The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1914-03-04
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ILLUSTRATED 81 LAUREN STOUT

gard.
John Valiant looked down at the
bulldog squatted on the floor, his eyes
shining in the dimness. A little hot
ripple had run over him. mot on
your life, Chum!" he said. "No shame
less barter! There must be other
things besides money and social posi-
tion in this doddering old world, after
all! We're going to begin something
for ourselves, if it's only raising cab
bages! And we're going to stand it
without any baby-aching-the nurse
never held our noses when we took
our castor-oil!"
1t was folded down, that old bright
page. Finis had been written to the
rose-colored hapter. And even as he
told himself. he was conscious Of q
new rugged something that had been
slowly dawning within him, sense Of
courage, even Of zest, and furious
hatred Of the self-pity that had
wrcnched him even for moment.
He turned from the window, picked
up his letters, and followed by the dog,
went slowly up another flight to his
room.
He tore open the letters abstracted-
ly: the usual dinnercard or two, a
tailors spring announcement, a
chronic serial from an explanatory
marble-quarrying company, quarterly
statement Of club house.committee.
The last two missves bore a monde
script look.
Ono was small, with the name Of
a legal firm in it's corner. The other
was largish, corpuent and heavy, Of
stout Manila paper, and bore, down
one side, gaudy procession Of post
age stamps proclaiming that it had
been registered
What's in That, l wonder?" he said
to himself, and then. with smile at
the unmasculine speculation, opened
the smaller envelope.
Dear Sir" began the letter, in tho
most uncompromisingly conventional
of typewriting:
Dear Sir:
Enclosed please find, with title
deed, memorandum opened in your
name by the late John Valiant somc
years before his death 1t was his
desire that the services indicated in
connection with this estate should con.
tnue till this date. We hand you
herewith our check for $23620 two
hundred and thirty-six dollars and
twenty cents), the balance in your ia
vor, for which please send receipt,
And oblige,
Yours very truly,
Emerson and Ball"
"(Enclosure)
He turned to the memorandum. It
showed sizable initial deposit against
which was entered a series OF annual
tax payments with minor disburse-
ments credited to inspection and
care" The tax receipts were pinned
to the account
The larger wrapper contained an un-
sealed envelope. across which was
written in faded ink and In an unfa-
miliar dashing, slanting handwriting,
his own name. The envelope con-
tanned creased yellow parchment,
from between whose folds there
clumped and huttered down upon the
floor long flattish object wrapped
letter.
Puzzled he unfoldcd the cracking
thing in his hands. why" he said
half aloud, "its-It.s deed made over
to me-" He overran 1t swiftly. Part
OF an old Colony grant
plantation in Virginia, twelve hun
drcd odd acres, given under the hand
of a vice-regal governor in tho six
teenth century. l had no idea titles
In the United States went back so far
as that" His eye fled to the end.
ut was my father's What could no
have wanted Of an estate in Virginia?
1t must have come into his hands in
the course OF business"
He picked up the newspaper clip.
ping. 1t was worn and broken In the
folds as II 1t had been carried for
months in a pocketbook
1t will interest readers OF this Sec
ton Of Virginia (the paragraph be-
gam to learn, from recent transfer
received for record at the County
Clerks office, that DamoFy Court has
passed to Mr.. John Valiant. minor"
He turned the paper over and found
date; 1t had been printed In the year
Of the transfer to himself, when he
was six years old-the year his father
had died.
John Valiant, minor, the son Of
the former owner.
There are few indeed who do not
recall the tragedy with which in tho
public mind tho estate is connected.
The fact, moreover, that this old home
stead has been left in its present state
to Dh n,