The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1920-07-29

friendship, called you up and said he
had made will practically disinherit-
ing you. Between that time and the
next morning he Is murdered In his
own apartments, his safe rifled, and
|'yet the only paper missing Is this
WILL to the existence Of which l can
testify. If suspicion Is once cast upon
you, how can you clear yourself? Can
you prove that you were In your own
apartments, asleep in your own bed
from one o'clock until eight? Answer
that"
Cavendlsh tried, but although his
lips moved, they gave utterance to no
sound. Enright scarcely gave him op-
portunity.
$50, the words won't come. /
thought not. Now, listen. No living
persOn-not even my partner-has
been Informed of what has occurred.
The witnesses, am sure, did not know
the nature Of the paper they signed.
Frederick Cavendish had this will
executed In a moment Of anger and
charities. He had no thought of i'm
mediate death, but merely desired to
teach you a lesson. He proposed to
disappear-or at least, that Is my
theory-in order that he might test
you on a slender income. l am able
to look upon the whole matter from
this standpoint, and base my conduct
accordingly. No doubt this will enable
us to arrive at perfectly satisfactory
understanding"
"You mean that you will maintain
silence as to the will?"
Absolutely; as a client your interests
will always be my first concern. or
course 1 shall expect to represent you
in a legal capacity in settling up the
estate, and consequently feel 1t only
just that the compensation for such
services shall be mutually agreed
upon"
"And your fee?"
Reasonable, very reasonable, when
you consider the service / am doing
you, and the fact that my professional
reputation might so easily be involved
and the sums to be distributed, which
amount to more than million dollars.
My silence, my permitting the es-
tate to go to settlement, and my legal
services combined, ought to be held
as rather valuable-at, let us say, a
hundred thousand. Yes, a hundred
thousand; I hardly think that is un-
fair"
Cavendish leaped to his feet, his
hand gripping his cane.
"You damned black"
"Waitw and Enright arose ALSO
"Not so loud, please your voice might
be heard in the outer Office. I said
my services would cost you hundred
thousand dollars. Take the PROPOSE
tion or leave it, Mr.. John Cavendish."
"But-but," the other stammered, all
courage leaving him, II haven't the
money"
"Of course not" the threat on En-
rights face changing to smile. "But
the prospects that you will have are
unusually good. l am quite willing to
speculate on your fortunes. A memo
randa for legal services due one year
from date-such as I have already
drawn up-and bearing your signature,
will be quite satisfactory. Glance
over the items, please; yes, sit here
at the table. Now. If you will sign
that there will be no further cause
for you to feel any uneasiness-this
line, please"
Cavendish grasped the penholder in
his fingers, and signed. 1t was the
act of man dazed. half stupefied,
unable to control his actions. In q
way it was a confession of guilt, an
Acknowledgement of his fear of ex-
posure, yet he felt utterly incapable
of resistance. Enright unlocked the
door, and projected his head outside,
comprehending clearly that the proper
time to strike was while the iron was
hot.
Calling Miss Healy, one Of his ste
nographers, he made her an official wit
ness to the document and the sigma
ture Of John Cavendish.
Not until ten minutes later when he
was on the street did 1t occur to John
Cavendish that the carbon copy Of
the will, together with the rough notes
In his Cousins handwriting, still re-
mained in Enright's possession. Vain
ly he tried to force himself to return
and demand them, but his nerve fail.
ed, and he shuf1led away hopelessly in
the hurrying crowds.
AS Francois Valois trudged along
the night streets toward his rOoming
house he came face to face with
trim young woman in smart blue
serge. "Oh hello!" she cried pleasant
Iy, bringing up short. Then seeing the
puzzled look upon the Wallets face, she
said: "Don't you remember me? I'm
Miss Donovan Of the Star. 1 came
up to the apartments the morning of
the Cavendish murder with one Of the
boys"
valois smiled warmly; men usually
did for Miss Donovan. II remember"
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