“All right,” he said. “We’ll go across to the judge’s chambers and see what we can do,” and he led the way out of his office.
Chapter XXIX
In Which Mr. Chester Downes and I Again “Lock Horns”
This had not been the home-coming I had looked forward to. I had not desired to take up the old fight with my uncle, Mr. Chester Downes. But it seemed as though circumstances were forever opposing us in some wrangle or other!
We three, with the old Colonel leading, went quietly into the room where Judge Fetter held his court. Nobody noticed us and Colonel Playfair motioned Ham and I to seats well back in the room. There were maybe a score of people on the benches. The lawyers and those individuals who were pertinently interested in the matters to be arranged, were allowed inside the rail before the Judge’s desk. Colonel Playfair went up there and the justice nodded to him. Nobody knew whom he represented, or in what matter he was interested.
I saw Mr. Chester Downes at once; but my uncle did not see me. He sat with his back to me, in fact, and beside him was a slim and sleek looking man with a green bag before him on the table.
“That’s Jim Maxwell,” whispered Ham. “And he’s the kind of a lawyer that Chester Downes would cotton to, all right. I ain’t got no manner o’ use for Jim Maxwell. He’s one o’ them landsharks, he is.”
The proceedings droned along for a time. Two matters of probate were settled before our case came up. Then his clerk handed Judge Fetter some papers, he put on his nose glasses, glanced at them, and said:
“In the matter of the appointment of Mr. Chester Downed as co-trustee with Mrs. Mary Webb, Widow—the Darrington Estate. There is a minor child, I believe? You speak in this matter, Mr. Maxwell?”
“I have the honor to do so,” said the sleek man.