The Osceola times., 1885-02-07

African Sand Company does not con.
tain name of any standing in the city
/ have only to do this, Mr. Pebworth,
and my friend would come to YOU five
minutes later with instructions TO sell
out without an hours delay every shil-
ling's-worth of stock you have bought ip
his hame.'
The pallor on Mr. Pebworth's
face had deepened as Mr.. Fro
bishers cold, unimpassioned tones
touched on one point after another; sur
prise and anger had gradually given
place TO abject fear; .or the time being
the man looked ten years older than he
had looked ten minutes previously. He
took out his pocket handkerchief fur
lively, and rubbed his damp fingers
with it under the table. Once, twice,
he essayed to speak; but no sound came
from his lips-Frobsher was quietly
rolling cigarette.
'But you are not going TO say any
thing of the kind to my dear Frank, are
you, Mr.. Drummond?" The question
had something of the sound of beg
gar's whining entreaty.
Frobisher looked up with a contempt
uous smile "Why should | not, Mr..
Pebworth?-why should | not?" he
asked. And then, again, why should
II" he added moment later. IL only
speak of these trifles to prove to you
how desirable il is that You and
should be friends" He leaned his
elbows on the table and looked steadily
into the other mans face. Don't you
think, Mr.. Pebworth that you and had
better be friends than enemiesp" he
asked
Mr.. Pebworth's ewes quailed and fell.
He drummed nervously for moment or
two with his fingers on the table; then
he sad: IL know of no reason, Mr..
Drummond, why you and should not
be fricnds-thc best of friends.
Good" replied Frobishcr. Then he
finished the preparation of his cigarette
before uttering another word. A." DO
you know, Mr. Pebwortn," he resumed,
- that it Las often occurred to me how
badly you were treated by the late Mr.
Askew, when he bequeathed every
penny he died possessed of to his scape-
grace nephew. and left you. his first
cousin, entirely out in the cold?'
Mr. Pebworth stared, as well he
might; but the impassive face opposite
told him nothing. After little pause
of hesitation, he said ~ Uds badly
treated, Mr.. Drummond-very badly
treated. The forgetfulness. the un-
kindness, of my aged relative, for
whom / always cherished very warm
affection, has, | need hardly say,
touched me to the quick"
~ If old Askew had only left you q
slina nf tho t,,Ilipni for tpstanaa
he had left YOU the Marshfield property,
in Yorkshire, which brings in some
thing like two thousand year--how
very nice that would have been."
Don't, my dear friend please
don't Even to hear such thing
limited at is almost too much for my
poor feelings"
How many romances one hears and
reads about-how many strange freaks
of fortune there are in connection with
will-cases 1t would be curious cir.
cumstance, now, wouldn't it, if some
fine day fresh will were to turn up,
showing that Mr.. Askew had not for
gotten you at the last moment?'
Don't talk in that way, my dear
sir, please don't!"
'Frobishcr has given me something
like CARLOAD of old Mr.. Askew's $
papers TO wade through. What, il
among these papers | should come
across will the existence of which has
hitherto been unknown, and in which
your name is not forgotten-it would
be remarkable coincidence, would il
not?"
Pebworth turned first red and then
yellow, and stared at Frobisher. as il in
doubt whether to take his words Sc.
, riously or the contrary. at would in
deed be remarkable coincidence, Mr..
Drummond,' he said at last. His voice
tremblcd little. and his eyes were bent
J with furtive and suspicious look OF
, Franks face.
. Fifteen hundred or two thousand q
year dcrivable from landed property
would not be so dusty-eh, Mr.. Pcb.
worth?'
"Ah." 1t was sigh rather than an
exclamation, but it was eloquent with q
meaning all its own.
For little while, neither of the men
spoke. The fish was playing round
the bait. The angler was waiting pa
tiently.
"Do you think, Mr.. Drummond. that
there is the slightest probability Of any
such will as you hint at being in exist
ence?" Mr.. Pebworth' voice was hardly
raised above whisper. and he had
glanced warily round before speaking
TO make sure that they were alone.
AT present, have only waded
through about one-thrd of the old gen.
tleman's papers," answered Frank
What may be hidden among the re.
mainder, | can not say. But nothing
is impossible"
"Thc law would not see anything out
of the ordinary in such document?'
GLOW could it? You were Mr.. AS
kew's first cousin. What more natural
than he should have changed his mind
in your favor after making his first
wille Frobisher would still have six
thousand year. Aman may live very
comfortably on six thousand year"
What If my dear Frank were to con.
test the willp"
"Yop don't know poor, dear, simple
hearted Frank as well as | do, or YOU
would not even hint at such thing