Burnham Breaker

the principal thoro

enue leads from it east

a small wooden building, but one story in height. It was set well back from the street, and a stone wa

RPMAN, ATTO

cite Avenue, shuffled along the walk to the office door, and stood for a minute examining the

d; "he's the one;" and he en

erk sat, bus

aid, in answer to Craft's question. "Take

imself, and the cler

ilt man, forty years of age, smooth-faced, with a clerical cast of

a certain matter of business,

iting some time to se

th him in a very friendly way. "Good-morning, si

success at the bar was due, in no small degree, to his apparent frankness and friendliness toward all men. The fact that these qualities were indeed apparent rather than real, did not seem to matter; the general effect was the same. His pe

o long. He spoke of the beautiful weather. He noticed that the old man was in ill health, and expressed

-sighted to allow himself to be carried away by it. He proceeded at once to business. He took from an inner pocket of

said. "Is it drawn up in legal shape?

t carefully through; then he looked

did you know that Robert

d from his chair i

laimed. "Rober

l air in his own mine.

nt, and stared at the lawyer in silence. Finally he said: "There must be some mistake.

e until after six. Oh, no! there is no mistake. I

ence, keen disappointment written plainly

bind his heirs?" he

o pay me that money,

ment was binding only on Burnham himself. It calls for the production o

n his chair, a perfect p

ugh. I thought that child of Burnham's was dead.

n't even hurt. Of cours

ou pro

tain

ntly in doubt as to the man's veracity

ke. Another thoug

her; she's liv

idow? Yes; s

w. I'll raise on my price! She'll pay it. I'll warrant she'll pay it! May be it's

sgusted at this exhibition of c

ing tone; "that's the plan. I'll go to her. I'

the excitement had brought on a severe fit of coughing,

ve Sharpman t

; "wait a little. I think I have a plan in mind that is

tentive in a moment. The word "cash

e two rooms tightly, and locked it. "Some

front of his visitor, and ass

"more cash; te

n?" asked the old man,

ith her whole mind and heart. You would find it exceedingly difficult to convince her to the contrary. She would explain away

man p

plan?" repeated C

a still more conf

th listening to. He began to think that this shrewd lawyer was going to put him in the way of making a fortune after all. Sharpman continued: "Now, the boy is a minor. He must have a guardian. The mother would be the guardian preferred by law; but if, for any reason, she should fail to recognize the boy as her son, some one else must be appointed. It will be the duty of the guardian to esta

nt. He saw that a scheme was being opened up to him that outr

n asked, glancing fur

oulders the duties and responsibilities attendant upon suc

ld man, eagerly. "Why, I would be the

boy's identity. There must be no mistake in proving tha

e disaster at the bridge, of the finding and keeping of Ralph, of

the boy was fond of circuses,-an who should go by me into the tent but this same Ralph. I made

es the boy live?

r, and lives with one Bachelor Billy, a simple-minded old fellow, with

capital case. But wait; does Mrs. Burnham know of y

left the man at h

hat h

past four, as near

ws. He went from his office directly to the

What's the first thing to be done?" Visions of golden

, consequent upon this disaster, have passed away. It wouldn't do to proceed now; besides, all a

still alive. Of course, she'll not believe me. Indeed, I shall be very careful to put the matter in such a shape that she will not believe me. I will say to her, however, that you have employed me to prosecute your claim for services to the child, and that it will be necessary to have a guardian appointed against whom such action may be taken. I will suggest t

good; that's ve

e to give bonds. There's the trouble

poor, very poor ind

ondsmen. The court wouldn't let us touch a penny

d into the old man's face. "Ain't there some way y

your bond myself. But you see no one cares to risk his fortune in the hands of

ly honest and discreet; and you should not suf

, and a single error in judgment on your part might cost thousands of dollars. Good intentions and promises are well enou

hands on his cane, and staring silently at the lawyer, tried to conceive some plan

r of attorney to hold and manage all the funds of the trust until the boy

strike him favorably. "That would be putting the

you three thousand dollars on receipt of the funds, and three thousand dollars each year thereafter, besides your guardian's commission, which would amount to eight or ten thousand dollars at least. I would also agree to pay you a

lliant one. He saw a great fortune in it for himsel

a writing to this

shall have a mu

easy enough; but if you'll do what you say you will, I shan

you. If he is contented and well off, you had better let him stay

somewhere between ten

think it would be better, under the circumstances, if he would go int

frowned

harder things than that; it's a pity if I can't make him do what's

him, and I'll explain matters to him, and show him why it's necessary that you should take hold of the case. I'll use logic with him, and I'll wager that he'll come around all right. You must treat boys as though they were men, Craft. They will listen to reason, and yield to pers

lyly from under h

confidentiall

tain

ost children, particularly. I knew there was money back of the boy by the looks of his clothes. I kept matters pretty well covered up for a while;

ed knowingly. "You're a s

e believed to be in store for him. "What's to be done

ay a word to any one about this matter. The boy, especially, must not know that you have been here. Come again about the first of September

like about the business is this waiting. I'm pretty bad here," pl

ng him by the hand, and walking with him to the door. "A-are you pret

to suppress his evident pleasure at the offer; "if

them together, and placed them into Craft's trembling fingers. "There," he said,

Craft trudged down the avenue, toward the railroad station, his mind filled with visions of enormous wealth, but hi

e there would be opposition, but if he could succeed so far as to get the funds and the property into his hands, he felt sure that, in one way or another, he could make a fortune out of the estate before he should be compelled to relinquish his hold. As for Simon Craft, he should use him so far as such use was necessary for th

great deal on, both of money and reputation