Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1910-04-15
ANGEL ESQUIRE
BY EDGAR

residence, High Holly Lodge"
He was a bachelor, with a taste for
bridge parties and Madeira, Curious
~neighbors would have beer mystiied If
they had known that Mr.. S~pedding's
repair bill during the first two years of
his residence was something well over
$4,000. What they did know was that
Mr.. Speeding had the builders in" for
an unconscionable time, that they were
men who spoke in a language entirely
foreign to Clapham, and that they
were housed during the period OF reno
walton in a little galvanized iron bun-
galoW erected for the purpose in the
grounds.
A neighbor on visiting terms express
ed his opinion that for all the workmen
had done he could discern no material
difference in the structure of the house,
and from his point of view the house
presented the same appearance after
the foreign builders left, as it did be-
fore their advent. Mr.. SPEEDING met
all carelessly-applied questions on
corning the extent Of the structural al
t~erations with supreme discretion. He
spoke vaguely about a new system of
ventilation. and limited at warmth by
radiation.
Suburbia loves to show off it's pri-
vately conceived improvements to prop
erty, but Mr.. Speeding met yelled hints
or a desire to inspect his work with
that comfortable smile which was so
valuable an asset OF his business.
1t was a few evenings after the scene
u the Lombard Street Deposit that Mr..
Speeding sat In solitude before his
modest dinner at Clapham.
An evening newspaper lay be the side
of his chair, and he picked it up at in
tervals to read again the paragraph
which told OF the release OF the Dor
ough Lot The paragraph said:
The men arrested in connection with
the gambling raid at Poplar were dis
charged today, the police, IL is under
stood, failing to secure sufficient evil
dence to Justify a prosecution"
The lawyer shook his head doubt
fully.
Il rather like Angel Esquire's deflni-
tion,' he said with a wry smile. 1T is
a neat method Of saving the face of the
police, but l could wish that the Bor-
ough Lot were out Of the way"
Later he had occasion to change his
opinion.
A tap at the door preceded the entry
of a sedate butler. The lawyer looked
at the card on the tray, and hesitated;
then, Show him in,' he said.
Jimmy came into the ROOM, and bow
ed slightly TO the elder man, who rose
at his entrance.
They waited in silence till the SER
want had closed the door behind him.
ITO what am / indebted? ?" began the
lawyer n motioned his visitor to a
seat.
May I smoker" asked Jimmy, and
Mr.. SPEEDING nodded.
1T Is In the matter of Reale's mil
lions,' said Jimmy, and allowed his
eyes to follow the cloud of smoke he
blew.
II thought it was understood that
this was a subject which might only
be discussed at my office and Il bust
ness hours?'' said the lawyer sharply,
and Jimmy nodded again.
You will confess, Mr.. SPEEDING" he
said easily, " that the Reale will is
sufficiently unconventional to Justify
any departure from established custom
on the part Of the fortunate or unfor-
tunate legatees."
Mr.. SPEEDING made an impatient
movement of his hand.
II do not inquire into your business"
Jimmy went on smoothly enough, ''and
/ am wholly injurious as to in what
strange manner you became acquaint-
ed with your late client, or what fees
o received to undertake so extra
ordinary a commission; but / am salts
fed that you are recompensed for such
trifing inconvenience assay an af-
ter-dinner visit from myself"
Jimmy had a way OF choosing his
words, h~esitating for the exact ex-
preston that would best convey every
shade OF his meaning. The lawyer, too.
recognized the logic OF the speech, and
contented himself with a shrug which
mea nothing.
II do not inquire into your motives"
Jimmy resumed; lit pleases me to be-
lieve that they are entirely disinterest-
ed, that your attitude Is the ideal one
as between client and agent"
His PAUSE was longer this time. and
the lawyer was piqued into interfering
an inpatient
"Well?"
Well said Jimmy slowly, ''believ-
ing all this, let us say, i am at a loss
to know why at the reading OF the will
0 gave us no indication of the exist
ence of a key to this mysterious verse"
There is no key" said the lawyer
quickly, and added, $50 far as I know"
THAT you did not tell u.s. Jimmy
went on. as though unconscious OF any
interruption. "of the big red envei-
ope-."
Speeding sprang to his feet white as
death.
''The envelope" he stammered an
grily, what do you know-what en-
~velope?"
Jimmy's hand waved him to his seat
Let US nave no emotions, no flights.
no outraged honor, I beg OF you, dear
Mr.. SPEEDING. I do not suggest that
hay any sinister reason for
withholding information concerning
what my friend Angel would call the
surprise packet In good time I do
not doubt you would have disclosed its
existence
IT know of no red envelope" said the
lawyer doggedly.
81 rather fancied you would say
that said Jimmy. with a touch OF adj
miration In his tone. you are not the
sort of fox to curl up and howl at the
first bay of the hound-if you will per-
init the smile-indeed. you would have
disappointed me TX you had,
The lawyer paced the room.
Look here" he said. coming to q
halt before the s-emirecumbent form
that lay behind a haze OF cigaret
smoke in the arm chair. you've spent
a great deal OF your time telling me
what / am. describing my doubtful
111;ss i...es and limiting more or less
broadly that 1 am a fairly representa-
tive scoundrel. May / ask what Is your
ultimate object? Is 1t blackmail?" he
demanded harshly.