Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1881-01-28

morning received Il note from hlshouse
keeper telling Of his somewhat sudden
death, and shortly after reading the note
was called upon by the cousin. Henry
GunSOn
Il am i good Judge Of faces and dis.
liked the man the moment | saw him.
He was not hypocrite, and made NO
show of sham grief At the death Of his
relative: ON the contrary. he smiled,
and appeared perfectly jubilant 1t the
stroke of good fortune.
"Iou have heard, he said, believe
.: my cousins death, and came here
because he once told me that, three or
four years since, YOU had drawn up 4
will iii my favor"
All this was nataral enough. but there
was something in the mans manner
that made me study his face closely.
Ii seemed to me that under an appear
antc Of simplicity he was playing 4
deep game. Vet what game could lie
be playing | Was forced 10 dismiss
the thought, and turn M" attention 10
business.
lit is true that Mr.. stokes did instruct
me to draw up such will, hut lie did
not in,rust the keeping of the docu-
mcnt 10 me- answered, II have the
draft Of it, ana that is Ill.
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 he,
them he said Perhaps you could
50 ont with me And take Charge Of
things, and see if it can be found
This was said with curious look
into my face, rs if he had been saying
to himself, Il wonder if he suspects
me ?" and contrary to my usual prac-
tce. | resolved To 60 in person instead
Of sending il clerk.
"A cab which lie had kept in waiting
took us To his 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 his house
keeper The nurse was not 50 stupid
as many old-fashioned nurses, and took
OCCASION during II momentary absence
of Gunison, to draw me aside and say,
Il hope the old mans money won't 20
to that man. He was here ever So
often before Mr.. Stokes died, and they
Iuuarruled hot | can tell you.
What did they quarrel about |
asked, with much interest
Il think that man asked for money,
for heard him say II shall be ruined
if cannot pay did not hear all that
was said, but it was bitter while it lasted,
and the old man had me in with a fear
full ring Of the hell, and told me to show
that villain out.
Il saw murder in his eye he said
"and not Il penny Of my money shall
he over finger. | wish | knew where
my poor girl lives. She should have il
all, poor thing Then he ordered MT
ont of the room. and | heard him
shuttle across to the fire, and when
came back could see he had burned
something i'll the hrellace-which,
| belle re, sir, was the will.
NO doubt the old mans days ihad
been shortened by the excitement from
these frequent quarrels. Whena mar
of no moral principles, like Gunson Is
given an interest i'll another's death, II
is not mt all unlikely that he will try
to hasten the removal ofall that stands
between him and II fortune especially
when he thinks it can be done with.
ont danger Of discovery. | felt, however
as the man rejoined me, Il thorough
repugnancc to him, and was very neal
telling him not to trouble to look fol
the will rs had reason to believe thai
it had been destroyed, but | conquered
the feeling Us well rs could; and, in
deed, had no evidence to prove thai
the will had been destroyed.
The housekeeper then showed lis {
trunk ii. which old Stokes had kept III
his papers. | opened it, and n
the top | found little packet of letter,
from his daughter. ! glanced at one
it was full Of sorrow and tenderness
asking SO earnestly if she might show
him their boy. The letter went on
we call him Mathew, father and whel
We were without bread the little fellow
said he would come to you and ask fol
some for mother. lie was sure ii,
would not say no; but now my dcai
husband has work, and although i
would not be to beg we should com,
yet | do want, dear father to see yol
once more. Over the next few word,
the ink had run, or the paper had go
so wet that could not read them Per
haps if the miller had been living he
could have told us how it happened.
Il folded up the letter, and turning
suddenly to t4unson who had beer
looking over me- saw sardonic smil,
on his face, which did not prove my
opinion Of him We went over AL til,
papers. but conld not find the will.
Just rs was about to close til,
trunk, Gunnison said We have no
looked III the pocket inside the Ill.,
did so, and to my surprise came upol
a folded paper, which appeared y b.
the will, or 80 near copy Of II that
was not prepared to deny its identity
II was written on kind of paper tina
| have used for that purpose for half .
lifetime, and the writing was unmis
takably that of clerk of mine nance
Peter Chips. The signatures, too
were all right 20 far ~ | could see, bu
vet had doubt. | caught mysel
taking the valuable paper out of NJ,
pocket and scanning il closely whei
Gunnison was not BY, 4. if half expect
ing the senseless paper to reveal som
subtle treachery. ! got back to my 81
4 - r. u IL