The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1872-02-29

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but as you've only got old Hector's
name here, L suppose you will want
mine. It's all right otherwise"
COZ course it is" replied the old gem
tlcman. It's copy of the one you
drew, in all but the names and the di-
vision. It's no injustice to John Crap
ley. He is well taken care of, and, be-
sides, he had property of his own, from
his mother, and he has no claims of
blood on me-"
Still, it cuts him out of very COM
Portable pile" said the doctor "Where's S
the pen That rascally bird Look at
him. There he is on the top of the
bookcase, with the pen in his mouth
Martin, you scamp" laughed his
master, "come down with that pen, or
I'll disinheYt you. Never mind, doctor.
Don't look at him, and he'll bring it
back i'll minute. He's fond of stealing,
but he never keeps anything long"
Sure enough, i'll the course of two or
three minutes, the pen was on the table
again, and meantime the two friends
talked on.
John will hardly be pleased with
this" said the doctor.
"I shan't care, then, whether he is or
not, and L don't care much, anyway"
"Havc you destroyed the other will p
"No; but I'm going to. It's over
there in the secretary. You will know
where to find this one, if you outlive
me-"
"All right" said the doctor. Martin
has brought back the pcn'
1t was a slow and Grabbed signature
that the doctor affixed, but it was good
enough for the purpose.
When he had signed the WILL and put
it back in its envelope, he looked around
over the table, only to find that Martin
was again on the top of the bookcase, and
this time with the little ncgro-headed
penwiper in his beak.
"That rascally bird !" laughed the
doctor. "Well, the pen can go unwiped."
"Hell bring it back again. Martin is
a good bird" said Mr. Ovington.
"Ca-a-caw exclaimed Martin, and
the penwiper dropped lightly on the
floor.
"Come, doctor-come and take a look
at my new Dcvons, before you go. I'm
alf-minded to drive into town with
you. The walk back will be good for
mo-help keep down this too heavy car
cass of mine. l don't get half enough
exercise"
"No more you don't" growled the
doctor, with side glance at his friend's
plethoric proportions, as they made their
way out of the study.
Their conversation had not been in
whispers, and John Grapley had lost
none of it since he took his stand by the
window. Nor was it many minutes
after the departure of his stepfather be-
fore John, with an unaccountable pallor
in his face and a hesitating step, was pas
sing through the house from room to
room. All was deserted solitary Even
the fair face of Alice Ovington was
Frightening some more distant corner of
the mansion.
The young mans step became even
more stealthy, and his thin, white lips
shut more closely on each other, as he
laid his hand at last on the knob of the
study door. 1t turned in his grasp, and
he stepped within.
The room was empty of human forms,
and John Grapley's eyes wandered in
vain search around the room-not find
ing something they expected. A few
loose papers on the tables were hurriedly
turned over, and us hastily thrown down,
with a sharp exclamation of angry dis
satisfaction.
The key was in the secretary, but John
Grapley's hand shook more than little
us he turned it in the lock. He did turn
it, however, and then at last his search
seemed to be successful for from one of
10 hp1 hS
ed a long yellow envelope.
John gave the paper which he held in
his hand but one swift, keen, eager glance,
and then thrust it into an inside pocket
of his coat, muttering:
"At all events, he shall not destroy
this He has got the other with him
now, and l must trust to luck to get it
out of the way. Now, 1 must get out
of this"
He put the empty envelope back in
the pigeQn-hole, locked the secretary,
left the key as he found it, and fastened
away. He did not make his appearance
near home again until the next day at
noon.
1t was late that evening before old
Mr.. Ovington returned from town, weary
with his unaccustomed walk, and anx-
ious only to get straightway to bed. 1t
was late in the morning when he arose,
and then his Devons and his other mute
favorites kept him for. time from his
cosy study.
Alice Ovington had looked at the
cattle with him, and Martin had eawed
graciously about them, as if he considered
himself good judge of both brutes and
human beings; but John Grapley did
not put in his customary appearance.
When he did return, however, half an
hour later, he was met in the gateway
by the form of his stepfather, looking a
foot taller than usual, being literally in
towering" fit of anger.
"John Grapley, do you know where
they are-do you?"
"Where what are? What on earth's
the NATTER" gasped John, with we'll
assumed look of bewildered innocence.
"The will, you scoundrel, the will !
Both of them! Give them up, or I'll"
Alas, for swollen veins and hasty pas
sions For as John Grapley quailed and
trembled before the wrathful face of his
stepfather, suddenly the old man put on
a strange and set expression, his tongue
ceased to obey his angry will, his limbs
failed under him, and the old gentleman
sank helpless on the grass
John Grapley's face wore for moment
the look of a reprieved criminal; but he
retained his self-possession, and no alarm
could have been more prompt and loud
than that which he sounded.
Mr.. Ovington was borne into the house