Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-02-15


That's what Mrs. Cayley pointed
out, and right there's where we got
another SURPRISE" the doctor chuckl-
ed. she's either sight smarter
than she looks or somebody's been
giving her mighty good advice. 1t
seems her father left her some
shares of stock that this friend of
his had kept locked up IN his bank
and that we're transferred 70 her.
uncle's care when he got himself ap-
pointed her guardian. That stock
wasn't supposed to be worth any
thing much. but it's turned ont to
an accounting from Joseph Benk-
ards estate: wants his books pro-
dueed in court, II necessary! That
was bombsheli that burst right
under Lane and her mother, too,
| can tell you. There was a high
old row, with the lawyer trying TO
calm everybody down and Mrs. Cay
ley denying there was any such
stock and Lane losing his head COM
pletely. He was mad clear through
but, Geoff, he was scared, TOO: you
could have told that from his voice,
The little girl had him buffaloed.
Newbury realized il the same time
] did, listening from outside. and
back of it he hadn't known and that
Miss Mildred meant business. He u
drawn the will, he'd been closely as
ISOLATED with Bernhard and lie was
10 settle the estate. Can YOU see the
fix he was in II he wanted to keep
his own skirts clean as they always
had been?"
Geoff nodded.
Reckon ! kim he replied. ~ he
| refused to do what Miss Mile ask
cd. and couldn't make her ma con-
sent TO ii, the little gal would find
another lawyer who'd be glad
nough to git his name in the papers
by fightin' for her and rakin' up the
Lord knows what bout Benkard's
business that had better be hiG for
the sake o all consumed"
Exactly. He managed 20 make
himself heard at last. and he said
he'd be delighted 20 act as co-guard-
ian with ner mother. provided Mrs.
/ Cayley had no objection; that moth
ing was SO distressing as family
litigation and he was sure the mat
ter OF the stocks could be proved
and adjusted.
Before Mrs. Cayley could speak
| he asked Lane pointblank why he
| had adopted this attitude, since he
was neither a member of the family
nor an acknowledged partner of the
! late Mr. Bernhard. That Quoted
Lane like a shot and Mrs. Cayley
| must have seen that for once she'd
met her match and figured quickly
| that II would be better to have Miss
! Mildred get the value of that stock
| out Of the estate, whether she mar
| ried Lane or not, then to have more
notoriety and mebbe dirty business,
| especially as Il wouldn't make any
| difference in what she herself would
| have, one way or the other. She
! spoke up and said she would be only
| too glad to have Mr.. Newbury act
! with her, and had only hesitated to
ask him of her own accord because
| she didn't want to burden him with
| petty formalities at this time"
How did Lane take this change
| O. the wind?" Geoff regarded his
old friend with mild inquiry.
Sailed right along with it," The
doctor took off his spectacles and
| began to polish them vigorously
with his handkerchief. He apolog-
| lied to everybody. and said his dis
| appointment in regard to the dear
| est wish of his heart together with
| his estoniShment and pain at the
| doubt cast on the memory of his
| friend had caused him to forget
| himself, and he would ask leave to
| withdraw. [ could hear his footsteps
going across the room and the door
] open and close. and then Miss Mil
bred commenced 10 laugh as If she
was In mysteries and her mother
| told her 20 go to her room. Miss
| Mildred made NeWburV repeat his
| promise. and then the door shut be-
| hind her. too. Mrs. CayIey started
| to stammer and try to smooth over
| the rumpus, but she wasn't. max
! Ing very good of it, and Newhury
! cut Il short by asking her to ring
and have William Dunn sent for so
| that he could be told of his in
heritanCe. She did and that's when
got my second surprise"
Wasn't Dunn satisfied?" Gcoff
wTigs'ed MS s,ockingcd feet in vast
| comfort.
Satisfied %" the doctor echoed.
! "Geon. :hat poor. brUken-spirltcd'
creature Is man. after all. and
there was something behind his
relations with Bernhard that we
haven't any notion Of. He refused
, to take 1t. lie said that he had
been FULLY paid for his services to
his late employer ana he could ac-
cept nothing more. His voice
wasn't shaking and dazei like it had
been. but Arm aad clear, and when
ne said what he had to say he turn
ed and marched straight ont again.
You could have heard e pin droo In
mat room for q minute, and then
Newbury said he would have to be
getting back to town. that there
would be much to attend to. but Mrs
Cayley would hear from him in the
course OF a day or two. and mean
Whi'e the manager Of the Broad
street Office would keep ir touch
WIN thcm both. That was the en-
s OF H. lie meant that Mahoney. of
course: Allen told me Of your talk
, with him. He's gone away. trailing
Lane. who lett before dinner. I'm
10 meet Lyons again tonight at the
picnic grove and | want Won to
come along, though I don't believe
from his tone over the phone that
lie found out much about Lanes
actions last Wednesday night.
Reckon I'll come" Geoff respond-
| ed as the doctor rose You didn't
hear mention o the name a. thai
stock Miss Mile claims her Pa lort
her, did You. Doc?"
Yes. though it didn't mean any,
A ~