Page 28 (1/1)

"It's a complicated position," I said

"It is; and the complication has elicited a very curious proposal from Hurst He points out--quite correctly, I am afraid--that as the conditions as to burial have not been complied with, the property ement, which is this: That I shall support him and Jellicoe in their application for permission to presume death and administer the will, and that he shall pay ood in all eventualities"

"What does heme with a ferocious scowl, "that if the body should turn up at any future time, so that the conditions as to burial should be able to be carried out, he should still retain the property and pay me the four hundred a year"

"The deuce!" said I "He seeain"

"His position is that he stands to lose four hundred a year for the terht to stand to win if it is"

"And I gather that you have refused his offer?"

"Yes; very erees withA man should think twice, I suppose, before he burns his boats"

"Have you spoken to Mr Jellicoe about the matter?"

"Yes, I have been to see him to-day He is a cautious man, and he doesn't advise me one way or the other But I think he disapproves of my refusal; in fact, he remarked that a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush, especially when the whereabouts of the bush is unknown"

"Do you think he will apply to the Court without your sanction?"

"He doesn't want to; but I suppose, if Hurst puts pressure on him, he will have to Besides, Hurst, as an interested party, could apply on his own account, and after my refusal he probably will; at least, that is Jellicoe's opinion"

"The whole thing is amuddle," I said, "especially when one remembers that your brother had a lawyer to advise him Didn't Mr Jellicoe point out to him how absurd the provisions were?"

"Yes, he did He tells me that he i the matter in a reasonable form But John wouldn't listen to hi-headed when he chose"

"And is Hurst's proposal still open?"