The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1931-04-03

We'll, perhaps you're right, bu
do not think he is bluffing. don
think he has the courage to bluff
| confess I'm afraid of him."
well, I'm not. and the first da.
he comes in here I'll have him o.
the carpet and shake him down
I'll write you the results of m,
inquisition."
SO Elmer went on to New York
Five weeks later McPeake wrote
him that the real estate had beer
sold, that all of the debts of the
estate had been paid and that 6
fina. decree of distribution haC
been signed by the judge OF the
probate court. McPeake added
that Elmer's share Of the estate
would amount to approximately
S219,00O.
Immediately upon receipt Of this
information Elmer came on to Mus
catine and the day after his arrival
he was to meet McPeake in the
latter's office. mot a peep out of
our friend Bunker" he announced,
coming at once to the subject
closest to Elmer's heart. 81 had
him in my Office and gave him a
bad half hour. but could not get
any admission from him. He talked
vaguely of things he could do. but
seemed disinclined to do them. l
think he vas blufing."
HAS he received his legacy, Mr..
McPeake?"
81 handed him his check ten
minutes ago. Thought I might as
well get rid of him before you ar
rived" McPeake reached into his
desk and drew out a formal type
written receipt with a check for
S21S, 734.22 attached to it. "Sign
here" he ordered-and Elmer
signed and pouched the check.
You will now doubtless desire
to look owe my accounts" the law
yer continued, and spread before
Elmer the final accounting he had
prepared for the probate judge.
Here is the statement of the APP
praised valuation of the estate, with
an inventory, and here are all Of
the vouchers that go with the final
accounting. However, | have a
client calling in ten minutes, so I
suggest that you take all of these
papers back to your hotel and
study them at your leisure. You
might drop in at the bank on your
way and have that check certi-
fed"
Elmer gathered up all of the
papers and took his departure. The
check he had received was on the
First National bank, downstairs, so
Elmer went into the bank first and
approached the paying teller's win
dow. 81 wish you'd have this
check certified" he said and handed
it through the grill work.
The paying teller took it and de-
parted. Five minutes later he re-
turned and handed the check back
to Elmer uncertified. "Sorry," he
said, "but a distraint warrant has
been served on the bank by the
local collector of internal revenue,
and we are debarred from honor
ing any further checks on this ac-
count"
81 thank you" said Elmer pc
litely and walked out. Up to Nc
Peake's Office he went. The client
the latter had been expecting had
not yet arrived and Elmer went at
once into the lawyers private
office.
We'll, Bunker has made good"
ne announced. 81 told you I
he wasn't blufing. He
his coup so ~cleverly that
lie got his own check, rushed down
stairs and cashed it just before the
collector of internal revenue served
variant on the bank. The funds J
# the estate are all tied up until ,
he government experts have gone !
'ver the books" l
Holy jumped-up Jehosaphat !" ,
Absolom McPeake. "Now !
But yes" |
II don't believe it,"
$50 downstairs and ask the pay L
1g teller of the First National :
ank He'll enlighten you. I went J,
own there and he enlightened me-" i
"The dirty dog" McPeake raved. Il
The dirty little snake in the grass )
} do a thing like this !" {
Elmer shrugged. "All I'm hoping j.
that the collector of internal rev L
nue. leaves me enough to pay my II
w debts. I owe the Pilarcitos 81
commercial Trust and Savings
ank twenty thousand. If I get q
lat much out of the wreck I'll be a
ack where | started and in a d
or two I'll be just as happy le
5 if I had never been a million
re-" He smiled wanly. You fC
,e haven't got terribly accus- NJ
med to being a millionaire" he m
1ded. spending money Is a fine m
t and | have never learned 1t. er
heer up. Mac. If I'd collected all
this inheritance and had got ac- 70
to living on a million m
scale, Bunker's action would o.
i've broken my heart
"You are game" McPeake de- N,
ared a%dmiringly. and called for Al
$ secretary. "Get the collector Al
internal evenu on the line for nu
=" he ordered. va
Thereafter for five minutes he ws
tened on the line while the col Gle
tor of internal revenue talked. wa
Iently McPeake hung up. III
Licked !" he croaked. Licked
a fragile" Ell
All right, I'm licked" Elmer re-
ted calmly. what interests me TO
to know how | was licked"
Bunker went to the collector of cit
ernal revenue directly after you
We him your ultimatum and u
ned the real set Of books and to
over to them. and. for five