The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1883-01-06

ago. the edges of the paper being dis
colored and the ink faded. 1t was
dated few weeks before Colonel LAX
ing's death, and was, therefore, in all
probability, the last will he had made.
When he came to read it carefully
Alfred Laking' lingering hope that the
document might be forgery was quick
ly dispelled. From internal evidence It
was undoubtedly genuine, the name Of
various persons and places being men
toned which no stranger could have
fabricated. The Colonel appeared to
have left his property to some distant
relatives, subject to a few charitable
requests. 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.. Crumber, who man
ifested a good deal of Impotence. At
length he reused himself from his I'M
pleasant reflections, folded up the fatal
document and fixed a half-frightened,
half-deliant gaze upon his visitor.
~ What do YOU propose to do with
thisp" he inquired, nervously. Aeft.t -
.tWel, sir, that depends upon YOU"
replied Crumber. ''If you advise meto
put it back and remind the Governor of
| it, well and goodn 'iiFf#. t)tAs
ID. But Alfred Laking did not hasten to
| advise this straightforward course He
kept silent fora long time. fidgeting
nervously with the document he had
in his hand, and at length Crumber
spoke. ~ flt 81 20 ff q DOB
You see, sir, nobody knows of the
existence of the will but you and me.
Surprising we were to throw it on the
fire yonder, who would be the wiser?"
"How dare you suggest such a thing?'
cried Alfred Laking, with show of tir
4 tuous Indignation. at would be GRIM
inal- offense.
Il suppose you wouldn't split on
me, sir, if | was to do it." suggested
Crumber, speaking almost in whis-
per- 1.-THE fact is, sir, I'm thinking of
emigrating. don't mind the risk. Give
me thousand pounds and the trick is
donen
The indignant expression had died
out of Alfred Laking's face, leaving it
whittier than ever, and he gazed at his
companion with kind of terrified fasci-
nation. He was struck by the boldness
and simplicity of the course suggested,
which would etfectually relieve him from
all further anxiety. But he shrank
from being q party to a deliberate fraud
for fear of the consequences, and he was
rather staggered by the large amount
which Mr.. Crumber demanded for his
services. Yet, when he reflected that
he would lose his whole fortune If the
will should be discovered, and also that
Crumber might be tempted-if he re-
fused to accept his terms-to sell his
secret to other interested parties, he re-
solved to close with him at once. 1t
was sudden determination. taken half
in desperation and half from sheer
fright, The will was destroyed, and
early the next morning Mr. Crumber
started for America from Liverpool
with one thousand pounds sterling in
gold in his pocket .., .......
Alfred Laking went and saw him off,
having, in fact, declined to hand over
the money until he was safely on board
ship. Upon his return to London, feel
ing, in spite of sundry misgivings, more
, relieved and light-hearted than he had
done since his uncle's death, his exuber-
ant spirits received a sudden check in
consequence of the receipt of letter
from Mr.. Mayne, which ran thus: d.
LINCOLN s. INN-FIELDS.
SIR: / formerly acted professionally tor
your late uncle, Colonel Laking, and shall be
glad If you will give me a call at your earliest
convenience, on matter of importmce.
Yours faithfully, JoHN. ID MAYNE.
This communication gave him great
f shock, for it naturally occurred to him
at once that this 'matter of impor-
tance' referred to his uncle's will. If
the document had already been missed,
immediate steps would, of course, be
, taken to recover it, which might lead
to the arrest of Crumber, and even re-
suit in his own apprehension on crimi
nal charge. The bare notion of such q
calamity brought beads of Precipitation
J to his brow. and his first impulse was to
fee the country.
But upon second thoughts he aban.
doned the idea. Even supposina
} Crumber should be suspected of having
: destroyed the will there was no proof
. The man would deny the charge for hi;
) own sake, besides which he was out o.
t the country. Upon the whole, Alfred
: Laking thought the wisest course would
be to face the matter out; and much al
Il he would have preferred TO avoid an in
n terview with the lawyer, he determined
: to call upon him without delay.
3 Accordingly he presented himself al
Mr.. Mayne's Office the morning afterre
. ceiving the letter, looking very pale anC
h nervous, though making every effort t.
appear at ease.
, IL wrote to you," Mr.. Laking, sale
the old lawyer, when they had eX
4 changed greetings. ''because l hav
a reason to believe that you have received
+ a communication from a man nance
;, Crumber."
= = No" murmured Alfred Laking.
His answer appeared to cause Mr.