The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1883-03-27
DESTROYING A WILL.

lett VIII than MIR. Alfred Lak1ng, his
nephew and heir-at-law. That gentle
man had the best reasons for knowing,
that his uncle was not we'll disposed
towards HMM fact, the Colonel had
refused to have anything to do with him
for some years past. The truth was
that Alfred Laking had once been guilty
of an aot Of meanness, which his uncle
never forgave, and therefore the fortu-
nate heir had not expected to benefit by
his uncle's death. But even outsiders
who knew nothing of the cause of the
estrangemert between the Colonel and
his nephew, were amazed at the old
gentleman dying 1nteetate. He had sc
frequently expressed his determination
of preventing his nephew from succeed
ing to his property and bad made 80
many wills at different times with that
| object that his intestacy caused unlver.
sal astonishment. ltWas generally sup.
posed that his somewhat sudden death
had frustrated his testamentary inten-
tions, or else that, Mt the last moment,
he had realized the force of the old
adage that blood Is thicker than water,
and had been content to permit his
nephew to inherit in the ordinary course
OF law.
But while Mr.. Alfred Laking received
the congratulations of its friends with
equunimity, and apparently acquiesced
i'll the general opinion that he was very
lucky individual, he did not by any
means feel secure of his inheritance.
For tho first few months after his
uncle's death he was perpe,ually haunted
by the dread that his elaborate precau-
tions would be thrown away; but when
year had passed he began 10 breathe
more freely. The chances were. he
thought, that, if will existed, 1t would
have turned up by this time, or else it
would probably rot away iu its hiding
place. Thus by degrees the phantom
conjured up by his puslllanimous imagi-
nation became less appalling; until one
day his anxiety was revived by very
ominous incident.
A shabbily ly-6ressed. middle-aged man
called upon him nrd said he had NJ,
Important communication to make. He
gave the name of Crumber, and Alfred
Laking then recollected that he was a
clerk Ill the Office of the solicitor whom
he had employed to wind up his uncle's
estate. This circumstance seemed reas-
hnring, for Alfred Laking naturally sup
| posed the man had been sent with some
message from his master relating to
business matters.
"T presume Mr.. Baker asked yo:: t.
call?' he said nervously.
| "No, sir. The fact is I left Mr..
Bakers office some months ago. am
ut present Ill another situation" replied
the man.
"What is your business then2" in
qured Mr.. Laking, with Increased un :
easiness.
Il suppose we are quite alone, sir. and
can not be overheard?" said the man.
mysteriously.
| "1ou can speak out, though can not
imagine what you can have to say that
ls so lmportan.," returned Mr.. Lakine.
glanclng to see that the door was closed
"When I left MIR. Bakers Office I took
situation with another solicitor" said
Crumber, lowering his voice. "The
gentleman am now with ls MIR Mayne.
OF Lincoln's inn-fields. I don't know
whether you ever heard OF him, sir"
Alfred Linking stared, and turned
deadly pale. He happened to know his
uncle had consulted this gentleman pro-
reasonably at u comparatively recent
date, and he therefore instinctiyolv
guessed the nature of the revelation in
store for him.
mol ! never heard of Mr.. Mayne.
ana don believe my uncle did" he
replied, almost tiercely.
well. Sir, you see Your uncle did
not always consult you about his af
falrs, returned Mr., Crumber. rather
dlsrespeottully. "At any rate, he knew
Mr.. Mayne. who prepared q will sn:.
him shortly before he died."
"How do you know" demanded AL
fred Laking, Too startled to conceal his
agitation. lid
because I've seen it. Two not onlv
seen it, lut I've read it. Your mama
isn't mentioned in that will. Mr.. T'aLo
ing, SAID the man, with grin.
"A very fine story" said Alfrod
L,aking' with forced laugh, "Pray.
now Is 1T that Mr.. Mayne has never
will?" "'Aoseo
"Because, in the first place. doubt
II ne Is aware OF the Colonel'a daa,b.
Dut' ne Is, has probably forgotten thai
the Colonel left his will. with him '1t"S f"S
mis- memory isn't what it was" said Mr. Nv.
Crumber. ' ""'A "r'
IL don't believe word of what Won
say" he cried suddenly rising from bis
seat and confronting the nnwelcome @
visitor; "Your story is tissue So Of fa,ss.
hoods" ~ 1''i's-
II was afraid you might think 10 sir
80 Ventured to bring this will w;tb
mo, said the man slyly. ~
What you have actually stoleu 40,
cried Alfred Laking. ~
II have it here, anyway" returned
Orumber, coolly, as he produced doc.
nment from his pocket. "I can mt Il
pack where I took 1t from within an
h~ur. VI course, 1t is no earthly nae To
Let me SOC It," said Alfred Iak,n o.
IN IN a hoarse voice, seating himself in biss bs
MIR. Orumber unfolded the documont
and glanced atit, apparently refleotino
whether it would be wise to mart S w;tSS
y. u. But after pause he leid It on the The
desk, saying: ~ ~ VI 'ie'
I'm treating you like gentleman |