Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1889-12-26
TUESDAY,. DECEMBER Is, 1889.

task of trimming his finger nails in which
he is apparently deeply engrossed. and
looks out Of the window down upon the
dark waters below in which the stars,
reflected, gleam.
A thought comes to him. which
though spontaneous in itself is but the
elimination of what has been passing in
his mind ever since his fathers death.
Hetakes from his breast pocket folded
paper on which the writing is but few
hours old This he wraps about the
handle of The knife he holds in his hand.
Then he shuts the blade so that the paper
is held firmly. With careless move
ment he lays the hand holding the knife
| upon the edge of the window When he
withdraws the hand moment later it is
empty. The knife is heavy one and
| will go straight to the bottom, and with
it the paper wrapped about it. The
waters often give UP their dead, but in
animate objects of value they hold with
in their depths.
It is week later. The will of Isaac
Rawson is to be read in the presence of
those interested. 1t is mere formality
Of course, for other than his two sons the
testator left no kin. The sons both know
what they will hear Robert at least
knows, and Jack may surmise. And
yet, who knows what may happen dur
ing the few hours that must elapse before
the will is opened and read?
"You are early. Mr.. Drew will not
be here for half an hour yet are Rob
ert's first words to his brother Jack as
the latter enters the house of which Rob
ert already considers himself the sole
owner.
II thought it best to have few words
with you before Mr.. Drew arrives" is
Jacks reply. Mr.. Drew is the lawyer to
whom the necessary legal transactions in
connection with the will have been en-
trusted.
"You told me that father had said
something about a new will just before
he died; but that none but the old one,
made fifteen years ago, could be found, -
remarks Jack to his brother when they
are seated a moment later. The remark
is made with an interrogative infection,
SO that Robert feels impelled to reply.
"Yes, no other will was found, though
searched everywhere. Fathers mind
must have been wandering when he
spoke of another will"
POSSIBLY; still you probably didn't
think OF searching in the river" is Jack 8
next remark.
Robert turns pale; then the blood
surges back and his face becomes al
most purple. "What are you driving
at? what do you mean?'' he asks. The
words come like gasps.
'tOnly this. On the night when you
came to tell me of fathers death, some
young men We're returning from fish
ing trip on the river. Just as they were
rowing under the bridge, missile
thrown from above struck one of them
on the back and fell to the bottom of the
boat. See, this is quite heavy knife,
and if piece of paper hadn't been
wrapped about it, it might have hurt
the young man it struck quite severely.
The young man happens to be an ac-
quaintance of mine. He thinks the knife
was dropped by some one on railroad
train that was crossing the bridge just
then. Now l merely wish to suggest
that, when Mr.. Drew comes, we give
into his hands this document which fell
into my friends boat, and that we say
nothing about the old will at all. How
does the proposition suit youT-Arthur
Lucas in The Epoch.