The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1910-01-29

The student gaZed with bewilGered
blue eyes at the lawyer. The lawyer
repeated: Eighteen hundred thou
sand dollars in your own, unlimited
right You lucky dog!"
The student seemed to be weighing
the literary value of the phrase lucky
dog" Personal application of any
thing seemed out of his line, so the
impatient lawyer began to think. The
idea of a young man taking such an
announcement in such a way!
Il should not know what to do with
it" the student said slowly. with al
most frightened look, which molli-
fed the lawyer.
That wouldn't worry most young
men; it wouldn't worry me-"
What would you do with it?"
why, Td-oh, I'd have a good
time" 1t really was not so easy to
specify, at a breaths notice, what
one would do with eighteen hundred
thousand. He felt nearer to the
dreamy youth.
But would that mean the same to
any two people-having a good timer"
Really, the young man had a way
of asking questions when he was
awakened.
MOO" said the lawyer doubtfully.
ITO old Booze over there, it would
mean all the bad whisky he could
pour in; to young Snob yonder. a
card to the MiIlionaires' club, and
London fashions; to Miss Mincing.
sealskins, diamonds and her coach; to
me, perhaps, after l had had a little
ordinary fling and had let the good
wife burn a few greenbacks. the pro
fessional honors l have missed; to
you, | suppose" glancing from the
general shabbiness of things to the
few books that even he, a Philistine,
could not but see were rare and
precious of date, binding and author
ship-"more books"
What would books be to me that
merely bought with my uncle's
grudged money? Adopted children,
dear perhaps for their merit; but the
books l have are flesh of my flesh,
bone of my bone, blood of my blood"
But he didn't grudge it. Only for
his last words, they would never have
guessed your existence"
What did he say?"
This was, at least, human curiosity !;
the lawyer grew confidential.
He said: No, no will. I've had the
good of my money in my way; let my
fool of a nephew, Searle Kynett. have
it in his. He'll spend it patenting a
new way to bind books or in digging
up Billy Shakespeare's rent receipts
perhaps; but if there is any blood in
those watery veins of his, it is my
own brothers. Let him have it!' Not
very complimentary, but you probably
knew his way. l mention it for the
hint it gave his administrators of &
relative. They traced you to this city
and the odd name and hint at your
tastes did the rest, having the honor
of bringing the search to this-ah-
happy conclusion"
Yes" the student unused. sI knew
his way. He wanted to help me. but
we could not agree. He sent for me
to order his library. 1 would have
given him one fit for Solomon. but
what he wanted was binding to mattel
the cases and furniture of a barbara
modern chamber of upholstered hor
rors, and he wished the popular au
thors! Didn't care for freaks, il
books or persons he said'
The lawyer sighed.
The student intuitively answered
You find me a troublesome client.
realize that I am unlike other youns
men. 1 don't say that in a Pharisaica
manner" he fastened to add, I'm
not better, but 1 suppose Pm-aueer.
Then he, too, sighed.
After ten days of fruitless thought
the problem was but little nearer so
luton. The student cried despairing
ly: I cannot simply invest tina
amount and have a preposterous in
come tumbling upon me in successiy,
! shocks, like Tarpeia's bracelets.
! cannot have my solitude and stud,
broken by specious pIeaders will
Their worldly schemes, of which
have little understanding, even wer,
they most practical. 1 shall be force,
to leave even these obscure lodgings
since there is but one way of egres
and no escape from these harpies. !"
The lawyer grinned There was
chance for his assistance, after all
Send them to me, my dear boy"
Find me a place, a retired plac
yet safe. with many doors and win
dows; place suitable for-fo
books"
Jones found the place and reporte
to his client.
But, do understand that the won
an sells to me outright, or"
she is widow of 60 and over.
said the lawyer deprecatingly. Ssh
is attached to her home. You wouI
be obliged to have housekeeper. A
she seeks is little suite of room
that you would not need, rent-fre,
and she will undertake to keep thing
Clearly"