Iuka reporter. (Iuka, Miss.) 1888-1894, 1890-08-07
THE
LITTLE " All.
A Story Of Absorbing Interest.
BY BERNARD HERBERT.
CHAPTER II.
THE NIGHT MATCH.

do of the apartment and glanced about
him.
where are you?" he asked.
Here, SIR"
The guilty creature dared not trust
his features in the light OF the large
lamp, SO he remained in the shadow of
the window.
what are you doing there?"
Attending to the closing Of this
window, sir"
"Have you been alone in this room ?"
Eyes, sir"
Il thought I heard voices here?"
Mrs. Hanks, the nurse, left me five
minutes ago."
"The voices 1 heard were speaking
not one minute ago"
Impossible! You are mistaken, sir. y
He had succeeded in quelling the
shaking of his voice, though he was
white to the very lips.
Possibly am mistaken" asser,ted
the lawyer. "Now, will you do mo q
favor?"
Certainly, sir"
Go to Miss bred, the housekeem ar
and if she has not retired ask her &c
come to me for a moment upon a mat
ter of Importance.
Garland's face was study as he left
the apartment to do the lawyers bid
ding.
During the next few minutes Lawyer
Edgar gazed steadily into the fire.
1.-The thing is done" he muttered, at
last; "thank Heaven, it cannot be I'M
done! Max Boyden is cut off without
q cent. Had there been no will, he
would have inherited ala fine fortune
for that dissipated rascal; but as there
is will, he may go begging
The rustic of robe disturbed his
reverie, and he turned to confront the
housekeeper, who had entered the room,
followed by Nicholas Garland.
Hannah bred was a study of grim
ness and reserve.
A spinster of uncertain age, she al
ways dressed in simple black, and was
never known to smile. That she had
taken an instructive dislike to sunny
little Oracle Garland was but natural,
since Hannah bred was as incapable of
the sentiment called love as would be
block of ice.
I AS she approached the lawyer, Gar
land, pretending to leave by the case
ment, slipped behind some draperies,
thus effectually concealing himself from
view
"You sent for me, Mr.. Edgar?D the
woman asked.
Eyes, Miss Bred Since you are in
charge of affairs here, and 1 am obliged
RI 1.oty1r~r, 10 fo1f ~ Ioc+ ~
inform you that Mr.. Clifford has made
his will, which, duly signed and sealed
by me, has been placed in the left-hand
corner of the second drawer OF his
bureau"
And the key"
"Is beneath Mr.. Clifford's pillow"
"A fact worth Knowing" muttered
Garland; "and now to warn Boydenp
Like lynx he stole to the easement,
and let himself out unseen and unheard.
simultaneously the door upon the pass
age opened to admit little Oracle, while
of both this exit and entrance the pair
before the fire were unconscious. At
sight of them Oracle paused irresolute
upon the threshold.
81 tell you where to find the will,
Miss Dred." continued the lawyer, ain
order that you may be able to place
your hands upon it IN case of an
emergency"
Exactly and it will not be touched
until-after death occurs"
The lawyer turned to the fire to con-
ceal his genuine emotions at thought of
his clients demise, and in the pause
that ensued Oracle struggled in vain to
repress sob. At the sound Hannah
bred turned with start.
What are you doing there, girl 2"
she demanded, arrogantly; "were you
eayesdropping?"
Poor Oracle recoiled as if smitten by
a singing blow.
I!-eavesdropping" she faltered
Il see you understand what said,"
was the cutting rejoinder.
The righteous pride of queen shot
into the girls beautiful eyes.
mo, Miss Dred," she answered. AZ
was not eavesdropping.
"Then why are you here at this hour
of the night?'
Il came in the hope that / might be
of service to Mr. Clifford"
Not tonight; lean answer for that
and the woman spread out her claw
like hands before the genial blaze of
the fire.
Oracle glanced pleadingly at the
lawyer, and was surprised to notice that
he made mysterious sign to her. Full
of wonder she approached him; Mr..
Edgar also advanced few steps, and
when near enough he breathed in her
ear:
BE on hand when all have retired
"Where?n
Here, in this room"
For what purpose?"
ATo go to Mr.. Clifford; he wishes to
see you"
With ever increasing wonder Oracle
ooked inquiringly into the lawyers
ace.
Silence, " he breathed, placing his
niger upon his lips; you must do as 1
eli you. You cannot guess, and / am
4ot at liberty to tell you, how inn
'ortant this last interview may prove
Q you. DO not fail to be on the spot
Then you are summoned Go now;
Hiss bred is watching us.