The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1909-01-15

why don't your brothers. Ezra and
Martin. look after the child? They're
rich men already, and their father has
now doubled their wealth. What Is a
mouth more or less TO the likes OF
them?"
I'D sooner see my own little ones
lying quiet in their collins than en-
trusted to the mercles of Ezra and
Martin; and so would you, Eliza. You
must make explanations for me at the
ntore in the morning. | am going by
that five train"
In the large parlor OF old Ezra
Sillmans mansion sat the late mer-
chants solicitor and three sons. They
ble-Ezra and Martin, well.to-do and
prosperous, at either hand of Mr.. Ma
kin; John, shabby and detected, at
the other extreme end, ignored and
solitary.
The lawyer. small. dry-faced. ac'
tive man. had pressed his hand at
first meeting. and whispered some
thing which John could not catch. He
rose from his seat now and spoke.
Gentlemen, you all know the terms
of your late fathers will There are
no legal technicalities to explain, no
complications to unrayel.
ITO you, Mr. Ezra, the land and the
house property OF which your late
father was possessed at the time Of
his decease.
ITO you, Mr.. Martin. all moneys,
plate, furniture, pictures. books. car
riages and horses of which your late
lamented father stood possessed at
the time Of his decease."
ITO you, Mr.. John, the care of Janet,
adopted child of your late lamented
| father"
The lawyer stopped short. coughed
| dryly, and sharply scrutiniZed John
| Sillman Ezra and Martin also turned
contemptuous glance In the direc'
ton Of their brother. John pulled his
ragged beard and murmured: "Ay,
that Is so"
do you accept the charge. Mr.
John?" asked the attorney.
"Ay, that do |. Poor mite, she's a
lonely one this day"
Pardon me-" remarked MIR. Maxim.
obviously, but do | understand that
you are-ahem!--not overburdened
with this worlds goods?"
I'm poor man. mister" said John.
bluntly. Il am 30 poor that ! find
life a hard riddle to solve, and don't
know but what death would be rest
and blessn' to me and mine"
yet, despite your poverty and the
claims that your own family have up
on you, you accept this charger"
"Ay that | do. And why? Cos
she's a lonely mite this night. And
may the same be done to mine II
should die and leave them unde-
| Tended"
Ezra and Martin grew impatient.
Times money, lawyer" said the ED.
err. Don't waste It, You've got the
papers there. Let Martin and me
know exactly what we're worth.
You're man of business yourself,
and will appreciate the request"
Certainly" cried Mr.. Maxim, brisk.
Is. i've all the details here. / can
dismiss your part of the business in
q few words
"Mr. Ezra" said the lawyer. care.
lessly glancing at deed before him,
ito you, the land and house property
OF which your late father died pos
sessed To be sure. Your father. as
you may have heard, started life as a
carpenter. and worked in hired shed
on a plot of ground an eighth OF an
acre in extent. He bought the ground
and shed when times began to pros
per. This is yours now. The shed
needs furnishing bit, though 1t
makes an excellent tool house"
Good heavens. slr'" clustered Ezra
Sillman, rising wrathfully in his chair.
But Mr. Maxim, after another glance
at the document preceded to ad'
dress Martin. "Mr. Martin to you all
the moneys, plate. furniture. pictures,
carriages and horses. To be sure. In
your late fathers pockets were dol
lar and a snuffbox. In his room were
an invalid chair and framed print
entitled Charity In his warehouse
yard pony and barrow-the last
two preserved in memory Of his early
struggling days when he hawked his
handicraft through the streets. They
are yours now. The pony Ia blind, and
the barrow would do with fresh coat
| of paint"
Martin Sillman sprang to his feet
with an oath. "ConfounG you, sir!
What does this mean? Our father died
rich man"
Pardon me-" interposed the law.
yer. Two months before his death
the late Mr.. Sillman made over his
entire wealth. with the trifing excep.
lions just mentioned, to his adopted
child, Janet Aayfiower. on the condi-
| ton that she shared with whomsoever
should be disinterested enough to &C.
cept charge of her for no other pur.
pose than that Of pure charity. Mr..
John. you have accepted the charge. /
congratulate you. As to you, Mr..