The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1909-05-28

may choose upon tue NdHucISicy CS'ot
upan the death of an owner thereof. and
the successor can but submit to the claim.
Do you follow me. Mr.. Pearman"
Pretty well. l thenk. May l ask when
was this right of heriot last enforced
md in what shape?'
I'm 1874 Stephen Denison. Esq. of
Glinn. received the sum of f25 in lieu OF
the right of heriOt on the death OF Mat
thew Wilson. That was the last case. 1t
was his heir and successor that sold it
to the Denisons-that being Stephen, be-
fore mentioned"
swell, gentlemen" rejoined Pearman.
'of course l am not quite prepared as
yet to acknowledge this right must
consult my solicitors first on the subject.
Still. it looks plausible enough. l am
afraid" said he, laughing. money don't
go quite so far as in Matthew Wilson's
day. What, may l ask, do you assess me
att"
'Ten thousand pounds" replied Gren-
willie Rose, quietly taking up the parable.
as had been agreed between himself and
his coadjutor beforehand.
Ten thousand! Why, you're mad !"
But there was no laugh now in his re-
joinder. His quick intelligence gathered
at a glance what a desperate position he
was in and, moreover, that the opposite
side were pretty well aware of it.
Were certainly not mad. | don't think
we are foolish. l don't pretend to know
much about these things myself. but the
~veriest tyro knows the first favOrite for
the Two Thousand, ten days before the
race, is worth a big sum. Mr.. Denison
is in difficulties; money is an object to
him. We give you the option of paying
10000 fine or letting us make what we
can out of Coriander. l fancy there will
be plenty of people to bid for him, either
one way or the other-I mean either to
try and win with him, or to take very
good care he don't"
Sam Pearman's turf training stood him
in good stead. He had learned how to
lose. He swallowed the ferocious execra-
ton that rose to his lips. "You will al
low me to look at that deed:'' ne inquir-
ed; land, of course, you cannot expect
an answer till l have had time to COM
municate with my solicitors"
Certainly" returned Granville; "and
your solicitors may also peruse it at the
offices of Messrs. Hawk. Sparrowbille and
Co.. l tell you fairly we nave had coun-
sells opinion upon it, and there is no
doubt the right of heriot still exists. We
mean to make the most we can out of it.
and either take Coriander or a 10000
equivalent"
f. Sam Pearman ran his eye rapidly over
that old deed, which stated, after some
technicalities: "And whereas Hugh Will
son, yeoman, did render good and secret
service last time Ralph Eversley did lay
claim most sacrilegious and outrageous on
lands appertaining to us, abbot and chap
ter of minister, in the year of our Lord
1856, we do hereby grant to him and his
bOdy's heirs the fee-simple of the manor
of Mannersley, in %perpetuity, on the right
of heriot of three beasts. to be delivered
as token of fealty to us the said abbot
and chapter of minister; with further
right of heriot on the part of Sir James
Denison of CHM. and his heirs, to claim
one beast in acknowledgment of allegi-
ance to him as lay-baron and secular
leader Of the retainers of Xminster Alb
hey. The above Acknowledgements Of feal-
~ anu ditcSiduCC L bC pdlu vi Tic ucdlu
of the then holder by his successor and
heir Undersigned, Edmund Gervoise,
Abbot of minister, March 10th. 1856"
Cali very well!" said Pearman; ''but
if this is all you have to go upon, you
can scarcely expect me to pay much at
tention to the claim, more especially when
fixed at such a preposterous figure"
mo, of course not we never thought
you would. Serve the writ of seizure,
Nightjar, and then l think we need in
trude on Mr.. Pearman no longer"
1.-TWO questions, please. before you co.
replied the owner of Mannersley, as he
accepted a neat legal document from the
solicitor. First, time is an object, at all
events to me, in this case. Have you any
objection to say whose opinion you have
taken on that obsolete parchment"
mot in the least. Rumford's. Refer
your solicitors to him"
Good man; getting. a little old, per-
haps, but still safe. Liable to mistakes,
as they all are, of course"
"We consider him good enough. Any
thing more?"
swell, yes; are you aware of my pecu.
liar relations with Mr.. Denison's family
just now?'
Perfectly: and equally so with the
causes which led to that result"
You are travelling rather out of the
record. sir" rejoined Pearman. 81 will
see Mr.. Denison on the subject myself
Tomorrow"
Certainly. you will find him at home
but permit me to say that l consider l
have ~expounded his views pretty accurate
ly. so far"
Perhaps so; but I've known people
change their views. Might l ask are you
related TO the family in any way?"
Il am Mr.. Denison's nephew, and have
the honor to wish you good-morning."
Pearman bowed, and rang the bell.
swell, Nightjar," said Granville, when
they got outside. 80 far so good We We
done all we can; tomorrow will be the
real tug of war. You go back to town
with the deed. Dallison will be waiting
for you tell him all that has passed, and
that he shall hear from nae, as agreed
upon, the minute ! hear anything def.
mite. Meanwhile. good-by; I'm off to
Glinn. Yes, l turn of here it's not three
miles across the fields"
suppose it was a case of animal mag