Putnam patriot. [volume] (Putnam, Conn.) 1872-1962, 1909-07-30
CHAPTER l.
TsE4lAFE MIR kAGes.

4 stimulating. 10 SLY the tedSt. III
applicable though the expires
- sion may seem. He attained
the end of hale old age by tumbling
ainlessly into the mouth of crater on
the island of Japat, somewhere in the
mysterious south seas. The world had
quite thoroughly forgotten him during
the twenty odd years Immediately pre-
eeding his death. 1t was, however.
noticeably worth while to remember
him at this particular time He left
a last will and testament that babe
fair to distress as well as startle
great many people on both sides of the
Atlantic.
In Boston the law firm of Bowen 4
Hare was puzzling itself beyond reason
in the effort to anticipate and circum-
vent the plans of the firm OF Bosworth-
Newnes 4 ,Grapewfn. London. Il. G..
while on the other side Of the Atlantic
Messrs Bosworth, Newnes & Grape
win we're blindly struggling to do pre-
cisely the same thing in relation to
Messrs. Bowen. & Hare.
Without seeking TO further involve
myself l shall at once conduct the
reader to the nee crest of these law Of
fees.
Pretty badly tangled, | declare.
said Mr. Hare. staring helplessly Al
his senior partner.
"Hopelesslyn agreed Mr.. Bowen
very much as If helhad at first intend
ed to groan.
Before them on the table lay the CON
tents of a bulky envelope, long and
stupendous letter from their London
correspondents and with 1t copy OF
TasweIl Skaggs' will. Mr.. Bowen re-
Gently had been named as joint execu-
tor of the WILL together with Sir John
Allenerombie of London, w. G.. one
time neighbe Of the late Mr.. Skaggs.
A long aud exasperarsng cablegram
had touched somewhat irresoluteiy
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 enc very important. per
haps imposing, feature in connection
with the old gentleman's wiA-he was
decidedly sound of mind and body
when 1t was uttered.
When such astete lawyers as Bowen
4 Hare give up TO amazefnent, the
usual forerunner Of consternatich, 1t Is
high time to regatd the case as star
ting
Read 1t again. Bowen.
The wilt?'
NO; the letter.
Whereupon Mr. Bowen again read
aloud the letter from Bosworfh,
Newnes 4 Grapewin. <his time slow
iy and speculatively.
They seem as much upset by The
situation as We" he observed renee-
lively
Extraordinary state o. affairs. l
must say"
And don't know what 10 do about
IT. l don't even know how to begin
They're both married"
And not to each other"
She's the wife of a Lord knows
what Of Q lord. ana he's married to an
uncommoniy fine girl. they say. not
withstanding the fact that she has
larger social aspirations than he has
meane~
And II that all important clause In
the will II not carried o9t TO the let
ter the whole fortune goes to the bow
wows"
Practically the same thing He
calls them natives that's all II
looks to me as though the bowwcSs
win 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-
Il shall decline TO serve rs an
impossible situation, Hare. In tns
first place. Skaggs was not an intl
mate friend OF mine. l met nsfn IN
Constantinople eve years ago ana arr
erward handled some business for MIN
IN New York He had no nent !"
impose upon me as IT.
But why should you hesitatet lou
have only to wait for the year 70 ron
by and then turn your troubles over 70
the natives. Young Browne cant
marry Miss Rufhven inside Of year
simply because there Is no Miss KUN
ven She's LAdy-Lady-wnats Ina
nameY