The Red Cloud chief., 1889-03-22

A gasp, and the aged he'd. crowned VIII
n silver locks, felt forward; the pen fell
from nerveiess fingers. imprintings black
stain where the name should have been, md
then Ill wa still
my God, the man 10 desd~
mo, no; that can no: be-" cr,ed Captain
Starbright. He hasn't signed the willw
At this momen the door opened and
Grace Penroy entered the room
CHAPTER XIV.
1AR WILL slGHKD AHD LOSE
Grace stood near The threshold with white
faee md QUESTIONING eyes.
8 II thought I Aea4d graadpe call"
ut u nothing. Go out It once" ordered
Captain Starbright-
At this moment the girl caught sight
Of the dead face among the pillows, and
with . shrill cry Of alarm he darted for
ward and bent over the old millionaire.
"Grsndpa! grandpa! speak to me-" cried
Grace Penroy, shriuy, seiz,ng one OF his
hands.
The chill Of death wa in the old palms,
and On the instant the girl realized the
truth, that the kind old man, kind To her
At least, would never speak again. He Wa
dead. had died without looking again upon
her face. The thought was Q most painful
one to poor Grace. She could not weep
then. for indignation held sway in her
heart. Turning upon Captain StarbriRht,
she cried:
You promised TO send for me and did
not. Cruel mani
Then, without waiting for . word from
him, sho walked with bowed head and sor-
rowful mien from the room
Seekmore Gripcs gl,ded 70 the door with
Q catrlike tread and turned the key in the
lock
You should have taken that ~precaution
before" be said, piercing the Captain with
his little gray eyes
at was an oversight on my part" admit
ted Captain Starbright-
(Which may prove your downfall"
"Don't croak, Gripes, Whatever you do"
"The situation warrants it"
~ hope you are not ready TO throw up
the spea9e.
what can W. dot"
The heartless lawyer penetrated his CON-
panion with . glance.
This calamity is 30 sudden ! am not pre-
pared to state" answered tho Captain,
pacing the room with uneasy strides.
mo will has been made" remarked the
lawyer. death thwar;ed you there"
And the property goes to the next OF
kin.
Certainly"
'Ono minute more of life and the will
would have been signed" uttered the Cap
tain At length, with = groAn.
THAT 10 true"
Captain Starbright bent over the docu-
ment ~ IL lay spread out on the table. With
. name signed ut the foot IT would be . legal
document, As il was it was only 30 much
blank paper. The Captain was not the man
to permit . fortune to slip through his
fingers when there Wa . way 70 prevent IT.
"A few strokes Il . pen would TX that"
he said in . low tone, glancing at Mr..
Grfpes.
The lawyer looked wise, but said nothing.
Perhaps he was keen enough not 70 advise
IN such n emergency.
to sign the will,' pursued Captain Star
bright
1T was his first intention returned Mr..
Gripes, significantly.
There is o million Mt stake, Mr.. Grlpcs."
The lawyer nodded.
Just turn your back one moment"
Scekmore Gripes did 50.
He heard the scratch, scratch Of pen,
then the Captains Voice:
See here, Mr.. Gripes."
The lawyer turned about and came for
ward, peering over the Captains shoulder
at the paper now lying on the table. One
glance suficed 20 show that the will bore in
proper place the name Of Morgan Vandible.
allow is thatr'
cit looks fair" admitted the lawyer.
at n fair. have only carried out the
old mans wishes"
His first intentions, certainly"
swell, first intentions are the best ones"
asserted Captain Starbright- "a want you
to take possession Of the will, Mr.. Gripes,
and bring it forward at the proper time"
There are M witnesses rs yet"
''True: that important part must not DO
forgotten. VIII it do for me to sign ~
Onei"
III no contest il made there might be nc
objection returned the lawyer.
Il haven't any fear Of that There ia only
one living direct heir, and she is willing and
anxious for such u disposition Of the proper
~ a. this will dscrees."
Then the Captain signed the paper - .
witness. Mr.. Gripes noticed that he wrote
the name Clinton Brandon"
MY middle name," explained the willy
Captain. SHOULD it he necessary, l could
deny that il was me that signed. Isn't that
properv
Possibly"
III another witness is necessary you
will furnish one, Mr.. Gripesr
'Perhaps."
Remember. there il . million ut stake"
A gaunt smile twitched for IN instant ut
the thin, wnnkled lips of the old lawyer.
He made no reply, but folded and thrust the
forged will into an n pocket.
Day wat beginning outside. and The
weszcn- faced Old man prepared to de-
part
I'VE will meet you after the funeral.
Mr.. Gripes"
Probably"
'Every thing seems satisfactory. ! bid
you Good-day for now"
After pressing Lawyer 0rspes' hand The
Captain showed him to the door. The
lawyers horse stood Il the gate. waiting
hls masters return with nc little impe-
ticncc. manifested BY paving and N %.
casion&l whinny.
II was not until altar dAy-dawn that IL
death o! old Mr.. Vsndible Was made known
70 all the inmates Of Lone Hollow. Nh.
Penroy manifested more feeling han Cap.
tain S,arbriGht believed her capable. 0raos
retired % her room and refused to 40 any
one.
Sam w1s dispatched to Bsone6eld VIII
orders for The undertaken, who srr1vo0 ct
the house 70 after noon with . had
some cssket Preparations were 81 oncs
made for the funeral, il not beng deemed
necessary to hold a inquest sinoe there
seemed nothing strange in Mr.. Vsndihle's