Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1925-09-30
CHAPTER v
disappointment

Inc next morning Bart entered the
bank and asked to see his fathers
safety-depOsit box.
"Oh it's all right, 1 guess" The
bank clerk shrugged his shoulders.
'Your names on there in your IA
theirs writing-and l know you're
young Rogers. But l guess I'd better
go along with you. We have to be
pretty careful when some one is go
Ing through a dead mans effects"
They went within the big door then
and to the fitting of the pass and mas
ter keys to the little bronze box. The
tiny compartment swung open and the
clerk brought forth the drawer plac-
ing it on the counter Hastily Bart
seized the packets of papers and be-
gan their perusal.
deed to the 100 acres which he
had called home. An insurance policy
which had been allowed to lapse A
cancelled mortgage, representing the
saving of the farm from it's first load
Of debt. Then-a folded paper which
caused Bart Rogers heart to thump.
He brought it forth and read it, line
after llne-the final blow. 1t was the
will.
Guess that was about the last trip
your father made in here-about a
year ago-the day he put that will
In the box" came from one side, and
Bart looked down into the features
OF the clerk forgotten for the moment
yes" Rogers turned toward him
rather cur.ously. The clerk bobbed his
head.
He showed 1t to me that day-he
thought it was a great joke"
Joke? On whomY
II don't know. He didn't mention
any names-he just said that fellow
had played the fool and ne let him go
ahead, that ne never liked him, any
way"
He dldn say what the deal was"
Rogers was like a man hearing his
death sentence.
NO. he didn't-except that 1t was
something about some kind of rights"
Bart Rogers did not answer. He re-
placed the document in the box, and
turned his key in unison with the one
IN the hands of the clerk. Then silent
ly, admitting defeat, he walked slow
ly out Of the bank.
He had dreamed vaguely of finding
another will in the safety box, or per
haps some explanation of the dOcu-
ment which had been read to him the
h..F Ip.vA 40 hnOn
nothing Of the sort. Instead, the IN
assailable proof OF the genuineness Of
the document had come to him from
the lips Of the clerk, recounting the
Incident of his fathers last visit, and
the fact that he had boosted of bet
te-.ng a man he did not like.
Wen, there's at least that consola-
toa" he murmured as he stood on
DE bank steps, watching the erection
g, tent dance hall across the street.
Then slowly as if in realization of
Ills defeat, Bart Rogers pulled the
breath into his lungs and Strengthened,
llEe a man about to face a sentence.
IL Dad figured things that way
IT'LL have to CO." he unused. HE
thought he was making a good bargain
--end made a bad one. That's all
there"
There he stopped shortly, and turned
70 response to a dig in the ribs which
threatened to keep on going. Again 1t
came, even before he could look up
INTO the features of the tall, gangly
Person who lowered above him, and
~no continued the punching jabs, even
IS he asked his questions.
A lantern-jawed person he was,
Inches more than six feet in height,
While about his twinkling gray eyes
tere seemed a thousand wrinkles. Yet
ne was young.
'Buddyw he was announcing,
Where's the American Legionl
Where's it at? Huh? Tarko's m'name,
Bud Tarko. Just came in on THAR
special with the rest of the tin-horn
sports, gamblers, loose women and
Ehat-not. Got a Legion post here,
Snddyf Where Sood man like my