The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1908-03-14
CHAPTER VII.


could have entered her head without be-
ing suggested to her. But that was not
the case with Lynn Yeames. He was
carried away by the good looks of Miss
DalrympIe, and perceiving that she was
the best woman of the throng, both in
.npearance and family connection, he
magnanimously resolved to sink the con-
sideration of her being poor and resolved
to secure her at any price, no matter how
rich he might be by the death OF his
uncle.
Somehow or other he proposed to her
that night-between the parts, perhaps,
when he led her into the adjoining room
for refreshments, though more PROBABLY
the old woman, his mother, slammed
sleep in the brougham to give her son the
ppportunity as they were taking Miss Dali
rymple home.
Two mornings after the concert DR..
Awdrey called on me, looking as yellow
as an old title-deed.
''You must go up to FlexmOre House
at once" he said, without asking me how
l was, or any other preliminary civility.
''Flexmore is in a critical condition
mere s not Il HOlucuL 10 opdIC.
what does he want me for" l asked.
He wants to see you about that fool
of will you drew up for him. Get into
my trap. / tell you there is no time to
waste"
aren't you coming with me?' l asked,
as he put the reins in my hand
"No; have another case to attend.
can do nothing for Flexmore at present i;
Miss Dalrymple has my instructions, and
/ can rely on her carrying them out"
L drove over to Flexmore House, sus-
pecting mischief l found my old friend
in bed, but perfectly calm and collected.
Miss Dalrymple was in the room with
little Laure, who chung to her hand as
though she felt that soon there would be
but that to protect and befriend her.
Flexmore took my hand with smile
a silent greeting that was more touching
han words.
MY DEAR" he said to Miss Dalrymple,
you must leave us for a few minutes,
please; we have little matter of bust
ness to discuss, my old friend and L.
well. what is it, George?" 1 asked,
going to the bedside.
Tony, you must alter that will or
draw up another at once. You thought
right to tell DR.. Audrey of the provis-
ion had made. He refuses to be Laure's
guardian or trustee for her fortune"
HE won't get out Of it If you let the
will stand; we shall see"
But the will must not stand; he has
shown me that. For the child's sake,
for that dear girl Gertrude's sake, it must
be altered. They must not be separated.
The money must be left in trust, and her
guardian and trustee must be my nephew,
Lynn Yeames."
Nonsense! As soon as Lynn Yeames
finds he has nothing he will cease to pes
ter Miss Dalrymple; he'll never marry
her If he gets the money; and then how
Is your little Laure to live with her? A
proof that he doesn't mean to marry her
is that he has been hanging about her for
months, but has carefully refrained from
binding himself to any engagement"
"You are wrong, Keene. He proposed
to her night before last"
This took my breath away, and left
me no ground to stand on.
"And she accepted him?' gasped, af-
ter an interval of silence
"She did. Yeames told DR.. Audrey
yesterday morning. He came at once to
me, and arrived at the very moment 1
was seized with the attack-otherwise l
might not have survived it. He was
with me all night; and this morning,
finding me sufficiently recovered to listen
to argument, he had this out with me. He
has the highest opinion of Lynn-so has
Miss Dalrymple, or she would certainly
not have accepted him. l myself see no
reason to disbelieve in him. In fact,
it's only you, Tony, who stick out so
obstinately against him. and you, as
every one knows, are man of strong pre-
judices-very strong prejudices."
Il man of strong prejudices" I gasp
ed. Il, a lawyer, whose business it is
to weigh both sides of the question and
decide impartially? 1, an old man OF
the world"
Il don't care what you may be; know
you are an obstinate, pis-headed old fell
low. But you must let me have my way
i know l am right. No argument will
change mel must have my way"
Good" said L "I1l draw up another
will. 1t shall be just as you WISH
As I left the house l spied LYNN
Yeames coming down the road but had
no patience to speak to him, and jumpins
in the doctors gig, drove off as quickly
as l could. / kept the gig at the door
and then, going into my Office. 1 fetched
out the draft Of the old will and a sheet
of foolscap to write the new one upon
Just at that moment my housekeeper came
in to say that my lunch was served.
had an hours work before me: it wouli
take another hour and half to carry i,
over to Flexmore, get his signature. anG
return.
just as | was finishing, there was 8
ring at the bell. and my housekeepe,
brought in word that Mr.. Lynn Yeame.
wished to see me. "Ah, ah!" thought l
he wants to pump me again. does he
All right: so he SHALL" So | babe RI,
housekeeper show him into nv Office ant
say l would be with him in a minnie =,
two. l emptied my cup, and rose to ioi,
my visitor In the next room.
In that moment it struck me thar 7 h.s
left the draft of the old will on RI,
ONCE table beside the sheet of fresh fool
soap. l went on tiptoe to the door an,
peeped through the green taffety blind
Lynn 1eames was standing by the table