Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1889-03-28

esteemed friend, Clinton .Starbrsght, Of
Stonefield- The reading seemed to suit
VaDdible. There was one clause in the Will
that the lawyer had neglected to read, q
most important clause. It was that Grace
Penroy was to forfeit the properly il she
did not marry Captain Starbnght.
A look from the Captain gave Mr.. Seek
more Gripes his cue. The two had talked
matters over before the present, and the
scheming Captain had his plot well laid. He
believed Morgan Vandible was too nearly
blind to note the truth, even should he
glance over the written page, and 50 he
ielt comparatively safe. Two executors
were named, the Captain and Lawyer
Gripes.
After every thing was in readiness for the
old milllonairefs signature the will was laid
on a book, Vandible propped up with pillows
and the document placed before hum to
sign.
'sPlace your name right there, sir" di-
rected Mr.. Gr1pes, glibiy, touching the de-
sired spot with his bony forehnger.
The Old mans hand trembied so that it
was with difficulty that he held the pen.
'EIm not just sure. The Witnesses
eyes, yes, I will call them the moment
you sign. The Captain win do for one.
Sign quickly, it's all right, ]" declared Lawyer
Gripes, in his smooth, glib way.
81 suppose SO. I feel bad, very bad" de-
clared the old man, huskily. 'tGive me
something quickP'
Lawyer 3ripes reached back and snatched
the glass anto which the Captain had poured
veyed it ~ the lips of the old man. He
swallowed the contents at a gulp, then re-
sumed his pen. He seemed strong, and his
hand ceased to shake.
sit all goes to Grace, ALL" he muttered,
the CHASTITY look deepening on his shrunken,
old face.
Eyes, yes, but sign,s urged Mr.. Gripes.
The old millionaire Garfield his pen to the
paper, but his hand did not move to form the
signature. Instead he jerked it away
suddenly, as though new thought had
entered his brain.
No; viii not sign. You must make q
new will.''
This announcement came like q thunder.
bolt to the strained senses OF Captain Star
bright
said the Captain. stepping quickly to the
bedside. "Would You deprive Grace OF all
happiness by"
"No, no; you don't understand inter
rupted the aged man. sway back in Cali
fornia is man that love. He may be liv-
ing. Reports are not reliable. loved that
boy, though he almost broke my heart"
ssBut he is dead" as@
You do not know it, Captain
81 am willing 70 swear that such Is the
fact. saw him die"
81 know; but you may have been mis-
taken in the man. Karl must not be forgot
ten. half my fortune IS his.''
"But this is nonsense" declared the Capl
tain, IN q vexed tone.
"Put his name in there in place Of yours
and I'll sign, not otherwise" declared the
sick man, seeming to take on new perverse-
ness with growing weakness of body.
"pN fix it; it's but the work of q moment, -
said Mr.. Gripes. Giving the Captain o know
ing glance, the lawyer removed the paper
1nd pretended to make some alterations
Then he returned to the bed and placed the
viii once more before the testator.
As Morgan Vandible raised his hand to
place his name at the bottom of the doc,i-
ment a swift change came to his shrunlken
face. The ashen hue of dissolution swept
overit
I'LL am blind, IL"
A gasp, and the aged head, crowned with
it's silver locks, fell forward; the pen fol-
stain where the name should have been, and
then all was still.
my God, the man is deadr'
''No, no; that can not bel" cried Captain
Starbright. HE hasn't signed the willi'
At this moment the door opened and
Grace Penroy entered the room.
CHAPTER XIV.
THE WILL SIGNED AND LOST.
Grace stood near the threshold with white
face and questioning eyes.
II thought heard grandpa call"
sit is nothing. Go out at once" ordered
Captain Starbright.
At this moment the girl caught sight
OF the dead face among the pillows, and
with shrill cry Of alarm she darted for
ward and bent over the old millionaire.
"Grandpa! grandpa! speak to me-" cried
Grace Penroy, shrilly,. seizlng one Of his
The chill Of death was 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 was
dead, had died without looking again upon
her face. The thought was most painful
one to poor Grace. She could not weep
then, for indignation held sway in her
heart. Turning upon Captain Starbright,
she cried:
You promised to send for me and did
not. Cruel manr'
Then, without waiting for word from
him, she walked with bowed head and sor-
rowful mien from the room
Seekmore Gripes ghded to the door with
e cat-ike tread and turned the key in the
lock.
: Sc You should have taken that precaution
before" he said, piercing the Captain with
his little gray eyes.
It was an oversight on my part" admit
ted Captain Starbright.
Which may prove your downfall"
Don't croak, Gripes, whatever you d."
The situation warrants it.
hope you are not ready to throw up
the sponge.
What can we do?''
The heartless lawyer penetrated his COM
panion with q glance.
"This calamity is so sudden am not pre-
pared to state" answered the Captain,
pacing thebroom with uneasy strides.
mo will has been made" remarked the
lawyer. "Death thwarted you there.''
And the property goes to the next of
kinr'