The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1890-04-17

secret drawers which he had failed to discover.
There was no other place left in the room
whore Mr.. Monkton would be likely to keep
the will, that he could see. Could IL by any
chance DO in his room up stairs? If il was not
discovered there. the conclusion seemed inevi-
tRble-that the will was lost.
CHAPTER II.
Has Mrs. Crawford gene up stairs TO her
room yet2' 1t was Mr.. Barnett who spoke.
"No, Sir"
Would you tell her. please, wish to SEQ her
here in the library"
The servant departed, and in n short time
Mrs Crawford made her appearance. 1t was
now Monday evening, and on the morrow the
funeral OF Mr.. Monkton would take place. As
yet the missing will had not been found, nj
though every likely and unlikely place had
been searched, with the exception of the book
cases in the library, which Mr.. Barnett was
now engaged in examining. He had not up to
this time mentioned to anyone the fact of the
will having disappeared. But for alarming
Miss Ashley he would have taken her into his
confidence.
Sit down, Mrs Crawford" he sad address
ing that lady. "Closo the door, please; do
not want anyone to hear what / am going TO
say"
Dear me; hope there's nothing wrong"
said She - was just thinking o going to my
bed. Miss Ashley is away up stairs TO hers, and
Henry Monkton TO his. What was it yo were
wanting?"
will tell you directly. Has Miss Ashley
said nothing to you about Mr.. Monkton's will n
"No; and didna like TO speak o. it to her;
but yen ken all about it?"
Henry Monkton has not spoken about 1t
either, has her"
Not to me; but couldna hae told him
onythng about IL. dnna think he has men,
nd 10 al Ia "a h. a.. II
In case he hears that he's no to comein for ouy-
thing. He'll be wanting to keep on hoping as
lang's be can"
The solicitor could not Tepress n smile Mt this
last sentence. :" / will toll you why | sent for
you, Mrs. Crawford. suppose you are not par.
ticular whether you get TO bed for an hour or
two YETI"
"Oh, no. If yo'ro wanting me, can bdo up
brawly."
a. want you to give me a hand in looking
through these bookcases. i have had some Of
the books down already. The fact lis, Mrs.
Crawford, can't find Mr, honkton's will aud
] have searched every place that can think OF.
know he used TO keep Il In this ROOM"
mercy on usl The idea o. that Gamma find
the will Where can il haze game, think We "
Z" only wish knew. Ii should be produced
and read at the funeral tomorrow. II don't
find it, will have TO read from the draft; but
Henry Monkton will probably demand the pro-
duction of the principal. IL will be a fortunate
thing for bin If 1t cannot be got"
lay, / daresay; but VIC maunna let that
happen. Miss Ashley ID left something In il,
hope?"
"sho Is left everything, with the exception
Of some small cgacies TO the servants and an
annuity 10 his brother sufficient 10 keep him
above want. You are remembered In it also.
But If the will is not found, Henry M0nkt0n
Will take everything, rs his brothers. sole heir !"
"Will be, the vagabOndl / wad be yexod TO
sect Tell me what TO do aud we'll begin nj
aimee"
well, we will take down these books one
by one aud zee if the will Is not by acct.
dent between the leaves Of one of them, or it
may even be at the back of the bookcase"
There was silence in tho room for q consider
able time while tho search went on. Eleven
O'Clock struck. They were the only two awake
in that large house Dir. Barnett was the FIRST
to speak.
"Did Henry Monkton tell you that his
! brother and he were on friendly terms before
| the death happened1" hc inquired 81 He says
| he met him last Tuesday in town, and that they
| spoke to each other; but can't believe it,"
| This Is the first time I've heard o. that
| but I've spoken TO Henry Monktoa as little as
| j could"
81 asked Miss Ashley IL Mr.. Monkton had
mentioned 1t 20 her, and she said he had not
lie would surely have told her If it had been
the case"
Its as likely to be lie as no. ! wadna
trust that Henry Monktcn mac faror than
could sec him. Bat what's this inside O. this
big boOkf It's the will, do believed"
hr Barnett dropped the book he held and
crossed the room TO the side Of Mrs. Craw ford
" 1t is the will" lie cried joyfulIy. "ThanL
PrOvidencel ! was afraid 1t was lost alto
gether. ought 10 have had you TO help IN,
sooner, see. You have been more fortunat,
than j."
Last VIII aud Testament Of George Monk
ton, dated 9th April, 1881 - read Mr. Barnet
from the back Of the document. at mus
have got IN there just as ! supposed" liz
opened out the viii aud glanced hurriedIy Owe
IL, and as lie did so the expression Of his face
changed. There IL some mistake here. Th
is not tho will meant. This one was rcvOket
by another executed some months later; il
August instead OF April, now that remember
but 10 the same year. This should have beet
destroyed long ago. thought Mr.. MOnktoi
bad burned it,"
"And what's the difference between ihat on
and the other oue2" asked Mrs. Crawford, 40
a little disappointed at hearing the Will fount
was not the one sought for
The lcgacies TO you and to the servants ar
the same. The difference is that Miss Ashley
instead Of getting the remainder, gets only one
third. His brother succeeds 10 the other two
ms wlil wac drawn out and signed prior l.
the quarrel between tho brothers. Tho one
want was executed after that time"
" would be very sick sorry TO see him ge
onything ava, much less two-thirds We ha
fand ae will at 0nyrate The other may not b
far aft. Wen finish what we're at | reckon
IL that will for nae use at az"
:" In the event Of us not finding the other,
will be. 1t contains a provision for Miss Ash
ley, which is one good thing. If there was n
will, she would get nothing. If the other
not forthcoming we must act on this one"
"Do ye think Alr. Monkton would ken
that will being inside the book2"
: No; don't think he would. That boo
) does not seem 10 have been disturbed for Ion
time. lie must have thought he had destroye
It, But yet" The solicitor stopped shol
S in his speech as a sudden thought struck hin
s If il be true that his brother and no had b.
/ come friendly again, he may have burned Ill
G last will, intending to make u new one or h
/; might be aware Of the existence Of this on
i which would do perfectly we'll" he said. II