more out the smash years ago. But if the Bolton place has actually
been sold--"

He finished with a prolonged whistle.

The greatness in the middle chair emitted a grunt.

"Humph!" he muttered, and again, "Hr-m-m-ph!"

"It would be surprising," conceded the middle-aged man, "after all
these years."

"Considerable many of th' creditors has died since," piped up a lean
youth who was smoking a very large cigar. "I s'pose th' children of
all such would come in for their share--eh, Judge?"

Judge Fulsom frowned and pursed his lips thoughtfully.

"The proceedings has not yet reached the point you mention, Henry,"
he said. "You're going a little too fast."

Nobody spoke, but the growing excitement took the form of a shuffling
of feet. The Judge deliberately lighted his pipe, a token of mental
relaxation. Then from out the haze of blue smoke, like the voice of
an oracle from the seclusion of a shrine, issued the familiar
recitative tone for which everybody had been waiting.

"Well, boys, I'll tell you how 'twas: Along about ten minutes of
twelve I had my hat on my head, and was just drawing on my linen
duster with the idea of going home to dinner, when I happened to look