Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1909-07-28
CHAPTER 1.


stimulating, to say the least, in
applicable though the express
~ sion may seem. He attained
the end of hale old age by tumbling
aimlessly into the mouth of crater on
the island of .Iapat, somewhere in the
mysterious south seas. The world had
quite thoroughly forgotten him during
the twenty odd years Immediately pre-
ceding his death. 1t was. however.
noticeably worth while to remember
him at this particular time. He left
last will and testament that babe
fair to distress as we'll MS startle a
great many people on both sides of the
Atlantic.
In Boston the law firm of Bowen &.
Hare was puzzling itself beyond reason
in the effort to anticipate and circum-
vent the plans of the firm of Bosworth,
Newnes & Grapewin. London, e. c.,
while ON the other side of the Atlantic
Messrs. Hosworth. Newnes ts Grape.
win were blindly struggling to do pre-
cisely the same thing in relation to
Messrs. Bowen & Hare.
Without seeking to further involve
myself | shall at once conduct the
reader to the nearest of these law Of
fees.
Pretty badly tangled. declare"
said Mr. Hare. staring helplessly ut
his senior partner.
"Hopelessly" agreed Mr.. Bowen,
very much as if he had at first intend
ed to groan.
Before them on the table lay the con-
tents of Il bulky envelope, a long and
stupendous letter from theii. London
correspondents and with it IL copy of
Taswcll SE;iggs' will. Mr.. Bowen re-
Gently had been named as joint eXccu-
tor of the will. together with Sir John
Alleicronbie of London. W. c.. one
time neighbor of the late Mr.. Skaggs
a long and exasperatiny cablegram
had touched somewhat irresolutely
upon the terms of the will, besides
notifying him that one of the heirs re-
sided in Boston. He was instructed
to apprise this young man of his good
fortune.
There was one very important per-
haps imposing. feature in connection
with the old gentlemun's Willie was
decidedly sound of mind and body
when it WAS uttered
When SUCH astute lawyers as Bowen
& Hare give up to amaZemcnt. the
usual forerunner of CONSERVATION. 1t Is
Il ifyI, IN, n
Ting.
Read it again. Bowen"
.The will?'
mo: the letter"
Whereupon Mr.. Bowen again read
aloud the letter from Bosworth,
Newnes & Grapewin. this time slow
ly and spcculatively.
''They seem as much upset by the
situation as We" he observed reflec-
lively.
extraordinary state of affairs, 1
must say
And don't know what to do about
It. don't even know how to begin.
They're both married"
And not 10 each other"
"She's the wife of Lord knows
what of lord, and he's married to an
uncommonly fine girl, they say, not
withstanding the fact that she has
larger social aspirations than he has
means"
"And If that all important clause In
the will is not carried out to the let
ter the whole fortune goes to the bow
vows"
Practically the same thing. &c
calls them 'natiyes;' that's all. It
looks to me as though the bowwows
will get the old mans millions. ]
don't see how anything short of Prov
idence can alter the situation"
"Thank heaven, Bowen, he names
you as executor, not me-"
II shall decline to serve. It's an
impossible situation, Hare. In the
first place. Skaggs was not an init
mate friend Of mine. / met him in
Constantinople five years ago and aft
erward handled some business for him
in New York. He had no right to
impose upon me as if"-
But why should you hesitate? You
have only to wait for the year to roll
by and then turn your troubles over to
the natives. Young Browne can't
marry Miss Ruthven inside Of year
simply because there is no Miss Ruth
ven. She's Lady-Lady-wh the
Nance"
''Deppingham."
And Browne already has one Mrs.
Rrowne to his credit. don't you see.
We'll. that settles it, I'd say. It's hard
ly probable that Browne Will murder or
divorce his wife. nor is it likely that
hur iadyship would have the courage
Il, dispose of her incumbrance in either
Way IN such short notice."
But it means millions to them,
Hare"
That's their unfortunate lookout.
You are to act as an executor, not as q