The Meeker herald., 1919-01-11
SUDDEN CLIMAX
BY WALTER J. DELANEY.
,pyrixht, 1918. Western Newspaper Union. }


1 was unexpectedly informed that he was
rich man. The law firm of Penle :;
Gregory had sent him letter asking
him to call ut their office on II matter
of Importance and urgency, and the
first words of the senior partner of the
firm fairly stunned Locke.
I'VE 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!" Involuntary exclaimed
Locke-I did not know that my In
Tiers cousin was dend."
"a month SINCE" enlightened the
other. He has left you all he hnd-
his old home at Grnssmere, about eight
thousand dollars In cash and quarry
enterprise. which represents his prin-
cipnl Investment"
"You-you amaze mel" stammered
forth Locke.
1t had struck Locke NIL of a hemp.
Never In his widest drcnms had he
even fancied such II wlndfnll us this.
Ira Dowel he had seen exactly twice
In his lifetime.
"AIr. Dowell was n strnnge man" fell
upon his ears In the drenry tones OF
the lawyer. HE was pcst"red to death
with mendlcnnt or sycophnntic reln-
lives waiting for him to die. Their
petty meannesses disguised him. He
liked the way you buckled down to
safe habits and hard work md his es-
tnte Is yours. There IL Grnssmerc, and
you will have ample ready funds. As
to the quarry property. TINT Is In litlgn-
tIon. A claimant who was II former
partner Of Mr.. DOwelk hns tied 1t up
with an injunction. There Is no doubt.
however, that we Will heat him out, for
we have money and he has none"
1t was n strunge experience. that cf
the following week, for Alton Locke.
He give u farewell dinner of sumptu-
Gus proportions to his fellow clerks u.
the store. A string Of them Inter Viz
tied him mt his hotel. When Locke
started from the city he carried III h!s
pocket II memoranda Of ns many MS n
dozen so-cnlled loans, negotiated by his
impecunious friends.
II was worse nj Grnssmere. Locke
found 1t to be beautiful place und
planned how, ns II gentleman farmer,
life would he envlablc. Then there
swnrmed down upon him horde OF
hungry distant relatives. Most Of them
had never heard OF him before. hut NIL
profcssed the deepest regard for him.
They nte ut his tnble. some from II dis
tnnce took up their abode with him. A
, widow. u fOrty-ilfth cousin, whec,ilcd
him ont Of five hundred dollars. One
Cousin Felix. IL hoary- hen,icd old fraud
md itller, persuaded Locke Ia buy ont
a little business In the town for him,
proceeded to mortgage 1t promptly and
sold out his equity before he actually
BEGIN business.
] Locke was 81 hnrnsscd by his new
found relatives that he decided he
would leave Grnssmcrc In Charge Of
the carrtnkcr. md not settle down per-
mnnrntly until he had definitely per.
fected his plans for the future. In his
secret henrt he dreamed OF II mistress
for the pnlntinl old mansion. This was
how II was: At Ripion. where he had
worked before going to the city, he
Ind become casually acquainted with
nm old man named Robert Warren.
One evening. cnlliag upon him. he
found his daughter, NInn. ut home. She
wns to spend weeks vacation from
seminary. MFR. Warren had IL pItlfully
small income. hut he managed to keep
his daughter mt school. She md Locke
bccnme congcninl friends. Then the
start Of n romance ended for her bnck
ut her lessons and for Locke mt his new
post Of duty In the city.
4 To RIpton he proceeded now. but not
to call upon Mr.. Wnrrcn. Many time
the old man Ind referred to valid
claim he held In litigation. md had
mOurned the lack OF thousand dollars
to push II to an issue. His enrncstncss
had deeply impressed Locke. who
sought out the attorney whom Mr..
Warren Ind named ns representing his
interests.
II wish to loan client Of yours
thousand dollars" he Impaired tosthe
lnwyer. 'but don't wish him to know
that I am Interested In the trnnsac-
ton"
| Naturally the lawyer WINS In COM
plcte harmony with my arrangement
TINT would bring him fee. He would
shield Locke by pretending TO advance
the money himself. and Locke went
5nck to the city feeling thut he had
lone good deed.
'That injunction suit" spoke his own
attorney, few days lnicr--''we will
have to discuss II. The other side. I
fnncIctl. Ind about exhausted funds
and fighting spirit. hut we received n