The great West. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1889-18??, 1890-12-12

# III u6AU IuOFIuuS All. MdOOOA
made his appearance very saturnine
and gloomy, and ate his breakfast
with mourntul air that was terri
bly, imp essive. Having finished, he
then took leave of his niece in q feel
ing manner.
Il am about to leave you," said
he mournfully. II am about to end
this life Of misery. / hope you may
be happy"
"Oh, don't go!'' said Lizzie. tear
fully clinging to him, and looking in
to his face pleadingly."
cts useless" said Mr.. Maddox,
firmly. "My mind is fixed, and moth
ing you can do can persuade me to
relinquish my purpose. But you, my
dear child, shall not be unprovided
for. / intend to make my will in the
few hours that are left me and you
will not be forgotten. Good.by, my
dear child, tarewell!"-and then, after
embracing his niece fervently, Mr..
Maddox rushed from the room fran
tically and securely locked himself
into his own room and began to pre-
pare himself for his last Journey.
Mine o'clock" he said to himself,
looking at his watch. "Three hours
yeti Enough to do all I have to do!
First to make my will"
The last will and testament of Mr..
Cyrus Maddox was evidently not a
long one, as it was finished in less
than an hour.
eleven o'clock!' said Mr.. Mad
dox, "and l have finished. Howslow
the time passes, to be sure! Now,
what shall | do until - O'Clock, forI
am determined not to die until
nOOn'-
A knock at the door.
"Go away!' cried Mr.. Maddox,
angrily. You can't come in"
II am very sorry to disagree with
you," said voice outside the door,
"but l can come in. I have a du-
plicate key here, and ifyou don't open
the door l will"
Mr.. Maddox rose and unlocked the
door savagely, and Mr.. Guy Cheev-
ers stalked into the room, carrying
All oblong box under his arm.
He placed the box on the table
and then took a seat opposite Mr..
Maddox and stared blank y at him.
"What do you want?" asked Mr..
Maddox, fiercely. Don't you see I
am engaged?"
ooh, I know" said Guy, "what
are you about to do? Don't think
that / am going to interfere-not at
all. But before you make your
quietus wish to ask you a few ques-
tions. Have you provided for your
niece's future welfare?"
"What's that to your"
considerable. l am about to
marry Miss Silver; so her interests
are naturally mine."
'"Then she is provided for-amply."
''Thank you for your information.
Very glad to hear it. And now ex-
cause the apparent impertinence of
the question. but where is your will?"
"Here,' said Mr. Maddox, laying
his hand on it.
Suppose you give it to me to take
care of"
"Give it to you! Why, pray?"
cit might become misplaced" ex-
planned Guy.
"I'll keep it myself" said Mr..
Maddox, roughly.
'Then just leave memorandum
on the table," said Guy, earnestly,
Ito tell where is. It'llsave trouble,
Perhaps"
"Get out!" cried Mr.. Maddox, on
grily.
"Ah, 1 see," said Mr.. Cheevers,
coolly; Gin a hurry to begin. Well,
I won't detain you; but have a lit
tie suggestion to Offer"
"WeIl," said Mr.. Maddox, impa-
tiently.
sit is this" said Guy. "Miss Sill
yer informs me that you have made
several previous efforts to cut short
your trouble and your breath, and
always unsuccessfully. Now itseems
to me you don't go the right way
about it. This box" and here he
opened the box before alluded to
contains several little plans that 1
think might please you. Here's one,"
and he showed a little steel instru-
ment.
whats that?" asked Mr.. Maddox,
curiously.
"This." said Guy, sis an article
that you can place around your neck
like a collar, then, by striking your
hand on the left side of your neck,
sharp spike is driven right into your
jugular vein-''
"But that would kill mel" said Mr..
Maddox, staring.
"Well, amt that what you want?"
demanded Guy, sternly. "Nows
here's another" he went on. "Here's
a wheel, you observe; you pass thit
band around your neck, pass ir
around the wheel and give it two off
three turns-then let go. The re-
coil will twist your head almost co,
vOur ahOnlders-kill yOu To a re-