Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1888-03-17
THE wArER-nARKED WILL.
By WILLIAM n. sIvITER.
Author of IAN Eventful Wedding journey

him was her little son, Gilbert Marshall
whom the squire immediately took home
to Hszelburst and brought up as hi
own, lavishing on him all the love and
pride of heart hungering for affection
for the squire himself was worse thar
childless.
He had son, James; but the boy. al.
WAYS wild and reckless, had grown into
q dissipated man, and was leading 6
criminal life in a neighborlug city. Mr.
Madden used every effort to induce hif
son to become useful member of soci.
ety. but without avail; and at last in
despair, he had been compelled to cast
him of, refusing all communication with
him.
The sources family consisted of him.
self, a maiden sister, Gilbert Marshall
and Ida Warner. Ida was the daughter
of an old schoolmste OF the squire's, who
died when she was Is, leaving her and
her independent fortune in Squire Mad.
Gems care.
It is not strange that Gilbert and Ida
thrown together as they were, should
have soon developed decided liking
for each other; or, as the years went on
that Gilbert's blue eyes, looking into
Ida's brown ones, should see there
something more than friendship, some
thing that led him one sweet June even.
ing to tell her how dear she was to him.
Then he went to the squire and re-
peated the story, and he, as his eyes
ehone with happy tears, transferred
to Glbert's care for hfs his winsome
ward.
The squire's joy, however, was des-
tined to be very brief, for the young
folks had been engaged only a few
weeks, when he was attacked with ty-
phoid fever and after q short illness
died.
In lucid interval on the day of his
death the..squire asked Gilbert to send
for his son. This was Immediately >-ne;
the frequent letters which The squire re-
eeived from him, begging for money,
furnished his address. James Madden
fastened to Hazelhurst in response to
the telegram, only Il that death had
preceded him.
On the day after the squire had been
laid to rest, Mr.. Laird suggested that
the will be found and read.
"It's in uncle's DESK" said Gilbert,
"sealed up in yellow envelope"
"As all the probable heirs are here"
replied Mr.. Laird" 'please go and get
it."
"I'm thinking there's not much in
that document for me-" remarked James
Madden, who was still at Hazelhurst.
"We shall see," answered Mr.. Laird,
pleasantly.
just then Gilbert entered with the
will in his hand. ''This is very strange"
he said. ..See! the envelope has been
torn off, but am sure uncle sealed it
up himself and indorsed it Last will
and testament Of William Madden
I've often seen it, and I don't under
stand how it comes to be open now"
"Aren't you the only one who has q
key to this deskP" asked James Madden,
with sinister look.
81 think am" replied Gilbert.
"Perhaps the squire opened it him.
self to add a codicil." interposed Mr..
Laird; sat all events, let us read it."
The document was found to leave the
entire estate to the decedent's nephew,
Gilbert Marshall, with the exception of
an income of a thousand dollars each to
his dear sister and ward. No mention
whatever was made of his son James, who,
when the lawyer had finished reading,
arose and left the room without word.
He had been gone out half an hour,
when an officers arrival, bringing q war
rant for the arrest of Gilbert Marshall
threw the group into the deepest con-
sternation.
"What forw demanded Mr.. Laird in
establishment.
"He is charged with the forgery of
his uncle's WILL" was the reply.
Gilbert was carried before the magis-
trate, but he had no difficulty in imme-
diately securing bail.
When the September term Of court
opened, the whole town was excited
over the forgery case, and when it was
called the court room was packed with
people, every one of whom, with the ex-
ception of James Madden and his little
coterie of friends and lawyers, believed
Gilbert would soon walk forth free and
indicated man.
Gilbert Marshall, when asked to plead |
to the charge of forgery, answered in a |
strong, clear voice:
"Not guilty n
The attorney for the commonwealth
then arose and said:
"May it please the court, the COM
monwealth does not intend to present a
large mass of evidence or call many wit
nesses. I hold in my hand evidence
sufficient to convict the prisoner. Gilbert
Marshall, OF the crime Of forgery-eH-
1ence, the nature of which he little
dreams-evidence as convincing and sat.
l6factOrv as The ,moak oyncx;r, ;I