The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1889-04-25
CHAPTER XXI.

Seekmore Gripes sat alone in his private
Office one warm day when visitor was
announced. 1t proved to be Captain Star
bright. OF course the lawyer realized
that his client had come with reference TO
the missing will.
II have heard nothing with regard to the
lost legal document said the lawyer,
smoothing his knee with the back of his
hand while he talked s'It's most pulling
case, indeed. / never saw any thing like
it during my long legal experience,
never.n
"What would you adviser"
"The service of detective, perhaps"
The Captain corrugated his brows and
looked troubled, as well as thoughtful.
~ have but little faith in detectives" he
finally said II have a suspicion that !
could point out the person who is at the
bottom of the theft
ssWellln
.'Mrs. Martha Penroy"
''Who inherits in case no will is found. y
Certainly"
"Did not understand you to say some
time since that you had perfect confidence
in this woman and that in fact she was
anxious for you 70 marry her daughterl'
~ might have said all Of that" returned
the Captain at was true four weeks since,
but now"
"And nowln
snow great change has come over the
woman. She insists that no will was
made.n
"Indeed."
" She has gone so far as to order me out
Of the house as an interloper."
"That is bad" agreed the lawyer. 'She
doesn't seem to be the weak creature you
imagined
"Far from it. Something must be done
at once or am ruined.n
The Captain seemed really ps,c and con-
cerned. Seekmore Gripes regarded the
floor intently, and slowly polished his knee
with the back of his hand.
ats a peculiar case, as said before, y
finally proceeded the lawyer. There GER
tainly was will made, and it is exceedingly
annoying that it can not be produced
Time may aid us. II this woman has
secured the will througha second party it is
evident that she has made sure of its de-
struction.n
"True. Yet am not sure that she has
had hand in the theft"
"Do you suspect any one elseP
No one in particular" finally answered
Starbright 81 have enemies, however,
and il is possible that some Of them are at
tempting to ruin me. I would give ten
thousand dollars to get hold OF that will
once more. Mrs. Penroy knows that no
will has been probated. She imagines none
was made, and unless something is done at
once to prevent, she will institute proceed
ings for settlement Of the estate IN her
favor. She has threatened it
For some time Mr.. Gripes remained lost
in thought.
"She will undoubtedly visit the city TO
consult some legal authority,"l he finally
said. 'If you could manage to send her to
me every thing would be well.n
Possibly might do that"
al think that would be the surest way out
Of the difficulty said Mr.. Gripes.
/. The Captain came to his feet
81 will endeavor to send her to you," he
said, slowly. First. however, / shall an
nounce TO her that the will is In court ready
to be probated, and, if possible, prevent her
visiting the city at all, that is, for the
present"
A clang Of the ONCE bell cut short further
speech. Mr.. Gripes came to his feet.
al will call again tomorrow"
And then Captain Starbright left the
place, unheeding the presence of the vailed
woman who passed in as he went out
Mr.. Gripes, the great lawyer, 'spose,h
said the woman, as she confronted the law
yer.
I" My name IS Gripes, but can not take
any more cases just now,n returned he,
noting with keen precision that his visitor
was poorly clad, and evidently from the
lie ~ 10
enough to show her chair, however
She made no move TO be seated.
"rve got case lat you may be willing
to look at anyhow proceeded the woman.
az I reckon you're Cap'n Starbright's law
yer, hain't youip
sHe sometimes employs me-"
"Hain't you'n him got into trouble lately
kind OF muss like over the Lone Hollow
property"
ssMadam, please come at another time,v
grunted Mr.. Gripes, with manifest impa-
thence.
aMebbe, now, you wouldn't give some
thing for this"
She drew from the folds OF her dress a
large legal envelope and held 1t toward the
lawyer. He took it mechanically, drew
forth its contents, a folded sheet of legal
cap, and thens as ne gianceu Ut tue nrst
page, started and stared at the woman IN
evident perplexity and surprise.
4sWuth any thingin questioned the woman.
s'Somothing Where did you find i'll"
SIN the woods, on the ground, where a
crazy fellow'd dropped 1t, fur i see him look
I'M at it putty close jest afore ! picked it
up.
''Tndeedr'
Mr. Gripes thrust his hand intohis pocket
and drew forth several pieces Of silver. He
neld these toward the woman.
She lifted her vail then and regarded The
lawyer with a contemPtuous
,nocr We have seen this woman before
|fothor lahera. OF Hangnan's Gulch. She
,nd purchased new outfit, however, and
|oomcd less filthy than when we last looked
lpon her parchment connsenance