The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1890-12-19
THE DISPUTED WILL.

LIE DlOI UlED WILL.
"There are some things the multiple
cation table can't estimate, Doctor, and
/ calculate this case is one of them"
The speaker was a Texan alcalde of
half a century ago, a man with a grave,
handsome face. and one of those gigan-
tic antediluvian figures only found in
the bracing atmosphere of the prairie,
or the lush freedom of the woods.
THE senOrtt0 will help you to a fair
settlement; she knows her own mind.
Santa Jose! few women know as much"
The doctor gave his opinion decided
ly. and in very good English. albeit his
small. yellow person and courtly, dig
nified manner fully proclaimed his
Mexican lineage. Then he calmly
helped himself to an olive and a glass
of chambertin, and watched the alcaide
as he smoked, and waited for the ex-
pected ayuntanaicato, or jury.
In half an hour, the twelve men had
dropped in by twos and threes. nodded
coolly to the aicGide, and helped them
selves to the liquors and cigars on the
sideboard. Now and then, they spoke
in monosyllables; and the composure.
gravity. and utter absence of hurry
gave a kind of dignified. patriarchal
earnestness to the proceedings that
were eminently American, and which
quite made up for the lack of ceremo-
ny.
After a lapse of five minutes, the
alcalde touched a little bell, and said TO
the negro who answered it:
Zip, tell the gentlemen we are
waiting, and send lamar for Miss
Mary"
THE gentlemen" who were sitting
under a gigantic arbor-vita oak in the
garden. in close conversation, rose at
lips message, and sauntered slowly
into the presence of the dlcaide, who
nodded rather stiffiy to them. and mo-
toned toward two chairs. They were
evidently men of culture. and brothers;
some of the jurors leaned toward them
with courteous ~salutations, others SIM
ply ignored their presence.
But every ones interest was aroused
when the doctor, hearing a footstep,
rose. opened the door. and offered his
hand to n lady who entered. A calm
browed roman with large, steadfast
eyes-a woman who it was easy to see
could be a law unto herself.
she looked inquiringly at the two
gentlemen. who were evidently her
brothers, but finding no response to the
unuttered love in her pleading eyes,
dropped them, and calmly took the
seat her friend led her to.
There was another pause; then the
alcatde laid down his cigar, and said:
Mem"
squirrel"
1--WE have got a little business to set
tie between David and George Forsyth
and their sister Mary. You are to judge
fairly between them. and they are WAL
ing to stand by what you say. | cal
culate they'll explain their w bust
ness best. David Forsyth, will you
speak for your side?"
David was Il keen, shrewd lawyer,
aud knew how to state his case very
piausibly. He said that his father, IN
duly influenced by Doctor Zavala-who
had designs on their sisters hand-had
left, not only the homestead, but thirty
thousand dollars in gold, to Mary
Forsyth, and that they claimed their
share of the money.
The men listened gravely, with keen,
sidelong glances. When he had fin
ished. one of them said:
Very good, stranger; now, what do
you mean by 'unduly i~ntiuenced?"
Il mean that this Mexican passed
whole days with my father, reading to
him. talking to him. and in other ways
winning his affection. in order to infiu-
ence him in the making of his will"
How much did old Forsyth leave
Doctor Zavala?"
He left him personally nothing,
but"
''oh!"-thc men nodded gravely at
one another.
But said David, angrily, she had
n deeper scheme than that. He in
duced my father to turn everything but
his homestead into money. and to place
the whole sum in the San Antonio Bank
to Mary's credit. We have no objec-
, tons to Mary having her share, but
we do not see why our share should go
10 that Mexican whom she intends to
marry
The doctor smiled sarcastically, and
Mary bllshing with Indignation, half
rose as if to speak, but a slight move
ment OF Zarala's eyelids was sufficient
to check the impulse.
Then Mary Forsyth isgoing to mar
r. Doctor Zavala?r
'-0f course. she is"
And you are willing that she should
have the homestead and ten thousand
dollars?o
I'VE are willing she should have the
use of the homestead for a moderate
rent. We are not willing to give up
all claim to it. Why, there are two
hundred acres of the finest cotton land
in the world that go with it. If she
had the entire right to the homestead.
she ought to give up the money"
..Mr. George Forsyth, what have you
to say?"
My brother David has spoken for
me-
Then there was a pause. The pro-
curador stepped to the sideboard, and
GIled his glass; several of the Jury fol-