The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1883-01-18

i leNN'...sA"NAs AOWSIinS MS foICo' hS
of Lincoln s-inn-fields. don't know
whether you ever heard of him, sirP'
!, Alfred Laking started, and turned
deadly pale. He happened to know
that his uncle had consulted this gentle
man professionally at a comparatively
recent date, and he, therefore, in
stinctively guessed tho nature of tho
revelation in store for him.
mo! ! never heard OF Mr. Mayne.
and l Goh't believe my uncle did," he
replied, almost fiercely.
''Well sir, you see your uncle did not
always consult you about his affairs"
returned Mr.. Crumber. rather disre-
Mayne, who prepared a will for him him
shortly before he died"
"How do you know" demanded
Alfred Laking, too startled to conceal
his agitation.
because I've seen it. I've not only
seen it, bnt Pve read it Your rame
isn't mentioned in that will, Mr.. LAX
Ing" said the man, with grin.
"a very fine story" said Alfred
Laking, with q forced laugh. pray,
how is it that Mr.. Mayne has mover
written to inform me OF the alleged
willP"
Because, in the first place, I doubt
Ii he is aware of the Coloners death:
out, If he is, he has probably forgotten
that the Colonel left his will with him.
tor his memory isn't what it was" said
Mr.. Crumber, growing moro familiar in
his manner as lie remarked Alfred
Laking's white lips and agitatcd dc.
meanor. "By some omission tho will
is not indeXed in the schedule of the
contents Of tho strong room. l came
across it quite accidentally while search.
ing for something else. knowing the
name OF tho tcstator and all the cir
cumstances, the will attract ,d my alton
ton. Otherwise, it would probably
have remained undisturbed for years =
| Ihen do yOu mean to say that Mr.
Mayne is unaware of the existence of
the will?" said Alfred Laking, with in
voluntary eagcrnoss.
| Il believe every ono in the Office has
forgotten it. might purloin that will
| irom tho safC tomorrow and no ono
would be tho WISER" returned Crumbcr,
impressivcly.
1t was impossible to ignore the in
sidious purpose OF the mans visit.
Evidently he was an INSCRIPTIONS
| Scoundrcl, who desired to turn the dis
| covoly he made to account. Alfred
Laking looked at him with newly
awakened curiosity. and was by no
means favorably impress ed by his ap-
poarancn The man had Il forbidlinr
expression, and it suddenly occurred to
MIR. Laking that this was an impudent
attempt to eXtort money by false pre-
lenses.
Il don't believe word of what Won
say" ho cried, suddenly rising from
his scat and confronting tho unwel-
come visitor Your story is n tissue
Of lalsehoods.n
- l was afraid you might think SO,
sir, so renturod to bring the will with
me-" said tho man, slyly.
| What! you have actually stolen itP''
| cried Alfred Laking.
81 have it here, anyway" returned
Crumbcr, .coolly, as he produced q
document from his pocket. u can put
1t back whore took it from within an
hour. OF course, it is no earthly use
to me.n
Lot me see it," said Alfred Lakinc,
IN hoarse voice, seating himself iii his
chair again.
|. Mr.. Crumber unfoldod tho document
and glanced at it, apparently rcncctine
whether it would be wise to part with
1t. But after pause he laid it on the
desk. saying:
m treating you like q gentleman,
Sir. lou must promise to return it to
| mo.'
Yes, yes said Alfred Laking,
stretching out his hand impatiently.
Some moments elapsed before the
agltated gentleman could compose him
self sufficiently to take in the contents
OF the will. He first turned to the final
| page, which bore the signature of the
testator and the attosting witnesses.
80 far rs 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 and tho ink faded. 1t was
dated few weeks before Colonel LAX.
ing 8 death, and was, therefore, in all
probability, the last will he had made.
| When he came to read it carefully
Alfred Laking's lingering hope that the
document might be forgery was quick.
ly dlspclled. From internal evidence II
was undoubtedly genuine, the name OF
various persons and places being men.
| toned which no stranger could have
| fabricated. The Colonel appeared tC
| have loft his property to some distant
relatives, subject to n few charitable
pequcStS. His nephew's name was not
mentioned and an old military friend
was appointed executor.
Mr.. Alfred Laking read the will over
two or three times, keeping his face
concealed from Mr. Crumbcr, who man
ifested good deal of impaticnce. At
length he reused himself from his un-
pleasant reflections folded up the fatal
document and fixed half-frightcncd,
half-defiant gaze upon his visitor.
What do you propose to do with
thsP, he inquired, norvouslv.
"Well, sir, that depends upon YOU"
replied Crumber ''lf you advise me to
put it back and remind tho Governor of
1t, well and good"
But Alfred Laking did not hasten to
advise this straightforward course. He
kept silent for a. long time. fidgeting
nervously with the document he had
In his hand, and at length Crumber
spoke.
You see, sir, nobody knows OF tn,
existence OF the will but you and me.
Supposng we were to throw it on the
lire yonder, who would be the wiser?r
How dare you ggest such thingP'
cried Alfred Laking, with show OF Vir.