The Adair County news. [volume] (Columbia, Ky.) 1897-1987, 1919-06-11
COPYRIGHT
CHAPTER I.
An Error Rectified.


sticks, having placed bottle and glasses
upon the great mahogany table, to-
bacco and papers upon the small ma
hogany table, withdrew silently, as
was his way, swiftly, as was his train
ing.
His old master, Senior don Antonio
de la Guerra, looking as genuinely an
tique in his old-fashioned black coat.
small, high-heeled boots and curled
white hair and mustache as any ar
ticle of the antique furniture in the
vast drawing room of the hacienda,
turned his lively black eyes upon his
guest.
"You will forgive the rudeness of
an old man, Senior Dempton," he
softly, his English perfect, his Ii, r
ance still the hOneyed speech of Cas-
tile, "but may 1 ask you to understand
that 1 know nothing Of what you
Americanos call business? And that
have no wish to learn? That is why
1 place these matters in the hands Of
an attorney" He bowed after the way
of the old school, and ended, smiling,
Gin the hands of a thoroughly compe-
tent attorney, senor."
Dempton, a little man with a rest
less, nervous manner and eyes like a
rats, shifted in his chair, cleared his
throat and thanked his patron, looking
pleased on the whole.
'This is a very important matter,
Mr.. de la Guerra" he offered, a trifle
hesitantly and with keen eyes upon
his host.
ITO be sure" the old man cut in
impatiently, though with no lessening
of the courtesy of his speech. "a will
is always important"
He leaned forward, poured himself
a glass of the red southern wine, lift
ed it so that the still candle flames
shone in it brightly, and drank slowly.
Already Dempton had been asked to
drink, as he was always asked when
he came to the Rancho de la Guerra
already he had refused, as he always
refused. a
The old man set down his glass and
took tobacco and fine white paper from
the tray upon the smaller table, his
steady, slim white hands making the
cigarette swiftly.
"You say, Senior Dempton," he said
when he had lighted a paper lighter
at the nearest candlestick, shat you
have found a flaw in the original
wiE?"
"Yes, SIR" Dempton spoke hurried
ly and ran on very much after the
manner of a schoolboy who has gotten
his lesson by heart and wants to "say'
it before he forgets.
"Only a small matter, a technical
error, which might never be noticed
And yet there is a risk-there is dan
ger that the will might eventually be
set aside; because of it that your de
sires might come to naught; in a word
that the Senorita Teresa, whom you
wish to make your sole legatee, might
never come into the fortune you have
willed to her. 1 have thought it best
sir, to draw up a new document"
"You have done so?' inquired the
old Spaniard, his eyes musingly upon
the thin wisp of smoke from the ciga
rette.
"Yes." Dempton slipped a RED
hand into his breast pocket. eff you
will read it and sign it, sir-if we car
get the matter settled right away, de
stroying the original documents"
'eThe details, Senior Dempton,
trust 1 may leave with you" De Ia
Guerra waved white hand gracefully
you have attended to my business fol
me for seventeen years now, and
have never found cause for criticism
"You do not even care to have mt
go into detail concerning the flaw
which / allowed to creep in?"
Dempton had leaned forward little
in his chair, his eager eyes upon the
others. De la Guerra laughed softly
and shook his head.
"You would force me to appear stu
pid." He put his hand upon the bel
cord hanging from the edge of the
big table and bell tinkled from be
yond the door. LET me have the pa
pers you wish me to sign"
Pedro brought pen and ink, retreat.
ed upon another errand, and once
more returned, bringing with him two
of the other servants about the great
adobe house to witness the signature
The old man looked at the new will
carelessly and signed carelessly, ask
ing merely if the will were in all es-
sentials the same as the original one
The servants withdrew with Their
masters thanks and loose silver, and
De la Guerra, returning to Demptor
one copy Of the paper which was in
tended after his death to dispose OF
the hacienda, great range heavily
stocked and an indefinite sum in golt
and silver, folded the other and placed
it upon the shining table top.
81 shall read it tomorrow" he sale