The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1880-05-04

secretly delighted, for Mr.. Russell being
asleep l had little difficulty In securing
the will. remembered perfectly the
directlons Top middle drawer, and
pen-holder through the top rlghthand
corner, then look at the back In fact
had opened the secret panel more than
once, TO see II had heard Alright. Soon
after, the nurse arriving, was at
liberty and hastened 10 meet Charles.
found him alone In the upper room of
the Red Lion, and the table strewn with
papers.
9" Have you got ltY' he eagerly In
qulred the instant the door closed behind
me.
MY only reply was to hand 1t TO
him. without word he broke the
seal, and having read the contents, said
You are quite right IL Is as you
supposed. He has left the whole of his
property to Ellen, except few paltry
legacles. Now, you shall see what
will do.
DO. Why, suppose you will burn
It,, and then come in for an equal
share with Ellen. But mind there is
something left to me In that will, and
II Is only because we are to be married
that agree to Its being destroyed.
"i Fear not; you shall be made all
right. But think / can do better than
what you suggest. was not five years
in my uncle's Office for nothing
He then searched amongst the
papers until he fonnd blank sheet as
near like the one the will was written
on as possible. you see,' he continued,
the old fellow was so methodlcal in his
ways, that was pretty sure he would
make his will on certain sort Of paper
and in a certain way. provided
myself accordingly; obtained similar
paper, wax, &C., to that which he
always used, and had copy Of his seal
made-I had plenty of impressions by
me-you know you can get anything In
London. Now see me write"
He then began to copy the will word
for word, and was astonished at the
similitude. Five years. practice under
his uncle's eye, and with his uncle's
writing constantly before him, Joined to
a natural aptitude for imitation, enabled
him to copy every stroke and turn
exactly. There, he said, when he had
finished. "A fair exchange is no rob-
berry. / have written everything as 1t
was before, except that Ellen's name
now occupies my place, while / have
taken hers. Not q very great change,
but one that will make considerable
difference to us both, / reckon. Now
for the most difficult part, and that is to
copy the signatures of the witnesses. 1
have practiced uncle's often enough;
but of course I did not know theirs;
however, must try.
"He did try, and succeeded so well
that could see no difference.
"'There now, said he,' just you COM
pare these two, while 1 go and get
glass of brandy
I" He left the room and l, placing the
two side by side, could only distinguish
the one from the other by the change of
names.
GO Well he said, as he re-entered-
'Will it dop'
" Excellently well,' replied. 1
cannot tell which was written by you
and which by your uncle
"Well, then; now to fold them and
from a heap of various sorts of envelopes
choosing two, he took up the original
will, sealed and endorsed as before, but
putting small almost imperceptible
mark In the corner. He then took the
new will and did the same, but without
the mark.
"' Now,' said he, listen carefully to
my instructions. When yon get home,
replace the original will in the desk.
You will know what it is by this mark
pointing to the corner. 1t Is extremely
unlikely that Mr.. Russell has been out of
bed and missed 1t during the two hours
you have been absent, SO that will be all
right. This other envelope you must
keep by you until he is actually dead,
and then take the very first opportunity
of changing them. The old will you
may bring to me, and 1 will destroy
it,
"'But why not make the change at
once? could as easily put one in the
desk as the other.'
"'No; no. We must not risk 1t.
There Is just a chance that my uncle