The Man from Brodney's

mulating, to say the least, inappli

somewhere in the mysterious South Seas. The volcano was not a large one and the crater, though somewhat threa

, who had lived for thirty years or more on the island, should have stepped into it in broad day

would seem to have been a most reprehensible miscalculation

neither he

preceding his death. It was, however, noticeably worth while to remember him at this particular time: he left a last will and testament that bade fair to distres

he plans of the firm of Bosworth, Newnes & Grapewin, London, E.C.; while on the other side of the Atlantic Messrs. Bo

er to the nearest of these law offices; he may hear something to his own in

re," said Mr. Hare, staring he

wen, very much as if he had

brief, Mr. Bowen recently had been named as joint executor of the will, together with Sir John Allencrombie, of London, W.C., one time neighbour of the late Mr. Skaggs. A long and exasperating cablegram had touched somewhat irresolutely upon the terms of the will, besides

e in connection with the old gentleman's will: he was

gard the case as startling. Their practice was far-reaching and varied; imperviousness had been acquired through long years

t again

e w

the l

e letter from Bosworth, Newnes & Grapew

by the situation as we,"

state of affair

bout it-I don't even know how

to each

arried to an uncommonly fine girl, they say, notwithstanding th

will is not carried out to the letter,

looks to me as though the bow-wows will get the old man's millions. I

e house-tops and Mr. Hare la

en, he names you a

was not an intimate friend of mine. I met him in Constantinople five years ago and afterwa

turn your troubles over to the natives. Young Browne can't marry Miss Ruthven inside

ping

say. It's hardly probable that Browne will murder or divorce his wife, nor is it likely that her

s millions t

ut. You are to act as an execut

those wretched islanders. Bosworth says that r

igent and will fight for their rights. There are lawyers a

ng enough to find out what the island had stored up for civilisation. That's why they bou

, contrary to all human belief, he may have resurrected a conscien

't be done. It's as clean an in

l light upon the tragic comedy which entertained but did not amuse a select audience of lawyers on both sides of the Atlantic. As this tale has to do with the adventures of Taswell Sk

en Taswell won her heart and dragged her from the exalted position of minding other people's children into the less conspicuous one of caring for her own. How the uncouth country yo

me the wife of an American named Browne when she was scarcely out of her teens. It was t

forth upon a voyage of exploration. It is common history that upon one dark, still night in December

nths later. But, before doing so, she made a will in which she left the entire estate to

Skaggs felt deeply aggrieved with the fate which permitted him to capitulate when unconditional surrender was so close at hand. His language

m, of course. She's an h'American, God bless 'er 'eart. I daresay if I'd go to 'er and say I'd like my farm back again s

nd, Tazzy," explained Mr. Wyckho

vorce. It may not have been intended as an insult to the scapegoat, but no sooner had she freed herself from him than his father, Sir Somebody-or-other, took her and her young daughter into the ancestral halls and gave them a much-needed abiding-place. This left poor Mr. Jack quite completely out in the world-and he proceeded to make

know?" deman

needlework over the shop counters. At any rate, that's what every one said every one else was doing, and advised me to-to get a situa

en't a 'ome, and we're wanderers on the face of the earth. My wife played

e wants to get out the worst way but has to stay in till he's

e me, Jackie, to 'ave a rela

ght they took an inventory. Jack Wyckholme, gentleman's son and ne'er-do-well, possessed nine pounds and a fraction, an appetite and excellent spirits, while Taswell

e to you, Tazzy," said Mr. W

it, Jackie," replied M

ll. For thirty years they lived on the island of Japat. Wyckholme preceded Skaggs to the grave by two winters and he willed his share of everything to his partner of thirty years' standing. But there was a proviso in Wyckholme's bequest, just as there was in that of Skaggs. Each had made his will some fifte

tives had unwittingly prepared for them. In course of time the natives repented of the deal which gave the Englishmen the right to pick and sell the rubies and other precious stones that they had been trading away for such trifles as silks, gewgaws and women; a revolution was imminent. Whereupon the owners organised the entire population into a great stock company, retaining four-fifths of the property themselves. This seemed to be

ere dead, and both of them were buried in the heart of an island of rubi