“My dear sir, if in any way I can help you I shall be glad to do so,” answered Bolton. “I am a lawyer——”
“Are you?” said the other eagerly. “I want to meet a good, honest and smart lawyer, who will undertake a case for me.”
Bolton pricked up his ears. This seemed to be a providential opportunity, of which he resolved to avail himself.
“I should not like to praise myself,” he said modestly, “but I think you will find me faithful to your interests.”
“No doubt of it, sir. Are you a New York lawyer?”
“I am about to connect myself with a law firm in the city,” answered Bolton, hoping that this statement might prove accurate.
“Then you will be able to help me.”
“State your case, if you don’t mind.”
Bolton took out a small memorandum-book, and, pencil in hand, sat ready to take down the important points.
“Twenty years ago my father died, leaving an estate of fifty thousand dollars. It was divided equally between my sister Martha and myself. I married, and Martha for the last twenty years has been a member of my family. Being a spinster, with only herself to provide for, her property has doubled, while I, having several children, have barely held my own. Of course I expected that my children and myself would inherit Martha’s money when she died.”