"You always had a grand way in money matters. As

I told you before you came out here, it's a poor stake.

The assets consist wholly of this land and this house,

whose quality you have had an excellent opportunity

to test. You have doubtless heard that the country

people believe there is money concealed here,-but I

dare say you have exhausted the possibilities. This is

not the first time a rich man has died leaving precious

little behind him."

"You seem very anxious to get possession of a property

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that you call a poor stake," I said. "A few acres

of land, a half-finished house and an uncertain claim

upon a school-teacher!"

"I had no idea you would understand it," he replied.

"The fact that a man may be under oath to perform

the solemn duties imposed upon him by the law would

hardly appeal to you. But I haven't come here to debate

this question. When are you going to leave?"

"Not till I'm ready,-thanks!"

"Mr. Sheriff, will you serve your writ?" he said, and

I looked to Stoddard for any hint from him as to what

I should do.

"I believe Mr. Glenarm is quite willing to hear whatever

the sheriff has to say to him," said Stoddard. He

stepped nearer to me, as though to emphasize the fact

that he belonged to my side of the controversy, and the

sheriff read an order of the Wabana County Circuit

Court directing me, immediately, to deliver the house

and grounds into the keeping of the executor of the

will of the estate of John Marshall Glenarm.

The sheriff rather enjoyed holding the center of the

stage, and I listened quietly to the unfamiliar phraseology.

Before he had quite finished I heard a step in

the hall and Larry appeared at the door, pipe in mouth.

Pickering turned toward him frowning, but Larry paid

not the slightest attention to the executor, leaning

against the door with his usual tranquil unconcern.

"I advise you not to trifle with the law, Glenarm,"

said Pickering angrily. "You have absolutely no right

whatever to be here. And these other gentlemen-your

guests, I suppose-are equally trespassers under the

law."

He stared at Larry, who crossed his legs for greater

ease in adjusting his lean frame to the door.

"Well, Mr. Pickering, what is the next step?" asked

the sheriff, with an importance that had been increased

by the legal phrases he had been reading.

"Mr. Pickering," said Larry, straightening up and

taking the pipe from his mouth, "I'm Mr. Glenarm's

counsel. If you will do me the kindness to ask the

sheriff to retire for a moment I should like to say a

few words to you that you might prefer to keep between

ourselves."

I had usually found it wise to take any cue Larry

threw me, and I said: "Pickering, this is Mr. Donovan, who has every authority

to act for me in the matter."




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