Browning chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1941-1953, 1943-04-16
M.Nu. RELEASE

otis going to be hell-and-all if thar
dirty devil Rance Waldron gobbles
it up" He raised his head to stare
narrowly at the Judge. "How about
it, Judge? You ought to know, being
a lawyer and banker, too. Old
Early Bill had to have himself his
fun, but what I hear about his two
wills makes me think they kill each
other, and Waldron, being nearest
of kin, takes the whole kit and ca
DOODLE"
The Judge cleared his throat, but
Cole Cody cut in. He extracted one
of the two wills, twice folded, from
his vest pocket and handed it to the
Judge, saying,
Here, Judge, you take care of
mine, will you? You'll know how to
handle it. I suggested yesterday
that you take safeguard of my in
terests; suppose you're retained
right now to do that for me? Is it
go?"
you're dead right, son." he said
heartily. "I'll take care of it for
you"
The dreamy ecstasy fed from Ann
Lees eyes and bright determina-
ton came into them. She jumped
up and ran into the house; not a
word was spoken before she re-
turned, bringing her own precious
document with her.
doc Joe," she said, ard was for
the moment like pretty little girl
child, very trustful, innocent and ir-
resistible, won't you keep this for
me? And won't you see that I
am not cheated out of my rights?
You know that Mr.. Early Bill Cole
wanted me to have everything that
was his, don't you? You will protect
me, won't you, Doc Joe?"
"Miss Ann Lee," he said sternly,
Il do know that old Early Bill want
ed you to have everything that he
has willed to you here I witnessed
his signature; 1 talked alone with
him spell; he gave you the ranch
and lot of other truck, and by the
jumping jimminy you're going to
have it,"
The Judge spoke to Cole Cody,
the while returning Doc Joe's glare.
There is one other matter which
we merely touched on yesterday"
said the Judge, ''that we might as
well nail down right now. No mat
ter which way the cat jumped you
two young folks, no matter what
happens to these two wills, have a
lot of cash money in the bank, and
it's in my bank, and it's deposited
there subject to your orders"
He reached into his pocket and
drew out small check book and
tossed it into Cole Cody's hands.
Those listening to him, all but Doc
Joe, watched and waited for the
other check book. 1t appeared there
wasn't any.
So in the end Doc Joe explained.
Miss Ann Lee," he said, and
sounded apologize, ''this whole set
up is mess. The money is there
in the bank, if the Judge hasn't stole
it. Fifty thousand, maybe, maybe
hundred thousand or a whale of
lot more. Fact is, I'm no banker
and the Judge here claims to be,
and for some fool reason, Early Bill
trusted him. But here's the Joker,
like there is in every brand new
deck: The account is in the Joint
names of you and this here Cody.
In short, if either of you wants to
draw cent or thousand dollars
or anything, you both got to sign
the same check: That was so or
dered by the late Mr. William Cole,
known by some as Early Bill, by
others as Old King Cole himself.
You two have just simply got to
get together"
Of course Cole Cody and Ann Lee
had to look at each other then, and
of course that haunting, gleeful grin
of Cody's came flashing back-and
little Ann flushed up and bit her lip.
81 am going to draw out thou
sand dollars today! A whole thou
sand! Oh, Aunt Jenny, think of the
things we are going to do! We can
spend a thousand dollars every dav,
if we want to! Mr.. Cody, haven't
the slightest doubt, will be wanting
some money! So he will sign with
me; that's clear enough"
"Why, now!" exclaimed Cody, and
ooullNASu anu ISdl l
an idea! AS matter of fact l could
do with little money myself. Here;
I'll write the check right now, and
we'll give it to the Judge to cash
and split two ways for US. Where's
pen and ink?'
"Ill show you," said Aunt Jenifer,
and Cody followed her into the house,
They we're not long gone.
Cody had written and signed the
check; he handed it with the pen
and ink bottle to Ann for her sig
nature below his.
She started to sign, then stiffened
her small figure, and her lips we're
compressed and her eyes blazing.
He had written in the amount:
Twenty Dollars.
81 said a thousand!" she said.
"Shucks," said the good humored
Bill Cole Cody. Twenty bucks is
lot of money. You take ten,
take ten-and there you are"