Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1888-03-17

| VI O WAA OSAA3 WAAVs0AA OAA pA0C0 VI 20
per before the paper was manufactured
Then holding the viii up to the light
be said:
Gentlemen, this will bears the date Of
1881, but, see, the paper mark reads
1884, I think it is unnecessary to say
anything further"
The court was 8stonished at this dis
closure, to which Gilbert listened with
indignant amazement.
The silence was at last broken by Gill
bert's attorney, who. as it was growing
late, begged the adjournment OF the
court. The motion was granted, and
Gilbert and MI. Laird, his legal adviser,
were soon alone.
The friends sat until q late hour, dis
cussing the unfortunate turn affairs had
taken, and endeavoring to throw some
light on the damaging evidence of the
water-mark, but without svail.
Squire Madden had drawn up the will
himself, and had told no one the nature
of its contents. Ofcourse, the witnesses to
the document could be summoned to
prove they appended their signatures at
The date it bore in the year 1881; but of
what weight would that be against the
proof of the water mark? They did not
know what disposition the squire had
made Of bis property, and the only re-
suit of their evidence would be to show
that in forging the will the forger had
followed the date Of the original.
.It looks bad" the lawyer said at
length, "and, -"But just then the door
bell rang, aud Miss Warner entered, &C.
companied by her colored maid, Sally,
and Saly's particular friend, q good
natured negro, who rejoiced in the name
of Madison johnson.
Before the gentlemen could express
their surprise, Ida few toward Gilbert,
and exclaimed, almost sobbing with JOY
full excitement:
"Oh, Gilbert, good news! You are
saved"
Ida then related conversation which
Sslly's sweetheart had overheard, but of
which he was afraid to speak, even to
her, until he heard the remarkable evil
dence of the water mark discussed all
over town. Sally recognized the great
value of Madison's evidence, and imme-
diately repeated it to her mistress. Ida
in her turn had brought both Sally and
Madison to the lawyer with the good
news, which was sufficient for Mr.. Laird
to say, as the little group dispersed for
the night: - "a. vi s,ss!I
"The case is as good as settled now,
and thanks to you, Miss Ida, this young
mans wedding does not seem as far off
now as it did this morningp
When court opened next morning the
crowd was greater than on the previous
day. The whole town had heard of the
water mark, and public opinion was be-
ginning to regard Gilbert as villain.
The prosecuting attorney announced
that he had no witnesses to call as he
considered the case proven.
Mr.. Laird then arose and said:
"Call Madison Johnson
Madison took the stand tremblingly,
but he answered the lawyers questions
with promptness.
"Where we're you on the afternoon of
June ~"
CAT Squire Madden's, sab"
"Do you know James Madden?'
"Yes, sah," with look at Madden
hituself, who occupied front seat, and
was listening with deep attention to the
questions.
"How long have you known him?"
"Knowed him when he was q kid. sab"
Snow tell the court what happened at
Squire Madden's that night"
"Well, sab, T went in to sec Salie
while de white folks had gone to de fu-
neral, kase Use shore she'd be lonesome
like dere by herself. Sallie wuz q
Strengthening out the library, where de
squire's desk is, an we wuz talking
when Sallie looks up and says, says she,
There's Mr.. Jim comm back already
we'd better git out O. here.' But fore
we could move, he'd got the door part
open, and Sallie SEE "Mad, you git in
the chimbly closet till he goes away. so
I crowds in de closet. Dere was another
Teller with Jim Madden, an ez soon's
Sally done gone, he says in sort O.
whisper:
"We mus fin de will now, fore de |
folks git back"
81 reckon dey knowed where to look
Tor it, for pretty soon de udder teller
sez, Here 'tis,, and den dey read.it, and
Jim seq, with cuss word, He's lef it all |
70 that snipe, Marshall
"Well, les tear de ole thing up den,"
says de udder.
"What good dat'n do us?' says Jim.
It's dead sure that critter knows dc
Wills here, and jest what's in it, but I'll
TX it.
Show" sez de udder.
Den Jim whispered SOS I couldn't
lear nothin' but something bout swatah
mark 'acid,' dated 1884, SAY it's a
orperv. Elk II slick,