The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1883-08-17

laugh, finding my eyes fixed upon her
face.
"No? But that is so like your uncle's
footstep that it did not alarm me-"
She did not smile as expected On
the contrary, she helped TO unfasten
the outer door with almost petulant
eagerness. Once in the open air she
breathed more freely, but she hardly
spoke again, except to thank me when
| put her into the cab
II hope the Sergeant will sleep to-
night and not need his papers," were
my last words, which she only ac-
knowledged by bow, as she threw
herself back, But l had cause, as will
be seen, to remember them.
l did not get much work done that
night, quiet as it was; my visitor had
unsettled me, | suppose Twice l
thought heard some one in the Ser
geants room, and was foolish enough
to take light and 60 and see. Of
course there was no one there; 80
after a short time gave it up and
went home to bed.
The next day, be it observed, was
Sunday. l pass on as briefly as l can,
at breakfast on the Monday I received
a most serious shock. Among the
items of intelligence in the Morning
Post appeared this paragraph Gt will
save me much explanatory
ave regret to have to announce the
sudden death. at his residence, Glou-
chester Road, of Mr.. Sergeant Great
head, Q. c., of the Western Circuit,
Recorder of the Diddleham. His
disease, which took place very sudden
ly Saturday evening, was caused by a
heart complaint, from which the learn
ed gentleman had for some time suf-
fered."
"Umph," l said to myself, and,
being a lawyer, began to think and
put two and two together, not without
now and again little eerie feeling
down the small of my back. Mr..
Sergeant Greathead died on Saturday
evening On Saturday evening, be-
fore or after the event is not proved,
lady is occupied all alone among Mr..
Sergeant Greathead's papers in his
chambers, and, though this was not
quite sure about, among the drawers
of his private writing table. "Umph "
well, | was never on very intimate
terms with the old gentleman, who
was thirty years my senior, and it is
no particular business of mine. It's
all right, or will come so in the end,
doubtless And l put on my boots
and coat and went down to chambers
and discussed the old gentleman's
death, with the due amount of sympa-
thy, with his clerk, and forwarded a
letter of coincidence to the family, of
whom l knew nothing, applied to the
treasurer of the inner temple to take
on the Sergeant's chambers, and did
my usual work and lived my usual life
for four days. Then something hap,
pened. Thomas, my boy, showed in
to me ''our Mr.. Ford" of Ford, Ford
.S Bittle, of Staples inn, whom knew
to be the late Sergeant's solicitors.
"a new Client" said to myself, with
excitement, With a judicious mix.
ture of courtesy and dignity l waved
him to seat, which was all thrown
away.
"Now perhaps you can help me, Mr..
Warrington" he said, after a few pre-.
liminary observations which sufficient
ly enlightened me. "Have you any
idea where our poor friend is likely to
have put his will ?"
"Not the slightest. We were not
on very intimate terms, though the
best of friends, Have you searched
his cupboards and books ?"
Carefully. Yet I feel sure that il
is here. The day he signed it he said
to me: Here you'll find it when it,
wanted, Ford, and he tapped the ia
bic, so l took it for granted he meant
to lock it up there"
What family has he left, Mr.
Ford ?"
"He was never married. His niece
a remarkably nice girl, has lived with
him for year. Except a distan
cousin, who has acted as a kind o.
housekeeper, she was his only connec
ton"
"Was his niece great fayorite o
his ?"
Eyes, of late, very much so. He
mother and the Sergeant did not ge
on; year ago the mother died, ant
Mr.. Greathead, who was as good a maj
at bottom, took the girl home.
don't mind telling you that the missing
will leaves her nearly everything
what" I cried, in huge astonish
ment, "leaves her nearly everything {?
"Yes; and very naturally, toe
Why not"
Up to this moment / had had, sine
the lawyer opened his business to me
but one idea, which was that on tn
night on which the old man died, hi
niece, this "very nice girl" had com
to his chambers, searched for the will
and, for her own advantage, abstracte
and destroyed it, Had done that, an
had, into the bargain, startled me firs
and fooled me afterward But no,
about this theory now? Cui bono
81 can't make it out ~ | said, slowl
nursing my chin.
''Nr can | !" cried the other brisk
ly,
sis the riece, Miss-Miss Grea
head, of Quixotic spirit! at all like
ly to burn the will to benefit some on
else p
"She's not so mad as to throw ava
100000, if You meant that. Goo
heavens, sir, what suggested such
thing to you T.
| told him all that had occurred O
the Saturday night, just as | have r.
lated it above, If my readers feel
tithe of the wonder he expressed, | al
satisfied with my powers of desert
ton.
"If you had not told me face
face, sir, would not have believed
syllable of it, he said emphaticall
"not a syllable ~
"Could you"-atter had thought
minute or two-"could you procul
me q glimpse of Miss Greathead or
her photograph :"
Or Mr. Ford actuallv hlusha,