Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1890-02-13

There " Is nOb 80 nara 10 ole now,
whispered the dying man. Il feel that
cannot live until Jack could be sent
tor; but l want YOU, Robert, to go to
him this very night and tell him that
my heart was not steeleu against him
to the end. Tell him of the will
which"
Isaac Rawson ceased speaking and
lay motionless lie was dead.
X X
1t is not midnight when Robert steps
aboard tram that will take him to the
city where his brother, Jack, lives for
has not his father with his dying breath
told him t. 80 to his brother this very
night? Who would fail to respect the
last wishes OF one now dead? Surely
not 4 son.
The city where Jack liyes is not far
distant; but there Is Il river to CT oss on
the way. AS the train rumbles sloHly
across the bridge, Robert pauses in the
task of trimming his finger nails in
which he is apparently deeply engross-
ed, and looks out of the window down
upon the dark waters below IN which
the stars, reflected, CLEAN.
A thought comes to him, which
though spontaneous IN itself is but the
elimination of what has been passing
in his mind ever since his fathers
death.
He takes from his breast pocket a
folded paper on which the writing is
but few hours old. This he wraps
about the handle of the knife he holds
III his hand. Then he shuts the blade
so that the paper is held firmly. With
IA careless movement he lays the hand
holding the knife upon the edge of the
window. When he withdraws the hand
Il moment later 1t Is empty. The knife
is a heavy one and vii! 90 straight to
the bottom, and with it the paper wrap
ped about it. The waters often give up
their dead, bat inanimate objects of
value they hold within their depths.
4
1t is Il week later. The will Of Isaac
Rawson is to be read in the presence of
those interested. 1t is a mere fOrmality
of course for other than his two sons
the testator left no kin. The sons both
know what they will hear. Robert at
least knows, and Jack may surmise,and
yet who knows what may happen dur
ing the few hours that must e!apse be-
fore the will Is opened and read
"You are early. Mr.. Dew will not
be here for haitian hour yet are Rob
ert's first words to his brother Jack, as
the latter enters the house Of which
Robert already considers himself the
sole owner.
II thought 1t best to have a few
words with you before Mr. Drew ar
rives,' Is Jacks reply. Mr.. Drew Is
the lawyer to whom the necessary legal
transactions in connection with the will
have b en entrusted.
"You told me that father had said
something about Il new will lust before
he died but that none but the old one,
made fifteen years ago, could be found,
remarks Jack to his brother when they
are seated moment later. The remark
Is made with an interrogatiye infection
so that Robert feels impellel to reply.
Yes, no other will was found, though
| searched everywhere. Fathers mind
must have b1en wandering when he
spoke Of another will. -
"PoSSibIy; still you probably didn t
think o. searching in the river is
Jack $ next remark.
Robert turns pale; then the blood
surgcs back and his face becomes almost
purple. "What are you driving at !?
The words come Ike gasps.
"On(y this. On the night when you
came to tell me Of fathers death, some
young men were returning from fish
ing TIP on the river. Just as they
were passing under the bridge a missile
thrown from above struck one of them
on the back and fell to the bottom Of
the boat See, this is quite heavy
knife, and if piece Of paper hadn't
been wrapped about it, it might have
hurt the young man it struck quite Sc
yerely. The young man happens to be
an acquaintance of NINE. He thinks
that the knife was dropped by some one
on a railroad train that was crossing
the bridge iust then. Now. merely
wish to suggest that. when Mr.. Drew
comes, we give into his hands this doc
ument which fell into my friend boat,
and that we say nothing about the old