San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1888-03-13

and then, Mr.. Jones, you Will do US
favor II you will take him away.
Lawrence BelfOrd, as you value your
soul, where did you obtain that willP'
IL bolt from the storm overhead had
entered the room ii could not have pro-
duced more startling impression than
did this simple question. Mr.. Denny
dropped his crutch and raised both hands
in establishment. Alma gave a half sup
pressed scream, and even the sheriff and
John were amazed beyond expression.
The man in the chair made no reply,
and presently the breathless silence was
broken by the calm voice of the young
man repeating his question.
81 found it in the leaves of book in the
old bookcase in the mill office"
"What" cried Mr.. Denny, leaning for
ward and steadying himself by the table.
"My fathers will Did you find 1t? Re-
lease him, John. How can we ever thank
you, Mr.. BelfordS It is the missing
WHIP
"Oh, Lawrencer' said Alma. "Why
did you not tell us' why did you not
show it' How much trouble IL would
have saved"
"Have patience, Alma. Let Mr.. Bel
ford rise and bring the will"
"No," said Mr.. Franklin. Hear the
rest Of the story. Mr.. Belford, you de-
stroyed or suppressed that will, did you
notS''
Eyes, did-damn your
"Good Lordr' cried the sheriff. 'Did
ye hear thats-destroyed It'll That's states
prison"
"Oh, Mr.. Franklin, Mr.. Denny! have
mercy on met Do not let them arrest
me-"
"Marcyr' said the sheriff, taking out a
pair Of handouts. 'It's little marcy yen
git"
"You ask for mercyr' cried Mr. Denny,
his face livid with passion. 'You
you wretch Have you not ruined me'
Have you not made my child beggar
and carried my gray hairs in sorrow to the
gravep You knew the value Of this will
and you destroyed it'll Your other crimes
are as nothing to this. / could forgive
your monstrous frauds in my mills
Mr.. Belford WINGED and looked sur
prised.
|. "Ay! vince you may. i have found
out everything, thanks to--but I'll not
couple his name with yours. And the re-
lease Of the mortgage-have you thati'
mo, sir. 1t is in that bag on the
table"
The old gentleman eagerly took up the
bundle that lay IN the table and began,
with trembling fingers, to open it.
"Wait a moment, Mr.. Denny" said
Mr.. Franklin. 81 should like to ask
this man question or two"
Mr.. Denny paused, and there was a
profound silence in the room.
Lawrence Bedford, if you are wise,
you will speak the truth. That release
is forgery-or at least it has no legal
value
at is not worth a straw" replied the
prisoner with cool impudence; land on
the whole, I'm glad of 1t. The mortgage
will be foreclOsed tomorrow"
"Your share will be small, Mr.. Bedford.
am afraid your partner will find some
difficulty in making settlement with
you, unless he joins you in prison"
Mr.. Denny sat heavily down in an arm
chair and groaned aloud. In vain Alma,
with choking voice, tried to comfort him.
The blow was too terrible for words, and
for moment or two there was q painful
silence in the room.
Mr.. Franklin seemed nervous and ex-
cited He fumbled in his pockets as II in
search of something Presently he ad-
vanced toward the old gentleman and said
quietly:
"Mr. Denny, can you bear one more
piece of news-one more link in this ter
rible chain of crimeS''
Eyes" he replied, slowly. "There can
be nothing worse than this. Speak, my
son-let us hear everything"
II think, sir" said the young man,
reverently, that l ought to thank God
that he has enabled me to bring such
knowledge as he has given me to your
service"
Then, after brief pause, he added
There is the will, sir"
With these words he held out small
bit of sheet glass about two inches square.
"Where!" cried Mr.. Denny in amaze
ment. 81 see nothing"
"There it is--on that piece of glass.
That dusky SPOT in the center is a micro
Photographic copy of your fathers will"
''My son, my son, do not trfie with us
in this our hour of trial"
''Far be it from me to do such thing.
Alma, will you please go to my room and
bring down my lantern? And John, you
may go and help Miss Denny. Bring
sheet from the spare bed Also"
81 do not know what you mean, my
son. You tell me the will is destroyed,
and you say you have a copy. Is it a
legal copy? and how do you know it is
really my fathers will? Have you
read its''
Eyes, sir. You shall read it too, pres
emily. l have already shown it to law
yer, and he pronounced it correct and
perfectly legal"
but why did you not tell us Of it be-
forey"
81 have only had it few days, sir, and
wished first to crush or capture this rob-
ber."
Hadn't We better let me take him off,
sir?' said the sheriff. Hes done enough
to take him afore the grand jury Besides,
we have another bitter bill against him
down in the village"
NO." said Mr.. Franklin. "Let him
stay and see the will. 1t may interest
him to know that all his villainous plans
are utterly overthrown."
shut up, you wnelp," said the man in
the chair.
"Shut up-ye," replied the sheriff, adj
ministering a stout cuff to the prisoners
ear. aye best hold your tongue, man."
Just here Alma and John returned with
the lantern. Under Elmer's directions
they hung the sheet over one of the win
dows and then the young man prepared
his apparatus for small trial of lantern
projections. Mr.. Denny sat in his chair
silent and wondering. He knew not what
to say or do, and watched these prepare
tions with the utmost attention.
''Mr. Sheriff, il you please, you will
stand near Mr.. Bedford, TO prevent him
from attempting mischief when darken
the room. John, you may put out all the
candles save one