Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1883-01-05

existence OF the will but you anu nie-
Supposing we were to throw it on the
hre yonder, who would be the wiser!
''How dare you sug2 est such thing
cried Alfred Laking, with ashow OF VIZ
tuous Indignation. lit would be GRIM
inal offense.''
IL suppose you wouldn't split on
me, sir, if was to do it." suggested
Crumber, speaking almost in whis-
per. 1.-The fact is, sir, I'm thinking OF
emigrating. DOM mind the risk. Give
me thousand pounds and the trick Il
done.''
The indignant expression had dieo
out of Alfred Laking's face, leaving ii
whittier than ever, and he gazed at his
companion with kind of terrified fascl
nation. He was struck by the boldness
and simplicity of the course suggested,
which would etfectually relieve him from
all further anxiety. But he shrans
from being party TO a deliberate fraud
Tor lear of the consequences, and he was
rather staggered by the large amount
which Mr.. Crumber demanded for his
services. Yet, when he reflected that
he would lose his whole fortune if the
will should be discovered, and also that
Crumber might be tempted-if he re.
fused to accept his terms-to sell his
secret to other interested parties, he re.
sOlyed to close with him at once. Ii
was sudden determination. taken hall
in desperation and half from sheer
fright. The will was destroyed, and
early the next morning Mr.. Crumbe1
started for America from Liverpool
with one thousand pounds sterling in
gold in his pocket
Alfred Laking went and saw him of,
having, in fact, declined to hand over
the money until he was safely on board
ship. Upon his return to London, feel
ing, in spite of sundry misgivings. more
relieved and light-hearted than he had
done since his uncle's death, his eXuber-
ant spirits received n sudden check in
consequence OF the receipt of a letter
from Mr.. Mayne, which ran thus:
Observation-Disclosures.
SIR; l formerly acted professionally tor
your late uncle, Colonel Laking. and shall be
glad if you will give me n call at your earliest
convenience, on matter of importance.
Yours faithfully, JOHN. ID MAYNE.
This communication gave him great
shock, for it naturally occurred to him
at once that this matter of impor-
lance" referred to his uncle's will. If
the document had already been missed,
immediate steps would. of course. be
taken to recover it, which might lead
to the arrest of Crumber, and even re-
suit in his Ownapprehension on a crimi-
nal charge. The bare notion of such a
calamity brought beads of perSpiration
to his brow. and his first impulse was to
fee the country.
But upon second thoughts he aban-
dOned the idea. Even supposing
Crumber should be suspected of having
destroyed the will there was no proof.
The man would deny the charge for his
own sake, besides which he was out of
the country. Upon the whole, Alfred
Laking thought the wiSest course would
be to lace the matter out; and much as
he would have preferred 10 avoid IN in
terview with the lawyer, he determined
to call upon him without delay.
Accordingly he presented himself at
Mr.. Mayne o. &c the morning afterre-
ceiving the letter, looking very pale and
nervous, though making every effort to
appear at ease.
Il wrote to you," Mr.. Laking, said
the old lawyer, when they had ex-
changed greetings. because | have
reason to believe that you have received
communication from a man named
Crumber.'
Mo- murmured Alfred Laking.
His answer appeared to cause Mr.
Mayne some surprise. for the old gen.
tleman stared at him through his spec
tacles for n second or two, and then
So d. rather sharply:
Name Of Crumber. The man was
clerk in my Office until recently"
Certainly not" repeated Alfred
Laking. He intended his reply to be
bold and emphatic, but the attempt
was miserable failure. There was q
quaver in his voice, and his eyes in
stinctively sought the carpet
"A-hemn coughed Mr. Mayne, in an
unpleasantly significant manner. 1.-The
fact is" he resumed, your uncle made
will shortly before he died, which he
left i'll my charge, but few DAYS later
he called and revoked it. He gave as
his reason that he did not wish his ami
mostly against you to continue after his
death"
You don't say thatr' exclaimed
Alfred Laking, with stare of genuine
surprise.
'He revoked the will by tearing of
Ihe SIGNATURES on the last page" con-
tinued the lawyer. still looking his visit.
or in the face, land the mutilated docu.
ment being. of course. mere waste paper.
was tied to the draft and put away in an
old press. This man Crumber, whom ]
discharged few weeks ago for dishon-
esty. seems to have purloined the mu-
tilated document, and. thinking he
might mediate attempting to impose
upon you. conceived it to be nv duty
to warn you. He might, for instance,
have restored the last page by means of
forgery, and passed off the will upon
you as valid and subsisting."
The Internal scoundrelr' cried AL
fred Laking. violently, forgetting his
caution, when he thought of his Fl. O00
YES, I'm afraid he is that" said the
lawyer. dryly. $50 you see. Mr.. LAX
ing, it was kindness thrown away on
your part to take the trouble to see him
Oft from Liverpool yesterday. wish
you a good morning, sir"
Maurice Bergen. of Monroe, La,
felt premonition that his death was
40 II g.