Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1881-01-27

peu SHoIC nHu toon W 'AS
thougatfuly. i can scarcely believe
it, be went on. This letter is from
the lawyer to tell me that the will
Miss Dormer made and signed only
two days before her death IS lost, and
that consequently l am the helr-at
law.
LOST calculated Charlie incredu'
lousy.
Yes, lost-in what way he does
not state--only the bare fact that II
has disappeared most unaccountably
Here-yon can read the letter for
yourself 1t is simply notification
from Mr.. Haslpm. the lawyer, that,
no will being forthcoming, am the
heir.
Horace gave the letter to his friend
and opened the other envelope, which
contain d several sheets in A lady &
handwriting He was long time
finishing it. Charlie had read and
re read Mr.. Haslem's laconic docu-
ment half a doze times before Hor-
ace turned the last page Of apparent,
ly engrosslng epistIe.
Does letter number two throw any
light upon the subject inquired
Charlie curiously, when at last Hor-
ace put down the closely written
sheets.
Not much, said Horace. In fact,
it l, stranger than ever The will
.eems to have been stolen, but by
whom or for what purpose is mys'
terry
But how could it be stolen?' asked
Charlie.
This letter is from Lucia Dormer,
my half-cousin and old Miss Dormers g
niece. explained Horace. 1t ap-
pears from what she says that her
aunt, altar signing the will, gave it to
her to take charge Of, telling her to
mt it in the secret drawer Of an old
cabinet where important papers were
generally kept Lucia locked up the
will, as MISS D,rner requested, and
kept the key in her own possession
Two davs afterwards Miss Dorme,
died On the dav of the fnnera the
uill was wanted, and Lucia went her
s, If to get it. She found the cab'ne'
and everything in IT exactly as She
hadleft it a week before; but the vii
vas gone.
Gonr?" echoed Charlie. "Hov
could It have gons2'
Nobody knows, but gone 1t was
and, what is more, it is not to be found
They have been six weeks searching
in every possible place for it, wlthou
any result. Yon gee it must have
been Stol en-, not lost; end the THE
would not be likely to hide it in tn
house. He would rot choose th'
most likely Of all others to he search
ed.
Would the young lady, Miss Dor
m-r, benefit bv the viii? asked Char
liz, with sudden suspicion.
'Ot course, SAID Horace 4 shonlt
imagine everything would be left t
her.
Then it would certainly be to he
interest to find it., remarked Charlie
Yes, certainly. 1t cannot be sup
posed for moment that she woul
make away with it. She has live
with Miss Dromer all her life, anc
except myself, is her only near rela
tive. No, she would be the very las
on whom suspicion would fall.
1T is curious, said Charlie, putin
, away meditatlvely at his pipe.
say, old fellow, suppose tie will doc
no, turn up, what tremendous dl
ference it will make to youl'
Yes answered HerAce thonghtfn
iy, 1T wonld-such difference that
do not like to contemplate the poss
3 bilitv.
g 4 should contemplate it with in
g mense satisfaction, said Charlie
Fancy changing your sky-r ght chan
}. bers in the temple for that lovely ol
mansion, and your musty old law
r books and Dryasdnst parchments fe
}, five thousand year aud unlimite
: shooting and hunting! 1t would nj
d take me long to reconcile myself
i? such an exchange
a Yes, returned Horace, with