The Owosso times., 1920-10-29
The
Inheritance
By EVELYN LEE

the somewhat spiritless reply. IF
Uncle Bortelle planned purposely to
put us through period of uncertainty
and suspense, wasting the best year
Of our lives in idle guesswork and
waiting, he couldn't have done it more
effectively"
| II don't see as to wasting and wait
ing, Ward" said Irene. son the con-
trary, Mr.. Bortelle seems to have
blocked out most reasonable and
practical program for you two. OF
course ii means work, and you two
| have never done much of that, but
when the year is over, If you so
through the ordeal creditably, just
think how the experience will benefit
and uplift you. OF course you and
Victor will start in at once?"
II suppose we will have to-" re-
sponded Ward, but in grudging tone.
"We are not spOnges, and haven't been
| discounting the future with hopes that
Uncle Bortelle might die and leave us
his fortune, but l must say he led us
to believe that we could count on
something substantial, no matter what
happened"
Yes, think he has spoiled you two
boys" said Irene severely. "He has
certainly encouraged you to keep from
soiling your delicate white hands, and
stay around his home like tender
young children who might fall down
and stub your toes if they did not
have guiding hand. Oh! l can scold
when you deserve it, and l always tell
the truth, and l advise you strictly to
follow out the injunctions of your dead
uncle, who was SO good and kind to
YOU"
Somewhat in the same way at that
very hour Victor Read was reciting his
woes to Madge Steele. The two young
men were like brothers instead of
cousins, and the young ladies had been
close girl chums for years. Mr.. Bor-
telle had approved the double match,
only for several months before his
death he had seemed anxious to post
pone 1t. His lawyer alone was aware
of the fact that some unwise invest
ments had almost beggared him.
Just after the funeral Lawyer Marsh
had called in the nephews for conf
Dental consultation. ~ have some i'm
pOrtant but strange disclosures to
make to you, young men," he said.
You will notice Mr. Bortelle's old safe
in the corner of my Office here. 1t is
upon his written instructions that l
I,., 81; fe,
in sealed envelope in the bank safety
deposit vault box, directed to be deliv-
cred to you one year to a day after
his death. Until then the safe cannot
be opened"
But why did uncle go to all this
circumlocution?" spoke Ward.
"Yes, and what is in the safe, to be
guarded so mysteriouslyY questioned
Victor.
"He told me that / was to reveal
these facts to you. He directed that
both of you arrange to remove to Lup-
ton, where, as you know, he owns the
local furniture store and also a garage
You, Ward, are to take charge of the
former as manager, and Victor, in
like capacity, the garage. He hopes
you will work hard to make them pay;
you are to have each drawing accounts
of forty dollars per week and make
monthly reports of the business to me.
At the end Of year you are to open
the safe"
But all the property uncle Owned?"
said Ward.
"Yes, and his bonds and money!"
added Victor.
"Young men," replied Mr.. Marsh Sc
riously, II would advise you not to |
bank on those former assets. TO be |
plain, except for the old home and fis |
two stores Mr.. BOrtelle left little Of |
value. He was generous and loving to |
YOU while in life. BE diligent and |
show your respect for him now In fol
lowing out his wishes
"We'll do it," cried Ward, stirred by |
a memory Of the generous uncle.
1t was hard for Ward and Victor TO |
go forty miles away from old scenes |
and Irene and Madge, and see them
only every alternate Sunday on a fly |
ing home visit. 1t was harder still to |
set mind, energies and muscle at the
unfinished task of real work and busi-
ness responsibilities but by the end of |
a month results showed Ward was a
natural-bOrn salesman and had never
guessed 1t until now. Victor, pleasant
and popular, drew business to the
garage. Mr.. Marsh commended them
for the systematic manner
in which they managed their respec-
tive enterprises.
An inkling Of the fact that their low
ers were not to inherit untold riches |
gave Irene and Madge an economical
and Industrious impulse, and they set
at work to plan for the future on a
sensible scale.
And one year to the day after the
death of Mr. Bortelle the safe in the
lawyers Office was opened. 1t was
empty, except for single sheet of
paper, which read:
"If Ward and Victor are the kind of
boys | think they are, they will have
proven themselves business men and
will value even the little have been