The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1883-03-27
You must promise to- return 1t to

| IL.
self sufficiently to take in the contents
| of the will. He first returned to the
final page, which bore the signature of
the testator and the attesting Witnesses
SO far as he could Judge the signatures
were genuine, and the document had
evidently been prepared several months
ago, the edges of the paper being, dis.
colored' aid the ink faded. It wax
dated few weeks before Col. Laking's
death, and was, therefore, in oil pro6a.
bility the last will he had made. When
he came to read it carefully, Altreu
Laking's lingering hope that the docu-
! ment might be a forgery was quickly
was undoubtedly genuine, the names OF
various persons and places boing mon
toned which no stranger coulu have
fabricated. The Colonel appeared to
have left his property to some distant
relatives, subject to few charitable hal
quests. The nepliew's name was not
mentioned, and al old military friend
was appointed executor.
Mr.. Alfred Laking read the will over
two or three times, keeping his face
concealed from Mr.. Crumber, who
manifested good deal of impatienoe.
At length he aroused himself from his
unpleasant reflections, folded up the
fatal document, and fixed half-frigh-
tened, half.detiant gaze upon his visitor.
"What do you propose to do with
this2' he inquired, nervously.
"Well, sir, that depends upon you, :"
replied Crumber. eff you advise me to
put it back aud remind the governor OF
1t, we'll and good"
But Alfred Laking did not hasten to
advise this straightforward course. He
! kept silent for a long time, tidgetinp
nervously with the document he held
in his hand, and ut length Crumber
spoke.
"You see. sir, nobody knows of the
existence of the will but you and me.
SuppOslng we we're to throw it upon
the fire yonder, who would be the
wiser2"
How dare you suggest such thing?"
cried Alfred Laking, with show OF
virtuous Indignation. cit would be a
criminal offense."
IL suppose you wouldn't split on me.
sir, If was to do it," suggested Crum
Der, speaking almost in q whisper. "The
fact is, sir, I'm thinking Of emigrating.
don't mind the risk. Give .ae a thou
sand pounds and the trick is done.''
1t was @ sudden determination. taken
holt in desperation and half from sheer
fright. The will was DESTROYED, and
early the next morning Mr.. Crumbor
started for America from Liverpool with
FL 900 i'll gold in his pocket.
Alfred Laking went and saw him of,
having, in fact, declined to hand over
1J,tS1 l., L.
ship. Upon his return to London, feel
ing, III spite OF his misglvings, more
relieved anu iight-hearted than he had
done since his uncie's death, his exuber-
ant spirits received sudden check in
consequence Of the 1ocoiDt of a letter
from Mr.. NIayne, which ran thus:
LINCOLN g. INN -F'IE1.Ds.
SIR: formerly acted professionally
for your late uncle Col. LakiLg, and
shall be glad Ii you will give mo a call
at your earliest convenience on n matter
of Importance.
Yours faithfully,
JNo. d. MAYNR.
Accordingly he presented himself at
Mr.. Maync's Office tile morning after
recrivlng the letter, looking very pale
and nervous, though making every effort
to appear at ease.
II wrote to you, Mr.. Laking," said
the old lawyer, when they had exchanged
greetings, "becAuse I have reason to
believe that you have received u COM
mumcatlon from man named Clum-
ber?"
"No," murmured Alfred Laking.
His answer appeared to cause Mr..
Mayne some surprise. for the old gentle
man stared at him through his spectac-
Les for second Or two, end tilen said.
rather sharply:
"Name OF Crumber. The man was
clerk in my Office until recently"
Certalnly not" repeated Alfred
Laklng. He intended his reply to be
bold and emphatic but the attempt was
miserable failure. Thore was a culver
III hie voice, and his eyes instinctiveIy
sought the carpet.
"A-heml" coughed Mr.. Mayne, i'll M
unpleasantly significant manner. "The
TACT ls, he resumed. ''your uncle made
Will shortly before he died. which he
left IN nay charge; but few days later he
called and revoked it. He gave as his
leason that he did not wish his animosi-
ty against you to continue after his
death /"
You don't say thatl" exclaimed AL
fred Laking, with start OF genuine
surprise.
"He revoked the will by tearing of
the signatures on the last page" oon-
tinued the lawyer, still looking his visi-
tor IN the face. land the mutilated doc
ument being of course, mere wastepaper,
was tied to the draft and put away IN an
Ola press. This man Crumber. whom J.
discharged few weeks ago for dis
honesty, seems to have purIoined the
mutilated document, and thinking that
ne might mediate attempting to impose
upon you, I conceived it to my 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 subaisting."
Theinfernal scoundrel Period Alfred
Li.aklng, violently, forgetting his call
tlon, when he thought of hls thousand
pounds.
"Yes, I'm afraid he is that" said the
lawyer dryly. $50 you see, MIR. Laking,
II was Kindness thrown away upon your
part to take the trouble to send him off
irom Liverpool yesterday. wish you