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!"

3

But this was too swift for a Vandemark. In spite of his urging, I
insisted that I should have to think it over. He grew almost angry at me
at last, I thought; but he went away finally, after I had taken the hint
he gave and bought him another drink. The next morning he was back
again, urging me to proceed immediately, "so that the property might not
be further sequestrated and wasted." He did not know how slow I was to
think and act; and suspected that I was going to some other lawyer, I
now believe; for I noticed him shadowing me, as the detectives say,
every time I walked out. On the third day, while I was still studying
the matter, and making no progress, Rucker himself came into the tavern,
with his neck bandaged and his head on one side, and in his best
clothes; and sitting on the edge of his chair between me and the door,
as if ready to take wing at any hostile movement on my part, he broached
the subject of my share in my mother's estate.

"I want to deal with you," said he in that dangerous whine of his, "as
with my