Evening star., 1883-07-21

innate terms, though the best Of friends Have
you searched his cupboard and books?"
Carefully. Yet feel sure that it IL here
The s.,d day ne signed it he said to me, Here
tapped the table, SO that took 1t for granted
he meant to lock it up there"
w nat family has he left, Mr.. Ford:'
he was never married. His niece, q re-
markably nice girl, has lived with him for a
year. Except distant cousin who acted as
kind of housekeeper, she was his only connec-
ton"
WAS his niece great favorite of his:"
Yes. Of late, very much so. Her mother and
the serjeant did not get on; year ago the
mother died, and Mr. Greathead, who was good
man at bottom, took the girl home. I don't
miRd telling you that the missing will leaves
her nearly everything"
''What." / cried, in huge astonishment,
| ''leaves her nearly everything?"
Yes; and very natural too. Why nOt9"
Up to this moment l had had, since the
lawyer opened his business to me, but one idea.
which was, that on the night on which the old
man died, his niece, this ''very nice girl" had
come to his chambers. searched for the will,
and. for her own advantage abstracteo and de-
strOyed it, Had done that. and had into the
bargain; startled me first and fooled me after
ward. But how about this theory now? Cui
bono.
II can't make 1t out" said slowly nursing
my chin.
Nor can I!'' cried the other briskly.
lis the niece, Miss-Miss Greathead of a very
gpixotic spirit at all likely to burn the will to
benefit some one else?"
"She's not so mad as to throw away f7O 600,
If you mean that. Good heavens, SIR what sug-
gested such thing to you?"
told him all that had Occurred.on the Satur-
day night, just as l have related it above II
my readers feel 1.-THE Of the wonder he ex-
pressed. l am satisfied with my powers of de-
scriptiOn.
''lf you had not told me face to face, sir. I
would not have believed a syllable of it!"he said
emphatically, mot a SYLLABLE"
Gould yOu"-after had thought a minute or
two.'could you procure me glimpse Of Miss
Greathead, or of her photograph"
Our MIR. Ford actually blushed. ssWell. I
could Perhaps it would be more satisfactory if
you saw herself
Not at ALL" What in the world made the
man fldget so?
Then think--I have-somewhere, If I've
here it is" And, after fumbling in all his
other pockets, from his breast-pocket Mr. Ford
a little red In the face, produced a 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, Twas examining very pretty, very
youthful. wholly good lace
''Nose little, just little, too retrousse"
murmnred
.'Eh?" shutting it up with an angry snap.
but. however, that is not the lady who was
occupied here on SATURDAY. night. That is one
point clear, Mr.. Ford. Now, who would profit
by the destruction Of this will? Is any earlier
one In eXistence?'
Yes There Is former will discovered In
the serjeants desk at home. 1t was made
before Clive-I mean Miss Greathead-came to
live with him."
''Its date?"
January. 1870"
''Well?"
''It leaves two-thirds of the estate to the
cousin who then kept house for him."
good looking?"
Yes. By Jove, see. She was your visitor,
and with instructive caution gave Gives name,
or rather description" he cried.
And has destroyed the last will?"
IL don't know so much about that" he an
swered, slowly wiping his forehead. '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
reallyf 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 f5O0CO say;
the latter and the missing will gives her E5, 600
But suppose one were-Only suppose-one were
to turn up between the two and give hef nothing,
eh!"
mo chance" said the lawyer; IT don't think
quite follow you"
II can explain in two words. You see"
But as the two words heightened themselves
to two hundred, as two words always do, l need
not go 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 rueiully.
years."