted and looked upon as misguid
ed by prejudice.
II tell you it's a fact. He was brutal
to little Laure, and he insulted Miss Dali
rymple before my face. Why? Because
now that he believes himself master of
his uncle's fortune, he wishes to break off
his engagement with her. He has no
more intention of marrying her now than
he had the first day he came to Coney-
ford
II can't understand you-a man so
clear in judgment on most things
Get that nonsense out of your head.
doctor. l tell you that l am no more
prejudiced against him than l am in
favor of you. He is a selfish, heartless
scoundrel."
"You will never make me believe that
of Lynn Yeames."
HE shall make you believe it of him
self. Abstain from letting him know how
Flexmore's money is to be disposed of,
and watch him between now and the read
ing of the will. He already talks of send
ing the child away to a boarding school,
and, as l tell you, reproved Miss Dal-
rymple before me for being too sympa-
thetic and kind to her.
But why should he believe himself to
be his uncle's heir?"
Because he fell into trap, and was
led to believe so by me. And I'll tell you
something else, doctor. He believed that
this new will was to revoke an existing
will in his favor; and l am convinced
that he stretched the cord that threw the
gig over and delayed me, that this will
might not be signed and nicely he has
defeated his own ends by it. I'd forgive
him tor that if my nose had been broken
Il think l can upset that theory, at
least" said Audrey. What time was it
when you were thrown from the gig?"
About two o'clock, as nearly as l can
reckon said I.
Good He left Flexmore's house to
fetch me at one o'clock he was at my
house at half-past, and he waited there
for me until ten minutes past two"
He had proved an alibi for Lynn, and
7 e. Ir,;+ I h. N ho
on this point.
And so you are, 1 am sure, on other
points respecting him." said the doctor.
I'VE shall see that. Keep your mind
unprecedented, and watch that young man
during the next four or five days" said
l, as l opened the door to let him out.
Unfortunately, this chance of clearing
his mind was denied to US. The next
morning, when | called at Flexmore
House, l heard that he had not been seen
since he left, shortly after my departure,
to fetch DR.. Awdrey; and in the course
of the day I learned that he had gone to
London. This did not surprise me. Hes
gone to see a London solicitor about this
affair."" | thought; land may be bled
pretty freely by my learned friends ~
Betimes on Thursday l called again
at the house, for l had made up my mind
to visit the inmates there every day,
knowing how long and dreary the days
must be for them in the darkened house,
and that the child, at least, looked upon
me as protecting friend. Miss Dalrym-
pie was bending over her work with a
worn and anxious look upon her sweet
face. Little Laure started up with
terrified expression in her eyes, as though
she expected to see Lynn Yeames with a
rope in his hand to haul her off TO board
ing school, as l opened the sitting room
door. Both of their poor faces lit up
with pleasure when l said:
Its only 1.-THE old lawyer-come to
bother you for some papers"
Laure ran up, threw her arms around
my neck, and kissed me; and, still hug
ging me, she whispered:
You don't forget what you promised?'
No" / whispered back. No one shall
take you away from Nurse Gertrude
You are a nice old dear!' she said,
giving me another kiss, and then she ran
nol-