in us by your late uncle."

"I beg your pardon, sir?" said "Cobbler" Horn.

"I ventured to hope that my partner and I might be so fortunate as to
retain the management of your affairs. I believe you will find that
since--"

"Oh yes, of course," "Cobbler" Horn hastened to interpose. He had not
dreamt of making any change. The lawyers bowed their thanks.

"May we now ask," said Mr. Ball, "whether you have any special commands?"

"I think there are one or two requests I should like to make. I have a
sister, and I believe my uncle left another nephew."

"A sad scrapegrace, my dear sir," interposed Mr. Ball, whose keen legal
instinct gave him some scent of what was coming next.

"Cobbler" Horn held up his hand.

"Can you tell me, gentlemen, whether there are any other relatives of my
uncle's who are still alive?"

"We have every reason to believe that there are not."

"Very well, then, I wish my uncle's property to be divided into three
equal portions. One third I desire to have made over to my sister, and
another to be reserved for my cousin. The remaining portion I will retain
myself."

"But, my dear sir," cried Mr. Ball, "the whole of the property is legally
yours!"

"True," was the quiet reply; "but the law cannot make that right which is
essentially wrong, and my sister and cousin are as much entitled to my
uncle's money as I am myself."

Mr. Ball was dumfounded.

"My dear sir," he gasped, "this is very strange!"

But "Cobbler" Horn was firm.

"You will find this scapegrace cousin of mine?" he asked.

The lawyers said they would do their best; and, when some further
arrangements had been made, with regard to the property, "Cobbler" Horn
took his departure, leaving his two legal advisers to assure one another,
as they stood together on the hearthrug, that he was the strangest client
they had known.

CHAPTER X.

MISS JEMIMA IS VERY MUCH ASTONISHED.

Miss Jemima Horn was sufficiently curious as to the result of her
brother's visit to the lawyers, to render her restlessly eager for his
return. He came back the same night. He had work to finish in the cobbling
line; and besides he had no fancy for any bed but his own.

After supper, the brother and sister sat down before the fire, for the
talk to which Miss Jemima had been looking forward all day long.

"Well, brother," she queried, "I suppose you've heard all about it?"

"Yes, in a general way.