Page:Hugh Pendexter--Tiberius Smith.djvu/188

 ment is invalid. And yet the contestants are not entitled to it, or we may now say, to the live-stock.'

"‘Hooray!' shouted Hiram.

"‘The worst is yet to come,' warned Tib. 'The court has ruled the will is invalid, pro bono publico; hence Mr. Higbutton died intestate. Then we find he left no next of kin. To whom, under these circumstances, does the property go?' "‘To his creditors,' bawled Mr. Remmy, not doing the table any particular good with his fist. 'To his creditors!'

"‘Whose claims have not been established,' declared the old chap, throwing up his head. 'No; I find it that the statutes have it that under like conditions the estate would escheat to the State of Vermont, and I so rule.'

"‘Well, sir, you could have brushed that crowd away with a yard of baby-ribbon! They never saw real, old-fashioned, simon-pure justice before in such large lumps.

"‘Ye mean I don't git 'em?' moaned Hiram.

"‘We can't take 'em?' gasped Mr. Remmy.

"‘They belong to the State of Vermont,' repeated Tib, firmly. 'Court's adjourned.'

"‘I'll mandamus this court!' cried Mr. Remmy, with his fist aloft, quite like Ajax defying the lightning.

'"My man,' warned Tib, in his low, dangerous voice, 'if you applied that term to me in private life