Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1908-05-29
CHAPTER XVII

Coneyford, and keep out of sight, know
.ng that he could do nothing to re-estab-
lish his character until he had got into
he farm where he was to work such
wonders, or finding the bad weather that
succeeded the frost intolerable, or society
dull, or for some other reason that may
be clearer later on.
He had made himself very popular at |
Coneyford with his charities, his reckless |
riding, his agreeable manners, and his as
sumption of bluff, outspoken honesty. !
People were inclined to think even better !
of him in his absence than when he was
amongst them, remembering the pleasant
side of his character and forgetting the
little slips which occasionally awakened
suspicion. He was spoken of as fine
type of muscular Christianity. Miss Dal-
rymple was constantly with these people,
and as 1t was generally understood that
tacit engagement existed between her
and Yeames, they thought to please her by
talking about him, and sounding his
praises Then that dear, stupid old doc
tor, whenever he got letter from Lynn,
must needs show it to her and diate on
the fine prospect extending before young
fellow with such manly feeling and high
aim.
1t was the end Of the second week In
March, and people were speculating on
the day when Lynn Yeames would make
his appearance, when something occurred
which upset everything; it was nothing
less than a moral cataclysm altering the
entire aspect of affairs.
thot
! 7 found visitor In nv office who had
been waiting there three parts of an hour
to see me. He was a little pudgy man.
with short throat, a puffy face, and
eyes as like a pigs as ever / saw. He
breathed with difficulty, and gasped be-
fore each sentence, and in the middle also
| IL it was a long one. He had not much
hair; what there was Of it had dirty,
sandy tint; his whiskers were hardly
distinguishable, they were so thinly
planted, and like his complexion. He
coat that formed deep ridges in his waist,
and seemed to increase the difficulty Of
breathing. In one hand he held his hat,
in the other a pair of gloves, and both
rested on his knees, which, by reason of
their shortness and pudginess, were wide
ly separated.
"Afterneen, Mr.. Keene; afternoon,
sir" he gasped, turning his little blue
eyes in, the corner before he could screw
himself up on his legs to face me. Come
to talk with you on a matter Of busi-
ness. My names Bax-Smithson BaI :"
with this he sank down on his chair and
gasped again.
mot the pleasure Of knowing you, Mr..
Bax," said 1, sitting down in front Of
him.
Thought you might have heard Of me
from Lynn Yeames or Mrs. Yeames. I
am-friend of the family"
"a professional friend?" | asked, for
l detected the look of pettifogger in
him.
you may call me-professional friend
il you like-not lawyer exactly-know
something about it." He gave me glance
that was not to be mistaken, and contin-
ued ITO begin with, you must under
stand that I-acting on behalf of the fam
ily-Lynn Yeames nothing at all to do
with it-better keep out of it,
''He does not wish to take the respon-
sibility of anything you dor
That's it. Too generous-too careless
of his own nterests-altogether too"
he gasped and filled up the break with a
wave of his gloves.
81 understand his character perfect
ly, Mr.. Bax; let us come to the point"
"We'll 60 straight at it-begin in the
middle-save breath. DR.. Awdrey is a
scoundrel-biggest hypocrite and rascal
that ever imposed-credulous humanity !"
"Be good enough to show how you ar
rive at this conclusion" said /.
81 will. Flexmore's will. He knew
of the conditions in the first one. He
knew also the conditions in the second.
He knew that if that were not signed he
would come into two thousand year"
'He did"
Good. Tell me, please, Mr.. Keene,
why that second will was not signed"
IL was thrown out of a trap; that and
the fog"
Thrown out of trap. How? An
swer me that, if you please"
''By a rope stretched from one side Of
the road to the other"
Good | can produce witness to
prove that he was engaged by DR.. Aw-
drey to stretch that rope and throw you
over"
ITO be continued.)