The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1880-04-02

never wish to see or hear of him again"
Then, after pause, be continued:
"There, put the will back in its envel-
,op and seal it up; you will find my seal
on the table,"
This done, he said:
"Now, place it in the desk and
come here again. have another
paper to show you"
The desk referred to was one l had Of
ten. noticed standing on the table at the
other side Of the room; it was not large
one, only about eighteen inches long,
twelve inches wide, and at the back nine
inches high, with a lid sloping down to
about three inches in 'front.' 1t was made
of some dark wood, and was evidently
very old. Having placed the will there
in, l said:
clad Inot better lock it?"
eyes, it would perhaps be as well. But
lately / have not done SO, as l have only
kept writing materials in it; and now !
am afraid the key is lost. I have not
seen it for long time. But"-with an
appearance of sudden recollection--"if
you wish to keep the will safe, / will tell
you secret; in that desk is compart-
ment known only, to myself; follow my
instructions carefully, and l will tell
how to open it,"
II am all attention." I replied.
"Well, first raise the front lid, and
you will see before YOU, at the back, six
small drawers, arranged in three rows Of
two each. Now pull the middle TOP
drawer quite out Of its place."
"Done," said, peering into the cavity
thus formed. "But I see nothing except
the buck of the desk"
"Ah! what you see is not quite the
back, although very near it. Now feel
with your finger in the top right-hand
corner of the cavity, you will find a
small hole, as though a small knot had
been broken out of the wood. Nay, it is
no use looking; you can not see it; it is
too small, and too near the top"
II have found it now; but it is not
large enough even for my little finger"
mo. So take one Of the long pen
holders you see at the bottom Of the
desk, and push it through, pressing pref
ty hard. Now look behind the DESK" he
continued, when had done SO.
l looked, and was surprised to see q
little door, projecting about halt an inch.
I took hold Of it, and with some diff.
culty-for the hinges were very stiff
opened it completely. This done, a cav
ity was exposed about nine inches long,
but only one inch deep. Still, there was
plenty of room for the will. l therefore
placedft therein, closed the door, put
the inside drawer back in its place, le,
down the front lid of the desk, and re.
ported all to Mr.. Russell.
''That is all right them" he said
"You may depend upon the will being
safe, and only we know of It's hiding
place. But you must not forget--toI
middle drawer, top right-hand corner
Now the other paper l wished to show
you is this" holding one toward me
"All my securities are in the hands O
my bankers at Kinton; but this is lis
of them. Take it, and look it through
and then you will understand
better what you have to deal with. Ant
now, goodnight, for I am very tired
but just one word-do not mention any
thing of this to Ellen. I think it bette
not"
Of course I promised, and bidding tn
dear old gentleman goodnight, l too
my leave. In my own room at home
examined the paper he had given me
and found the securities to consist 0
dock, railway, gas, and water shares
with few mortgages on house propert,
at Kinton--the whole amounting to owe
thirty thousand pounds, and bringing il
an income very little short Of tw'
thousand pounds year. I had nj
idea he was SO rich; and according II
the will l had just seen, this thirt.
thousand pounds would at some future
time be my wife's inheritance.