Vandemark's Folly by Herbert Quick
page 82 of 416 (19%)
page 82 of 416 (19%)
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law might be--for it came through my father. Surely this lawyer must be
a good man, or my mother wouldn't have consulted him. But when I mentioned to my new friend, whose name was Jackway, my claim to the whole estate he assured me that Rucker was the legal owner of his share in it--I forget how much. "And," said he, "I make no doubt the old scoundrel has reduced the whole estate to possession, and is this moment," lowering his voice secretively, "acting as executor _de son tort_--executor _de son tort_, sir! I wouldn't put it past him!" I wrote this, with some other legal expressions in my note-book. "How can I get this money away from him?" said I, coming to the point. "Money!" said he. "How do we know it is money? It may be chattels, goods, wares or merchandise. It may be realty. It may be _choses in action_. We must require of him a complete discovery. We may have to go back to the original probate proceedings through which your mother became seized of this property to obtain the necessary information. How old are you?" I told him that I was sixteen the twenty-seventh of the last July. "A minor," said he; "in law an infant. A guardian _ad litem_ will have to be appointed to protect your interests, and to bring suit for you. I shall be glad to serve you, sir, in the name of justice; and to confound those with whom robbery of the orphan is an occupation, sir, a daily occupation. Come up to my office with me, and we will begin proceedings to make Rucker sweat!" |
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