He got the
character in our town of a safe adviser. If a man had a difficulty
with a neighbor, and talked of going to law with him, in all
probability some one would say--
"Go to Mr. Wallingford; he will tell you, on the spot, if there is
any chance for you in Court."
And he bore this character justly. A thorn in the side he had proved
to the three great mill owners, Judge Bigelow, Squire Floyd, and
Ralph Dewey. The two former failed entirely, in his view, as to the
right steps for discovering the heirs to the large property in their
hands, all of which had been changed from its original position;
while the latter showed ill-feeling whenever Wallingford, as he
continued to do, at stated intervals, filed interrogatories, and
required answers as to the condition of the trust, and the prospects
of finding heirs.
Ten years had elapsed since the discovery of Mr. Allen's will, and
yet no heirs had presented themselves. And now Mr. Wallingford took
formal issue in the case, and demanded the property for his client,
Mrs. Montgomery, who was still living in Boston with her daughter,
in a retired way.
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