The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1888-06-05
BOB CATO'S LAST WILL
BY j. NJ. BARRON.
For The Constitution.

"In the event that Annabel Cato, my
adopted daughter, who so mysterously dis
appeared from under ~ roof four months ago
is not found within the space OF five years from
the signing of this, my last will, /, Robert
Cato, being of sound mind, do bcqueath my
whole property, consisting OF S175,300 in bank,
and real estate to the value Of $225,0O0. to
William Robert Cato, the son and only child
Of my deceased brother, William Hamilton
Cato, with the exception of $4,000. which is
set aside to be used in prosecuting the search
for my dear child"
Thus ended the last will and testament OF
old Bob Cato, who had been laid TO rest just
three days previous to the reading of this will.
There had been great excitement in Stamp
vile four months previous to the above, when
the local paper, owing 10 the prominence Of the
parties, came out with an extra" containing
the startling information that "Annabel Cato,
the beautiful, graceful and accomplished
adopted daughter Of Mr.. Bob Cato, one of our
most influential and Christian citizens, has
been mysterously missing for several days past,
and the most dligent search has failed to de-
velop the slightest clue as to the whereabouts
of the unfortunate young lady" etc.
This announcement was followed in the
regular issue of the Stampyile Sun with a
reward Of 5000 "for any information leading
to the recovery of Anabel Cato"
Notwithstanding the reward had been regu-
larly inserted in the Slampville paper and
other periodicals of tho country, not the slight
est information had been received, up to the
time of Mr. Cato's death, which furnished the
faintest hope of the recovery of the poor girl.
Although the search for the girl had been
going on since her disappearance, tho excite
ment occasioned by the abducton-for such it
was generally conceded to be-had somewhat
abatcd, but the death of Mr.. Cato, together
with the proviso in the will, had stimulated
new interest in the case, and at this time the
excitement was little less than it was on that
memorable occasion. Several of the citizens
had announced their intention OF keeping up
the search until she was found, and tho most
earnest one among this number was Malvern
Hill, the young and handsome attorney, who
had been appointed executor of the estate,
until the expiration Of the stipulated five
years, when he was to turn over the property,
according TO the dictation Of the will, to
William Robert Cato.
''This Is strange case to me, i" said Malvern,
addressing himself when alone In his room, a
few days afterward "In the will made six
months ago, Cato's whole property was left to
Annabel Cato. Two months afterward she
disappears; now the will is made in favor of
William Robert Cato, provided''-and here
Malvan slightly shudderod--"Annabel is not
found. The question that bothers me now is,
Is Robert Cato in any way responsible fer the
missing of Annabel Cato? We'll, he has q
very good reputation; l don't know a single
thing derogatory to his character, yet there is
the munifcept sum of 100000 involved.
Isn't that calculated to make the average man
little tricky when by getting Annabel out of
the way he falls heir to something like half
million? l think so. Is Annabel Cato alive?
God grant that she is II she is alive, + of all
men, should be the one to find her. For don't
l love her better than anything else on this
earth? What did she say to me the last time
that we were together; Malvern, if the time
should ever come for us to separate remember,
dear, one thing-it win not DO with my con-
sent. l'don't know exactly why, but, Malvern,
at times | feel that something awful will
happen to mo some dayl' How we'll remem-
Dor now the look of fear that came over her.
when l chafed her for her foolish fears No
one would harm you, Anna, L said to her.
ooh, but you do not know she answered, her
beautiful eyes filling with tearsI And so it is
as she feared some one has harmed her, and
that one is William Catol Have q care, Mr..
Cato, for Malvern Hill is on your trail, and
woe be unto you II run you down, for as sure
as l love Annabel Cato, il you be guilty of
this atrocious act you will land in the home
provided for all of your stripe the peniten-
tisryl"