The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1883-07-28

| that fate should have led me here to-
night for the first time this year.
Eyes; not only curious, Mr.. Warning
ton; provoking also.
laughed and fastened to my room,
lit candle and drew some water from
the filter. There was flavor of ro-
nance about this, and yet, handsome
as she was, and singular as were the
circumstances, something repealed me.
had not got over the start she caused
me perhaps.
Are YOU sure that you have got what
YOU want?" She had replaced the
papers and cleared the table with won
derful dizziness while | was away. She
was standing now by the fireplace, evil
IDENTIFY ready to go.
81 have, thank you," she answered,
rather thoughtfully; perhaps you
would be good enough to escort me to
my cab. my nerves have hardly recov-
cred yet"
She smiled bewitchingly as she spoke
what took for badinage, but the next
instant / saw that it was true enough.
We were moving toward the door, and
l had just said, ''With pleasure, when
heavy footstep, coming along the
passage outside, made itself clearly
heard even through the closed doors.
1t halted a couple of seconds as if going
no further, then it proceeded on and up
stairs. Well, just during the second or
two that it halted at the door, saw my
companions FACET had turned white
again and had the same nervous eX-
pectant expression l had first observed.
Her nerves had not recovered the sur
prise of my sudden entrance.
sit would hardly do for any one to
find me here" she said, with forced
laugh, finding my eyes fixed upon her
face.
"No? but thatwas so like your uncle S
footstep that it did not alarm me-"
She did not smile as expected. On
the contrary, she helped to unfasten the
outer door with almost petulant eager
ness. Once in the open air she breathed
more freely, but she hardly spoke again
except to thank me when put her into
the cab.
81 hope the SERGEANT will sleep to-
night and not need his papers," were
my last words, which she only acknowl-
edged by a bow, as she threw herself
back. But had cause, as will be seen,
to remember them.
[ did not get much work done that
night, quiet as it was; my visitor had
unsettled me, | suppose. Twice |
thought | heard some one in the Ser
jeant' room, and was foolish enough
to take a light and 90 and see. OF
course there was no one there; so after
a short time gave it up and went home
to bed.
The next day, be it observed, was
Sunday. | pass on as briefly as | can;
at breakfast on that Monday received a
serious shock. Among the items of in
telligence in the Mornj,1q Post appeared
this paragraph Git will save me much
explanatory: "We regret to have to
announce the sudden death, at his resi-
dence, Gloucester Road, of Mr. SERGEANT
Greathead, Q. c., of the Western Cir
cult, Recorder of Diddleham. His de-
cease, which took place very suddenly
on Saturday evening, was caused by a
heart complaint from which the learned
gentleman had for some time suffered. y
''Umph," said tomyself, and, being
a lawyer, began to think and to put two
and two together, not without now and
again little eerie feeling down the
small of my back. Mr. Serjeant Great,
head died on Saturday evening. On
Saturday evening, before or after the
event it is not proved, lady is occu-
pied all alone among Mr.. SERGEANT
Greathead's papers in his chambers,
and, though this l was not quite sure
about, among the drawers of his private
writing table, "Umphn' well, | was
never on very intimate terms with the
old gentleman, who was thirty years
my senior, and it is no particular bust.
ness of mine. It's all right, or will
come so in the end, doubtless. And
put on my boots and coat and went
down to the chambers and discussed the
old gentleman death, with the due
amount Of sympathy, with his clerk,
and forwarded a letter of coincidence tc
the family, of whom | knew nothing
applied to the treasurer of the Inner
Temple to ia Ike on the Serjeant's cham
bers, and did my usual work and lived
my usual life for four days. Their
something happened. Thomas, my
boy, showed in to me ''our Mr.. Ford, :
of Ford, Ford & Bittle, of Staples Inn
whom knew to be the late Serieant'
solicitors. "a new client" said tc
myself, with much excitement. With
judicious mixture of courtesy and die.
nifty waved him to seat, which was
| all thrown away.
Now, perhaps you can help me, Mr.
Warrington" he said, after few pre-,
liminary observations which sufficiently
enlightened me. "Have you any idea
where our poor friend is likely to have
put his will?"
Not the slightest. We were not or
very intimate terms, though the best Of
friends. Have you searched his cup
board and book?"
Carefully. Yet feel sure that it is
here. The day he signed it he said tc
me: Here you'll find it when it's want
ed, Ford, and he tapped the table, SC
that ! took it for granted he meant tc
lock it up there"
''What family has he left, Mr.. Fordp'
''1e was never married. His niece
a remarkably nice girl, has lived will
him for year. Except distant cousin
who acted as kind of housekeeper, sh,
was his only connection
hisp" '
Yes, of late, very much so. He,