Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1881-01-20

the old man increased, and was even
turned upon me when | pointed out that
in commercial circles the cousin, Henry
Gunson, of whom he had spoken, was
looked upon with strong suspicion. ow-
ing to an ugly bankruptcy case with
which | had to do. lie remained un-
moved.
"'I tell you it's ali the same TO me who
gets it. he persisted. It's nothing to
me whether the mans good or bad
Disobedience in children must be pun
ished, and can't do better than enrich
my own cousin
" Finding him so firmly resolved,
promised to have draft OF his will pre-
pared, and to send it TO him for perusal
by my confidential clerk, which was
done the following week. The wit
nesses were clerks OF my own. When
signed, WAS about to place it with the
other papers connected with his bus
mess. but the old man snappishly told
me that he meant to keep that himself,
and accordingly it was handed 10 him.
Two or three years passed. during
which time | made large and frequent
Investments for him, but no further
/ mention was made of his will. One
morning | received a note from his
bousekeeper. telling of his somewhat
sudden death, and shortly after reading
the note | was called upon by the cousin,
Henry Gunson.
81 am good udge of faces and s,iked
the man the moment | saw him He
was not a hypoCrite, and made no show
OF sham grief at the death of his relative; !;
on the contrary, he smiled, and ap-
peared periectlyj jubilant at the stroke Of
! good fortune.
"' You have heard he said, / be-
| lieve, OF my cousins death, and | came
here because he once told me that, three
or four years since, you had drawn up
a will in my favor
"All this was natural enough. but
there was something in tie mans man
ner that made me study his face closely.
1t seemed to me that under an appear
ance OF simplicity lie was playing
deep game. Yet what game could he
be playingP / was forced TO dismiss
the thought, and turn my attention to
business.
1t is true that Mr.. Stokes did in
struct me to draw up such will, but
lie did not in rust the keeping of the
document to me- answered. L 4 ,vc
the draft OF 1t. 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.
g" Where in the world can the will
be, then p he said. Perhaps you cou.d
60 out with ne and take charge of
things, and see II it an be found p
This YVES said with curious look
into my face, as if he had been saying TO
himself, | wonder il he suspects me p
and, contrary to my u5ual practice.
resolved TO 60 in person instead of send
ing clerk.
" a cab which he had kept inwaitinr
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
wo lad acted as his housckCcper. The
nurse was not so stupid az many old
fashioned nurses, and took occasion.
curing n momentary absence OF Gunson,
to draw me aside and say, L hope the
old mans money won't go TO that man.
He was here ever so often before Mr..
Stokes died. and they quarroled hot |
can tell you
What did they quarrel about p
asked, with much interest.
al think that man asked Tor money.
for heard him say: Il shall be ruined
if | cannot pay did not hear ell that
was said, but it was bitter while ii
lasted, and the old man had rle in with
fearful ring of the bell. and told me to
show that villain out
al saw murder in his eye lie said,
and not n penny of my money shall he
ever finger. wish ! krcw where my
poor girl lives. She should have II all,
poor thing Then he ordered me out
OF the room, and heard him shuttle |
across TO the fire, and when came back
could see he had burned something in
the freplace-which. / believe, sir,
was the will
No doubt the old mans days had
been shortened by the excitement from
these frequent quArEels. When a man
of no moral principles. like Gunson, Is
given an interest in another's death, IL
is not Mt all unlikely that he will try to
hasten the removal of all that stands
between him and fortune-especially
when he thinks IL can be done without
danger of discovery. felt, however, as
the man rejoined me. a thorough repug-
nance to him, and WIS very near telling
him not To trouble to look for tho will