The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-11-27

missing will
Quick as thought he snatched mp the
will found by Mrs. Crawford, which was
lying beside him, thrust it into the en-
velope and slipped the newly discovered
one safely into his pocket. Next he
leaned over and softly placed the envelope
with its new Enclosure back where it had
lain. 1t was but the work of a second or
two, Mrs. Crawford watching him the
while with bated breath, half suspecting
what the envelope had contained
The somambulist, after standing in the
same position at the fireplace for some
seconds longer, returned to the desk, took
up the will, went again to the fireplace
and held the envelope and its contents
above the now burned-out fire, as though
about to drop them into the flames which
he imagined he saw. Then he turned
hurriedly and glanced toward the door,
put his hand containing the will behind
him, as if wishing to hide it from the gaze
OF some one, stood for a minute in that
position and then slowly walked out OF
the room, closing the door behind him.
Mr.. Barnett darted after him and followed
him cautiously up stairs. He watched
him until he saw him 60 along the corri-
dor and enter his room in safety; after that
the solicitor returned to the room below.
mercy on usl Did ever any mortal see
the like o that?" This exclamation burst
from the lips of Mrs. Crawford as Mr.. Bar
nett rejoined her in the library. The good
woman had recovered the use of her tongue
and was inclined to laugh at her recent
fears. ~ really though it was the dead man
himself" continued she. "Eh, but he was
awful like him, thought What paper was
that We took? Was it the will, and had he
got it after az"
Eyes, it was the will Here it is safe and
sound. He NAV do what he likes with the
one he has got / will take care this one
does not fall into his hands again.
But how would he come to get it, think
YEP"
THAT is quite easily understood, Mrs.
Crawford. MIR MonktOn must nave had it
beside him the night be died, and would
be lying among the loose papers on the desk.
His brother, huntingamOng these papers on
his arrival here. had found the will, read it;
and, knowing that if it were destroyed or
putout of the way he himself would be heir
toeverything, resolved to repress it. re-
member you said ne seemed a little con-
fused when you entered the room. You
had probably disturbed him while perus-
ing the will. He has had it in his pos
session all along The wonder is that he
has not burned it before this. Perhaps he
could not make up his mind whether to
destroy it or give it up. l can understand
now his non-interference with things He
knew that the game was in his own hand"
1T maun haze proved on his mind to
terrible extent, though. That may be what
caused him to walk in his sleep"
'No doubt He seemed to be acting
over again what occurred in this room
when he found the will. You saw him
look toward the door. as if he heard some
one coming, and then put his hand behind
him, apparently to hide the will ?"
aye, he just looked something like
that when saw HIM the first day standing
by the fire. III not forget what haze seen
this night in hurry. Ye're sure that's
the right will now?"
Eyes; there's no doubt of it at this time.
1t is dated Aug 5, 1881, exactly four
months to a day later than the other"
Mr.. Barnett's supposition as to the man
ner in which Henry Monkton had got pos
session of the will was quite correct. He
had found it on Mr.. MonktOn's desk
among the other papers, and after reading
it was unable to make up his mind
whether to destroy it or leave it some
where where it might be found by Mr..
Barnett. Mrs. Crawford had disturbed
him in the library before he had time to
read it, hence he hastily folded it up and
carried it with him to his room till he
could peruse it at leisure.
Prior to the meeting with Mr.. Barnett in
the garden he had, after much inward dis
cussion, determined to destroy the will;
and as he knew the solicitor to be well
aware of its existence, he had invented
the story OF having met his late brother in
I r.. L. III
to him, in order to raise a belief in Mr..
Barnett's mind, when he found the will
not forthcoming, that MIR. Monkton might
himself have destroyed ii, intending to
make a new one. He was made aware of
his brothers visit to town on the Tuesday
through an acquaintance, who had met
him coming from Mr. Barnett's office.
About half an hour after Mr.. Barnett
had retired TO his room Henry Monkton
suddenly awoke from the deep sleep into
which he had fallen and sat up in bed,
unaware that he had ever left it. His
room was not quite in darkness, for a small
fame suddenly shooting up from the fire
dimlv lit the surroundings. The light at
tracted his attention.
~ have been dreaming of that cursed
win again." he muttered, thrusting his
hand under his pillow to feel if the docu-
ment was safe. Full fifty times have re-
solved to destroy it, and as often some
thing has held me back. The fire is still
burning. | will be tormentcd no longer.
This very minute it shall be consigned to
the flames; then surely / shall have peace.
1t is an unjust will. 1t should have never
been made. That girl, an utter stranger,
to get everything and | nothing. Not
while | live to prevent i"
Not allowing himself one instant for re-
Election, he rose and crossed the room
quickly to the fireplace The fame was
still burning invitingiy. BY its light he read
the writing on the back of the envelope,
to make himself certain that it was the one
containing the will, then thrust both
envelope and its contents into the heart of
the fire. With glittering eyes he watched
the creeping flame speedily devour them.
For some seconds the whole room was
brilliantly illuminated, and then came
darkness. The incubus was removed; the
will was gone foreverl
Mr.. Monkton's funeral was over Dust
had been consigned to dust, to await the
final resurrection. The next act in the
drama was the reading of the dead mans
will, an event usually anxiously looked
forward to by eager prospective legatees.
In the drawing-room after the funeral
were assembled Mrs. Crawford, Miss Ash
ley, Henry Monkton, Sir Andrew Dawson,
Mrs. Crawford's son Peter, who was clerk
in the city, and Mr.. Barnett. Several of
the principal servants were also present.