Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1889-06-06

have come between US, Austin,n san
Grace, as she leaned confidingly against hi
shoulder and glanced up into his brave
dark eyes.
There is perfect trust now, darling,'
returned the young mechanic. 81 was +
blame entirely"
She stopped his lips with a soft hand
''Not word like that, Austin 1 know
that was hasty as well. Let it pass.
have other troubles now"
''Other troubles, dearar
sAbout poor grandpa's will"
''But why should that trouble you
Gracel He left every thing to you, under
stand"
ssTrue, but
"Wellf'' as she hesitated and dropped
her honest gaze from his face, 81 am afraid
the will is not genuine"
sNot genuinea What do you mean Pm
sure I've heard your grandfather say {
score of times, if / have once, that 70,
would have all his property when he was
gone"
81 know, and believe that such was his
Intention" said Grace, in an unsteady
voice, sbut-but he did not live TO sign the
WILL
young mechanic, holly. ut is scheme to
must not submit to it
Why was he so earnesta Was it possible
that sordid motive influenced him after
all? Grace permitted this thought to mar
her happiness for moment only, then she
cast it from her as an unworthy reflection
on the character of her noble lover.
81 have seen my grandfather's will,
Austin, and do not dou bit but what it con-
tains his true intentions" returned the
girl, after a moments reflection ''yet even
if all is right, could not live up to the con-
ditions, 1 should prefer death sooner"
''What are the conditioner
''That become the wife of Clinton Star
bright"
s'Impossibler'
st is true"
"Who showed this to your
"Lawyer Gripes read it, and I have no
reason to dispute the contents of the docu-
ment."
'sThen the will is false, would be willing
to swear to that" declared the young
man, Indignantly. "This Starbright is at
the bottom of tremendous scheme. can
not believe that old Mr.. Vandible could
lend himself to such a wickedness If in his
right mind"
''Great influence must have been brought
to bear if he did agree to that" said Grace.
Sin any event I shall renounce the fort
une."
sslf the will holds good, who inherits,
with your refusal to marry the CaptainI'
''Mr. Starbright"
"Ithought so. You may depend upon 1t
that it is a put up job that must not be per-
united to succeed do not believe Morgan
Vandible ever signed such paper as that
knowingly"
s.Re did not, am sure of that" asserted
Grace
ssThen the document is forgery"
81 fear So"
Grace then related the incidents of the
night when her grandfather died. when she
rushed into the room, thinking she heard
him calling, only to find that he was dead,
and the will, just drawn up for his sigma
ture. lay before his sightless eyes un-
signed.
SWhatever had been the intention OF
grandfather he certainly did not live to
place his signature to the will, concluded
Grace, in a voice husky with the intensity
of her emotions.
"It is a clear case of the basest rascalityr ~
exclaimed Austin Wentword. ITO me 1t
seems evident that Captain Starbright and
his lawyer have plotted to throw the million
left by your grandfather into the hands OF
the former No doubt Starbright would be
willing for you to refuse to marry him, 1or
then .he vast fortune would fall entirely
into his hands. 1t is a barefaced scheme that
can be easily frustrated"
ut must be- Within two weeks the heirs
will be summoned before the probate court
to give reasons, if any exist, why this will
be not admitted to probate as the honest
instrument of Morgan Vandible's hand.
At that time your testimony will be OF the
utmost Importance.
Eyes" family.
"I believe your evidence alone will be
sufficient to break the will, but we must
have more to corroborate yours"
"How can you get more" queried Grace
~ was the only one present save the
Captain and lawyer Gripes."
.Well, we must find more evidence" de-
clared the young mechanic. Il will consult
with our mutual friend, Louis Fingal. He is
wise and keen; between US all believe we
shall be able to outwit Captain Starbright
and his scoundrelly lawyer. Circumstantial
evidence can be brought in. The forged
signature, of course. is not likely to be an
exact counterpart of Mr.. Vandible's chirog-
raphy, and that will count for good deal
We have two weeks in which to work, In
which time much can be done"
eyes," agreed Grace, with sigh. 81 wish
Lura was back here, l am so lonely In the
great house with only mother and the Cap
tain. may be foolish, but somehow have
O dread of both"
"You shall not be left to the mercy OF
either" declared Wentword. Lura VIII
come, and she is a match Tor the captain
the best day he ever saw"
1I have ALWAYS felt safe when my cousin
was here" SAID Grace. '1was quite over
powered with Joy when she returned, but
She made me promise not to reveal her
coming, as she wished to remain dead to the
world for time, the better to thwart the
plots of Captain Starbrlght, who at that
time trusted more fully than / do now"
..He is a villain without one redeeming
trait. I believe that it was he who at
tempted the life of Lura. They are bitter
foes. and he feared she would stand in his
way. The two tramps who hurled her into
Hangman's Gulch that night handled some
of Captain Starbright's money for that
work, am fully assured"
s.How terriblel" uttered Grace. ut does
not seem possible that one so apparently
kind, so elegant in manners, could De SO
deeply wicked"
! perhaps you still doubta"
81 confess to incredulity to certain ex-
tent. I can not believe that Clinton Star
bright would stoop to murder. 1t seems
too horrible for belief"
ssTime viii tell,n answered the young
mechanic. 81 have learned enough to
satisfy me that no crime is too vile for this
adventurer. BY breaking the will and ex.
posing the villainy Of Starbright we throw
every thing into your mothers hands, but
there seems to be no other way"