Jackson County journal. (Sylva, N.C.) 19??-19??, 1918-07-12
SUDDEN CLIMAX
BY WALTER J. DELANEY.
Copyright, 1918. Western Newspaper Union

You could have knocked Alton
Locke down with a feather when he
was unexpectedly Informed that he was
q rich man. The law firm Of Peale &
Gregory had sent him a letter asking
him to call at their Office on a matter
Of importance and urgency, and the
first words of the senior partner of the
firm fairly stunned Locke.
1--WE have sent for you to inform you
that you are the sole heir to the estate
of your relative, Ira Dowell," he pro-
nounced.
"Why!" Involuntary exclaimed
Locke-"I did not know that my IA
theirs cousin was dead"
"A month SINCE" enlightened the
other. "He has left you all he had
his old home at Grassmere, about eight
thousand dollars in cash and a quarry
enterprise, which represents his prin-
cipal investment"
"You-you amaze mel" stammered
forth Locke.
1t had struck Locke all of a heap.
Never in his widest dreams had he
even fancied such windfall as this.
Ira Dowell he had seen exactly twice
in his lifetime.
"Mr. DOwell was a strange man." fell
upon his ears in the dreary tones of
the lawyer. "He was pestered to death
with mendicant or SycOphantic rela-
tives waiting for him to die. Their
petty WEAKNESSES disguised him. He
liked the way you buckled down to
safe habits and hard work and his as-
tate is yours. There is Grassmere, and
you will have ample ready funds AS
to tlA quarry property, that is in litiga
ton. A claimant who was a former
partner of Mr.. Dowell has tied it up
with an injunction. There is no doubt,
however, that we will beat him out, for
we have money and he has none."
1t was a strange experience, that of
the following week, for Alton Locke.
He gave a farewell dinner of sumptu-
Gus proportions to his fellow clerks at
the store. A string of them later Wis
tied him at his hotel. When Locke
started from the city he carried in his
pocket memoranda of as many as a
NOLCIl SO-NolICu IOullS, uCSOtldtcu ny Ills
impecuniOuS friends.
1t was worse at Grassmere. Locke
found it to be a beau tiful place and
planned how, as gentleman farmer,
life would be enviable. Then there
swarmed down upon him a horde of
hungry distant relatives. Most of them
had never heard Of him before, but all
professed the deepest regard for him.
They ate at his table, some from a dis
lance took up their abode with him. A
widow, fOrty-fifth cousin wheedled
him out Of five hundred dollars. One
Cousin Felix, hOary-headed old fraud
and idler, persuaded Locke to buy out
little business in the town for him,
proceeded to mortgage it promptly and
sold out his equity before he actually
began business.
Locke was so harassed by his new
found relatives that he decided he
would leave Grassmere in charge of
the caretaker, and not settle down per-
manently until he had definitely per-
secret heart he dreamed of mistress
for the palatial old mansion. This was
how it was: At Ripton, where he had
worked before going to the city, he
had become casually acquainted with
an old man named Robert Warren.
One evening, calling upon him, he
found his daughter, Nina, at home. She
was to spend weeks vacation from a
seminary. Mr.. Warren had pitifully
small income, but he managed to keep
his daughter at school. She and Locke
became congenial frle eds. Then the
start of romance ended for her back
at her lessons and for ocke at his new
post of duty in the city.
To Ripton he proceeded now, but not
to call upon Mr.. Warren. Many a time
the old man had referred to a valid
claim he held in litig alton, and had
mOurned the lack of thousand dollars
to push it to an issue. His earnestness
had deeply impressed Locke, who
sought out the attorney whom Mr..
Warren had named rs representing his
interests.
Il wish to loan a client of yours a
thousand dollars" he impaired to the
lawyer, 'but don't wish him to know
that [ am interested in the transac-
tiOn''
Naturally the lawyer was in COM
plete harmony with any arrangement
That would bring him fee. He would
shield Locke by pretend ing to advance
the money himself, ard Locke went
back to the city feeling that he had
done good deed.
"That injunction suit spoke his own
attorney, a few days later-"we will
have to discuss it. The other side. I
fancied, had about exhausted funds
and fighting spirit, but we received a
visit from Ripton attorney today who
threatens to carry it to higher court,
His client, Mr.. Warren"
mot Mr.. Robert Warren!" cried
Locke electrically.