Page:The man on horseback (IA manonhorseback00abdurich).pdf/47

Rh forgotten these many years: "Wait. By the Immortal and Solemnly Attested Heck! I had a sister once, back in York State where I was raised. Silly little goose! Ran away with some measly, fiddle-scratchin', long-haired foreigner, and I ain't ever heard of her nor seen her since. Maybe she had a kid."

"What's her name?" inquired Tom.

"Sally. Sally Truex."

"I mean her married name?"

"Can't think of it, pardner. Makes no difference, though. I tell you what. If I die you just keep what's due me and hand it over to Sally or Sally's kids if they show up, see? Here!" He scrawled a few rude words on a piece of paper and handed it to Wedekind. "I guess that's good enough, ain't it?"

Wedekind read.

"It's going to be bomb-proof in a jiff," he said, and he sent the Club steward for Alec Wynn, the lawyer, who was in the next room playing life pool.

Wynn came in a few seconds later, and Truex's will, for it was no less, was duly and legally attested, witnessed, and sealed.

"Shall I put it in my safe for you?" asked the lawyer.

"I guess so," replied Truex, and Wynn left to finish his interrupted game.

Truex sighed like a man who had successfully accomplished a herculean task. "Well, there we are all cocked and primed! An' as to my share of the boodle you just pay it in every month at the Old National Bank. I've a bit of an account there, an' they'll send me whatever I need when I write to 'em."

"Aren't you going to settle down, now you are wealthy?" asked Tom.