sence of his father's at that time--and was witnessed, in a villainous
hand, by Timothy Queed.

* * * * *

There were many formalities to be complied with, and some of them would
take time. But within a week matters were on a solid enough footing to
warrant a first step; and about this time Sharlee Weyland read, at her
breakfast-table one morning, a long letter which surprised and disturbed
her very much.

The letter came from a well-known firm of attorneys. At great length it
rehearsed the misfortunes that had befallen the Weyland estate, through
the misappropriations of the late Henry G. Surface. But the gist of this
letter, briefly put, was that the late Henry G. Surface had died
possessed of a property estimated to be worth two hundred thousand
dollars, either more or less; that this property was believed to be
merely the late trustee's appropriations from the Weyland estate, with
accrued interest; that "our client Mr. Henry G. Surface, Jr., heir by
will to his father's ostensible property," therefore purposed to pay
over this sum to the Weyland estate, as soon as necessary formalities
could be complied with; and that, further, our client, Mr. Henry G.
Surface, Jr., assumed personal responsibility "for the residue due to
your late father's estate, amounting to one hundred and seventeen
thousand dollars, either more or less, with interest since 1881; and
this debt, he instructs us to say, he will discharge from time to time,
as his own resources will permit."

So wrote Messrs. Blair and Jamieson to Miss Charlotte Lee Weyland,
congratulating her, "in conclusion, upon the strange circumstances which
have brought you, after so long an interval, justice and restitution,"
and begging to remain very respectfully hers. To which letter after four
days' interval, they received the following reply:

Messrs. Blair & Jamieson,
Commonwealth Building,
City.

DEAR SIRS:--

Our client, Miss C.L. Weyland, of this city, instructs us to advise
you, in reply to your letter of the 4th inst., directed to her,
that, while thanking you for the expression of intention therein
contained anent the property left by the late Henry G. Surface, and
very cordially appreciating the spirit actuating Mr. Henry G.
Surface, Jr., in the matter, she nevertheless feels herself without
title or claim to said property, and therefore positively declines