Gilpin observer., 1918-07-18
SUDDEN CLIMAX 1
BY WALTER J. DELANEY.
copWight, 1918. Western Newspaper Union.) }

You could have knocked Aft0n
Locke down with feather when he
was unexpectedly Informed that he was
a rich man. The law firm of Peale &
Gregory had sent hun a letter asking
him to call at their Office on matter
of importance and urgency, ana the
first words of the senior partner OF the
firm fairly stunned Locke.
1--WE have sent for you to inform you
that you nre the sole heir to the estate
of your relative. Ira DOwell," he pro-
nOunced.
"Why!" involuntaril,' exclaimed
Locke-"I did not know that my fa-
TIERS 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 quarry
enterprise, which represents his prfn-
cipal investment"
"You-you amaze mel" stammered
forth Locke.
1t had struck Locke all Of heap.
Never in his widest dreams had lie
even fancied such a windfall as this.
Ira Dowell he had seen exactly twice
in his lifetime.
"Mr. Dowell was 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 meannesses disgusted him. He
liked the way you huckled down to
safe habits and hard work and his es-
tate Is yours. There Is Grassmere, and
you will have ample ready funds. AS
to the quarry property, that is in litiga-
tion. A claimant who was former
partner Of Mr.. Dowell has tied 1t up
with an Injunction. There is no doubt
we have money and he has none."
It was strange experience, that Of
the following week. for Alton Locke
He gave farewell dinner of sumptu-
Gus proportions to his fellow clerks at
the store. A string Of them later vis-
tied him at his hotel. When Locke
started from the city he carried in his
pocket memoranda Of as many as a
dozen so-called loans, negotiated by his
impecunious friends.
1t was worse at Grassmere. Locke
found 1t to be beautiful place ana
planned how. as a gentleman farmer.
life would be enviable. Then there
swarmed down upon him q 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
tance took up their abode with him. A
widow, a 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 1t 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-
fected his plans for the future. In his
secret heart he dreamed Of a mistress
Tor the palatial old mansion. This was
how 1t was: At Ripton. where he had
worked before going to~the city. no
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 q weeks vacation from a
seminary. Mr.. Warren had q pitifuIly
small income, but he managed to keep
his daughter at school. She and Locke
became cOngenial friends. Then the
start of romance ended for her back
at'her lessons and for Locke 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 q valid
claim he held in litigation. and had
mOurned the lack of a thousand dollars
to push 1t to an issue. His earnestness
had deeply impressed Locke, who
sought out the attorney whom Mr..
Warren had named as representing his
interests.
Il wish to loan 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 a fee. He would
shield Locke by pretending to advance
the money himself, and Locke went
back to the city feeling that he had
done good deed.
"That injunction suit" spoke his own
attorney, few days lnter-"we will
have to discuss 1t. The other side. T
fancied. had about exhausted funds
and fighting spirit. but we received n
visit from Ripton attorney today who
threatens to carry 1t to higher court.
His client, Mr.. Warren"
mot Mr.. Robert Warreni" cried
Locke electrically.