The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1883-07-28
"Nor can Ir' cried the other hrisllv

of very IulxOtie spirit! at all likely
to burn the will to benefit some one
else?"
"She's not so mad as to throw away
seventy thousand pounds, if you mean
that. Good heavens, sir, what suggest
ed such thing to you?'
| told him all that had occurred on
the Saturday night, just as | have rela-
ted it above. If my readers feel 1.-THE
of the wonder he expressed. am sat
isfied with my powers of description.
eff YOU had not told me face to face.
sir, [ would not have believed sylla-
BILE of it!'' he said, emphatically, mot
syllablen'
Could you''-after had thought a
minute or two-''could you procure me
glimpse of Miss Greathead, or of her
photograph"
: Our Mr.. Ford actually blushed
swell, could. Perhaps it would be
more satisfactory if you saw herself. y
mot at all. :" What in the world
made the man fidget so?
"Then | think-I have-somewhere,
I've not left it, the very thing you want.
o, yes, here it is" And after fumbling
in all his other pockets, from his breast
pocket Mr. Ford, little red in the
face, produced neat little Russia
| leather case. He opened this and held
the portrait within for my inspection.
''Well?" he uttered impatiently, while
with a critical eye | was examining a
very pretty, very youthful, wholly good
face.
Nose a little, Just a little, too ~
trouSSe," murmured.
"Eh?" shutting it up with an angry
snap.
"But, however, that is not the lady
who was occupied here on Saturday
night. That's one point clear, Mr..
Ford. Now, who would profitby the
destruction of this willP Is any earlier
one in existence?n
Eyes. There is a former will discov-
cred in the Serjeant's desk at home. 1t
was made before Clive-I mean Miss
Greathead-c to live with him.
Its date?"
January, 1879"
"WeIl?"
cit leaves two-thirds of the estate to
the cousin who then kept house for
him"
"A tall, pale, dark-eyed woman, de-
cidedly good-looking?"
Eyes. BY Jove, | see! She was your
visitor, and with instinctivec caution gave
Gives name, or rather description"
he cried.
'And has destroyed the last will?''
81 don't know so much about that, !"
he answered, slowly wiping his fore
head. ''She did not burn it here, as
you say the fire was out. She might
keep it to see how things would turn
out. 1t gives her $4,000 too"
''Ah, does it? Wait moment. Does
it really? Well, then, we can get it
back by bold stroke I'm with you
in this, Mr.. Ford. 1t gets interesting
The first will, which must be proved if
the last be not found, gives the house.
keeping cousin two-thirds, about ESQ.,
900, say; the later and missing will
gives her $4,000. But suppose one
were-only suppose-one were to turn
up between the two and give her moth
ing, eh?'
mo chance!'' said the lawyer; 81
don't think quite follow you"
81 can explain in two words. You
see
But as the two words heightened
themselves to two hundred, as two
words always do, need not 90 through
any more of our conversation. Its drift
will be guessed by the sagacious reader
AT parting, Its rather serious
thing, you KNOW said the lawyer, rue
fully.
Yes" | answered, mischievously;
''its five years.
We were assembled in the dead mans
dying room in Gloucester Road to hear
the will read. 1t may seem odd that |
should have been present at this merely
family matter, but the fact is that |,
John Warrington, of the Inner Temple,
barriSter-at-law,w was not. A silent and
humble gentleman, with beard and
glasses, with also aseedy coat and boots
to match, and habit of taking snuff
surreptitiously yet with certain amount
OF ostentation, was present. But he was
merely Mr.. Ford's clerk, and if his
figure and face were not familiar sights
in the offices of Messrs. Ford, Ford &
Bittle, why Mr.. Ford had right to en-
gage special clerk for business of so
confidential nature as this. There
We're not many present The tall,
| gracious, almost queenlywoman sitting
near the fire with her back to the light
and a large black fan in her hand is
Miss Chilling, third cousin to the de-
ceased, as the newspapers would say.
The fair nervous girl by the table is
Miss Give Greathead observe that her
pale face tlushes little as she shakes
hands with "our Mr.. Ford" In the
background are old Humphrey the
clerk, and several servants.
81 have two wills here which think
| ought to read,' says the lawyer,
softly, taking seat at the end of the ta-
BILE. The first is dated 1879, the sec
ond about a year back. A third will
was made within the last six months.
but 1 regret to say that our poor friend
must have destroyed it, intending, OF
this | have 10 doubt, to make another
in its place. In the midst of life, we are
yes, indeedr'
Having uttered this in low but clear
tones, he takes from mel mean from
the clerk, who produces them from his
black bag-some papers, and proceeds
in more business-like tones, to read the
''last will and testament of Jonathan
Greathead, of Gloucester Road, in the
County of Mid6lnSpy and of Horo Co,,,.