The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1913-05-26
The Fortunes of the LandrayS
ssy.s: By Vaughan Keer As me-. ma as u. Ts.: 10

The captain snlitrd MS position be
fore the nre, but his face turned
tribe pale.
u camo here to see about my wife
property.
Your wife. didn't know you ha'
a wife,
We'll | have doggedly. IT'S
damn funny thlng you cant under
stand who | mean when ! say my
wife"
Then you have married herr!
Gibbs hitched his chin higher o.
that
I'm man OF honor" he sale
briefly.
ON, are you" retorted the lswysi
con temptuously
Are you prepared to dispute itr'
demanded Gibbs truculentiy.
IT'S hardly worth disputing. ssie
Benson. But you haven't told ms
why you've come to see me.
Haven't l. Well. | hardly thoush'
that would Do necessary" said the
captain smiling. In the main he WAS
cheerful person. and his resent
ments were for the most part shor'
lived. You were fuckers lawyer
weren't your"
"Oh, | see." and the two men look
ed at each other In silence for u mo
ment then Benson spoke again.
You say you have married Mrs
Tucker: III take your word for tha'
when yen produce the proofs.
Captain Gibbs again laughed short
ly, AMI took a large leather pocket
book from an inner pocket Of his coat
AMI from one OF its many company
ments drew forth folded slip OF pa
PEI
Here they are" he said
Benson with great deliberation
lighted q taper at the FIRE. and then
the candles on the mantel. then ne
took the folded slip Of paper from
Gibbs and leisurely examined II.
The .acy's u be congratulated" at
observed sarcastically.
Thanks" said the captain senten
tiously Il am not mistaken. am |. II
supposilg that you were Mr.. Tucker
lawyer at the time Of his death"
No"
Did he leave a VIM"
He did"
"As-as Mrs. fuckers husband
have you any objection to telling me
how he disposed OF his property. ant
its extent"
Not the least in the world"
There WAS another pause. The cap
tain was waiting for Benson to go on
but Benson was silent
ITO whom was the property LETT
Gibbs questioned.
ITO your wife" Benson suddenly
handed back the paper the captaiI
had given him. Here. take this.
don't want IT," he said.
How much did he leave" inquired
Gibbs, with illy-concealed eagerness.
About fifteen thousand dollars"
You don't say, And II all goe'
10 herr"
| Yea"
Gibbs moistened his lips with the
| tip OF his tongue.
Il didn't know the old fellow wal
SO we'll on" he said at last.
Benson shrugged his shoulders. Tht
! sordidness OF the whole AFFAIR disgust
ed him.
You don't ask any questions abou
herr mean Mrs Gibbs"
Il am not curious"
oh, come, she's q relative OF yours
and the very last thing she said tc
me was. Tell Jake | am quite happy.
But Benson seemed quite untouched
by this mark OF affection.
Naturally you'll take an interest In
her Affairs
Naturally III take In them no in
terest at all" said Benson with much
elaboration.
"A very uncousinly attitude on your
part; and one TO be deplored." re-
sponded the captain. smiling and un'
abashed.
Where is Mrs. Tucker" asked
Benson.
Mrs. Gibbs." corrected the captain
Ireproachfully.
Mrs Gibbs, then--where Ii she!'
She 10 In St. Louis" said the cap
tain. we didn't know Of Tucker
death until q month ago. Lucky We
heard Of II when we did. for X we
hadn't. we should have been on oul
way to California as soon a. the sea,
son opened; this will change ouI
plans. There 10 no use going to Cali
fornia for what we can get nearer al
hand, and with much less trouble; and
It won't come amiss; your cousin ID
altogether lacking In Benson thrift.
She IL not Benson.
We'll, that SO, too" admitted the
captain.
lie stared into the fire In silence fol
n moment: "A smile lowered about the
corners Of his mouth. He was think
ing Of this windfall, old fuckers
money, as be sQuinted and binked al
the dancing flames. At last he reused
from his revery; q sign OF deep con
tent burst from his swelling chest.
Il suppose 1t will be best for her &c
dispose OF the property here?' he
said
The lawyer nodded slightly. gibbs
laughed.
"Oh, come now, Jake. wherever ne
is, fuckers all right; God Almighty
makes 1t up TO the losers, I'm Chris
tian enough TO think that. so you d
better thaw out and take stock WITH
the living. I'm happy clean through
I'd be an Internal cheat TO pretend
otherwise
What do you wish me 10 do?" ask
ed Benson coldly.
"Oh, come nearer to the fire, or your
words will freeze TO your lips. Let
out tuck In your morals. man; be
human; be glad with me-"
What do you wish me TO do" re-
peated Benson sternly.