The Argosy — page 109: what you’re looking at

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Edina. 97 ’ “Because we have received written instructions from Mr. George Atkinson to open the parchment, and prove the will.” “Ts it opened ?—Have you seen the will?” hastily asked Frank. ‘ Both seen it, and read it,” replied the old man, stroking back his smooth white hair, and looking at Frank with concern. “It will be proved in a day or two. I sympathise with you and your father.” ‘Who are the executors ?” ‘¢ George Atkinson and Street the banker. It is the latter who is acting.” ‘‘ Mr, Atkinson is, I hear, on his way from Australia.” “Yes: by ship. We expect him to land in the course of a week or two. His written instructions were received by this last mail, and were conveyed to us through Edwin Street, to whom they were sent. Mr. Atkinson desires that all necessary preliminaries may be executed without delay, as he intends to take possession of Eagles’ Nest on his arrival.” “He cannot know that my uncle is in it!” ‘“*T daresay he does. He knew that Major Raynor succeeded to it, for we wrote him to that effect at the time. And he is in regular cor- respondence with his partner, Edwin Street.” “Then it is all true; the worst is true!” cried Frank, as the full import of what this meant for the poor Major and his family became more and more apparent. “I wonder that George Atkinson should accept the estate !—should wrest it from them! From what little I have heard of him—it has not been much—I drew the conclusion that he was a kind and a just man.” Mr. Solicitor Callard opened his eyes very widely. The words sur-- ised him. ‘Kind! Just!” cried he. “Well, so he is: we know him well: but, my good young sir, a will is a will. You can’t ignore a will as you might a spoken message.” * Tt will be a terrible shock to my uncle and his family. Utter ruin.” The old gentleman shook his head in pity. ‘Ay, it's sad, no doubt; very. We lawyers often have to inflict grievous blows: and we cannot help ourselves.” “One last question,” said Frank, as he prepared to leave. “In the old will, Major Raynor was left residuary leg tee, and therefore came in for all the accumulated money—though in point of fact the bulk of it has not yet been found. Who comes in for it now?” ‘George Atkinson. My good young friend, George Atkinson comes in for everything. The one will may almost be called a counterpart of the other; in regard to the small legacies, and all else; save that George Atkinson’s name is substituted for Major Raynor's.” “Ts nothing left to the Major in this later one?” “Nothing.” Frank Raynor went back to Eagles’ Nest, carrying his deplorable VOL. XXII x comlichbooks.con