The Rathdrum tribune. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1903-1963, 1909-11-19

Copyright 1909. by American Press Asso
Cation.
John and Martin Stokes. brothers,
were In business together for many
years. They made money. but when
John died Martin found great DIM
Guilty In settling up the business
Johns oldest SOD Peter, fearing that
his uncle would absorb the dead part
ner's interest. bothered and delayed his
uncle In such fashion that. financial
panic coming on. what was left OF the
firms assets was SO entangled that 1t
could only be liquidated after patient
management. Martin Stokes. breaking
down In health. turned the whole mat
ter over to his nephew and left for
parts unknown.
Ten years later he reappeared, a
sickly looking old man, but with some
appearance Of having prospered. Peter
Stokes had meanwhile saved some
00OO from the wreck. half Of which.
Of course. belonged to his uncle. But
Peter furnished accounts to show that
the firm had been insOlvent. His uncle
looked them over. studied them and
handed them back to his nephew with
the remark:
I'm sorry, Peter. that you got moth
ing out of 1t. But. after all, may not
have been away SO long for nothing.
have no children to enjoy what ! have
accumulated and have determined to
leave it to you and your sisters. ! will
place 1t In a safety deposit company's
vault and tell you where keep the
key. After my death you can unlock
the box containing the securities. and
they will be yours without any will
and testament on my part. All ask
from you Is q bare pittance 80 long as
| live. which will be at most but few
years."
He took long. fat envelope from
his pocket sealed with his own seal
and wrote on It. Il give this property
to my nephew. Peter Stokes. and bis
sisters. Lydia and Grace Stokes" The
words bore that days date and was
signed by the donor.
This PLAN" he said. "leaves at my
an estate must be liquidated the same
as business. And you know that in
winding up a business there Is lot
Of shrinkage. You have done all the
work In settling the affairs of John
& Martin Stokes with no pay. What
ever there may be between us Of a
business nature connected with these
affairs is settled now by this transac-
ton. The envelope goes into box OF
the Fidelity Trust company, and here
Is the key on my ring"
The nephews and nieces accepted
the gift and the conditions with alac.
rity. The envelope was fat enough to
contain some twenty or thirty bonds
or If the property was in stocks there
might be twice as many certificates.
Those to whom the gift was made
desired their uncle to come and live
| with them. This he declined to do
He rented a little cottage, where be
kept house by himself. He said moth
Ing to his nephew or nieces about the
payment of the rent. but 1t was paid
by them. He said nothing about sup
plies, but they opened accounts fol
/ him at provision stores. though they
secretly instructed the tradesmen t.
keep them posted as to the amount
the old man was being credited with
At the end Of the first year Peter
Stokes figured up the amount expend
ed at about 5000. But the owners OF
the estate, which could not be used til
after the donors death. fearing that II
they appeared niggardly the donor
might take back his gift. expended fol
him an additional $500. making a to
tai Of $1,000. This they considered
keeping within bounds.
The old man remained for q time
very delicate. Indeed, the doctors bill
amounted to several hundred dollars
His loving nephew and nieces begget
him to come and live with them. thai
they might the better administer to hi
comfort. But he said he didn't wish
to be burden on any one. assuring
them that they would not be the losel
by a cent for what money they ex
pended upon him. After the first fv,
years his health became very goot
and remained 80 for three years. wher
he died rather suddenly. Before tn,
old man breathed his last Peter Stokes
figured up that the amount expended
upon him had amounted to exactl.
$3.50. But there were funeral ex
penses to be paid amounting to abou
$50. However. since his uncle wal
dead. there would be no need to b,
eytravagant in this respect. and he re
solved to cut the amount down to $75
The FIRST thing Peter did when hi
uncle was pronounced dead was t,
take his key ring from his poke
and, detaching the safety deposit key
start for the trust company. His sis
ters exacted promise that he woul,
not open the envelope till the day afte
the funeral. the same as In case o
Wills. Bringing the packet home. b.
locked 1t in his desk and waited.
The morning after the funeral tn
family gathered in the library. locke,
the door, took out the envelope an,
tore 1t open. Within were folde,
pieces of blank parchment, on one O
which was written:
Martin Stokes in account with Pete
Stokes: To expenditures for said Martil
Stokes. 10000; to amount due from set
AZ - - -