The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1880-12-30

but he did not entrust the keeping Of the
document to me- I answered, Il have the
draft of it, and that is all
"The man looked startled, but the look
| was not one of genuine surprise, and only
| made me suspect him more strongly than
| ever.
"'Where in the world can the will be
| then? he said. Perhaps you could 90 out
with me and take charge of things, and see
if it can be found.
"This was said with curious Hook into
my face, as if he had been saying to him
self, 4 wonder if he suspects me?' And,
contrary to my usual practice, resolved to
90 in person, instead of sendinga clerk.
"A cab which he had kept in waiting took
| us to the house, in which we found the
nurse who had attended the old man in his
last illness, and an elderly woman who had
acted as housekeeper. The nurse was not
so stupid as many old-fashioned nurses,
and took occasion, during a momentary alb
sence of Gunson, to draw me aside and say,
Il hope the old mans money won't go to
that man. He was here ever so often be-
fore Mr.. Stokes died, and they quarreled
hot, can tell YOU
| ''What did they quarrel about? asked
with much interest.
Il think that man asked for money, for I
heard him say: Il shall be ruined if I can
not pay. did not hear all that was said,
but it was bitter while it lasted, and the old
man had me in with fearful ring of the
IT saw murder in his eye, he said and
not a penny of my money shall he ever fin
ger. wish I knew where my poor girl
lives. She should have all, poor thing!
Then he ordered ME out of the room, and I
heard him shuttle across to the fire, and
when came back could see that he had
burned something in the freplace-which
believe, sir, it was the will.
"No doubt the old mans days had been
shortened by the excitement from those fire.
quent quarrels. When man of no moral
principles, like Gunson, is given an interest
in another's death, it is not at all unlikely
that he will try to hasten the removal Of all
that stands between him and fortune
especially when he thinks it can be done
without danger of discovery. I felt, how
ever, as the man rejoined me, thorough
repugnance to him, and was very near tell
ing him not to trouble to look for the will,
as had reason to believe it had been de-
stroyed, but conquered the feeling as we'll
as could; and, indeed, had no evidence
to prove the will had been destroyed.
"The housekeeper then showed us trunk
in which old Stokes had keptall his papers.
1 opened it, and at the top found little
packet of letters from his daughter. Iglanc-
ed at one. It was full of sorrow and ten
derness, asking SO earnestly if she might
show him their boy. The letter went on:
We call him Mathew, father; and when we
were without bread the little fellow said he
would come to you and ask for some for
mother. He was sure you would not say no;
but now my dear husband has work and
although it would not be to beg we should
come, yet do want, dear father, to see you
once more Over the next few words the
ink had run. or the paper had got SO wet
that could not read them. Perhaps, if
the miller had been alive he could have
told us how this happened.
folded up the letter, and turning sud-
denly to Gunson, who had been looking
over me, saw sardonic smile on his face,
We went over all the papers, but could not
find the will
Just as was about to close the trunk,
Gunson said, we have not looked in the
pocket inside the lid did so, and to my
surprise came upon folded paper, which
appeared to be the will, or so exact copy
Of it that I was not prepared to deny its
identity. It was written on kind of paper
that have used for half lifetime, and the
writing was Enthusiastically that of clerk of
mine, named Peter Phipps The signatures,
too, were all right, so far as I
could see, but yet I had doubt. I
| caught myself taking the valuable paper out
of my pocket and scanning it closely when
Gunson was not by, as if half expecting the
senseless paper to reveal some subtle treach-
cry. got back to my Office as soon as pos
sible, and read the will carefully through;
then l hunted up the original draft, and
found that it agreed perfectly.
For some two or three days the matter
stood over, for was called out of town on
urgent business, but the morning of my
return was told that an old woman
the nurse of Matthew Stokes-had
| called to see me during my alb
sence. She would not leave any message,
but said she would call when I returned to
town. That day, as was leaving the office
the nurse came, full Of apology, and hoping
I should not think any worse Of her for what
she bad to tell. You know, she said, Itold
you that I believed Mr.. Stokes burnt his WILL
and my reason for thinking SO is this. When
he was asleep picked out two little bits of
paper from the ashes, and 1 kept them in
my pocket ever since, and here they are
chastity taking them from her, I could
see from these scraps that it must have been
the will that Matthew Stokes had destroyed
for they read:
My real and personal -
Henry Gunson