Mohave County miner., 1890-12-06
THE DISPUTED WILL.

lhere are some things the multipli-
cation table can't estimate. Doctor, and
lealeulate this case. is one of them.r
The speaker was Texan dicalde OF
half q century ago.a man with gtaye.
handsome face, and Que OF those gigan-
tic aniediluyian figures only found in
tiie brsselng atmosphere Of The prairie,
or the lush freedom Of the woods.
The sen0rita will help YOU 10 fair
settlement; she knows her own mind.
Sagaa Jose !. few women know as msch. -
The doctor gave his opinion decided
~. aud in very good English. albeit his
small. yellow person and courtly. Dig
nliied manner fully proclaimed his
Mexican lineage. Then he calmly
helped himself to an olive and a glass
OF chambertin. and watched the a2saide
as he smoked. and waited for the ex-
pected ayuntanlie1tO. or Jury.
Ia half an hour. the twelve men had
dropped in By twos and thrses, nodded
coolly 10 the aycalde, and helped fbem-
selves TO the liquors and cigars OH the
sideboard. Now aud then. they spoke
in monosyllables; and the compesure.
gravity. and utter absence OF hurry
gave kind Of dignifsd. patriarchal
earnestness to the proceedings that
we're eminently American. and which
quite made up for the lack Of ceremo-
ny.
After a lapse Of FIVE minutes. the
alcclde touched little bell. and said 10
the negro who answered II:
Zip. tell the gentlemen we are
waiting aud send lamar for Miss
Mary
The gentlemen" who we're sitting
under gigantic arbor-yita oak in the
garden. In close conversation. rose at
Zip's message. and sauntered slowly
into the presence Of the aicaide, who
nodded rather stifiiy TO them. and mo-
toned toward two chairs. They were
evidently men Of culture. and brothers;
some OF tho jurors leaned toward them
with courteous salutations, others sim
PLY ignored their presence.
But every ones interest was aroused
when the doctor. hearing footstcp.
rose. opened the door, and offered his
hand to lady who entered. A calm
browed woman with large. steadfast
eyes--a woman who IL was easy to see
could be law unto herself.
She looked inquiringly at the two
gentlemen, who were evidently her
brothers. bnt finding no response to the
uuuttered love in her pleading eyes.
dropped them. and calmly tock the
seat her friend led her to.
There was another pause; then the
aieatde laid down his cigar. and Baid:
..Menr
''Squirers
I'VE have got a little business to set
tle 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
eulate they'll explain their own busi-
ness best. David Forsyth. win yoa
speak for your sidePn
David was keen, shrewd lawyer,
and knew bow to state his case very
plausibly. BE said that his father, un-
duly influenced BY Doctor ZavaIa--who
bad designs on their sisters hand-had
left. not ouly the homestead, bur thirty
thousand dollars In gold. to Mary
Forsyth, and that thcss 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 infiuencedg'"
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 infin-
once him 10 the making Of his will" J
''How much did old Forsyth leave
Doctor Zavala?"
He left him personally nothing.
but"
''ohF-the men nodded gravely at
one another.
But" said David. angriIy, ''he had
deeper scheme than that. He in.
duced my father to turn everything but
bis homestead into money. and to place
the whole sum Ia the San Antonia Bank
10 Marv's credit. We have no objec-
ticns to Mary having her share. but
we do not see why our share should 20
10 thai Mexican whom she intends to
mnrryn
The doctor smiled sarcastically. and
Mary blrshing with Indignation, half
rose as If to speak. but slight move
ment Of Zavala's eyelids was sufficient
TO check the Impulse.
Then Mary Forsyth isgoing to mar
ry Doctor ZayaIa'"
OF course. she Is"
''And you are willing that she shonld
have the homestead and ten thousand
dolIarsP'
'We are willing she should have the
use OF the homestead for q moderate
rent. We are not willing to give up
all claim 10 IT, Why. there are two
hundred acres Of the finest cotton land
IN the world that 60 with ii. II she
had the entire right to the homestead.
she ought to give up the money.n
"Mr. George Forsyth. what have you
TO says"
MY tsosher David has spoksa for
me. ~
Then there was pause. The pro-
snrddoy stepped to the sideboard. aud
inffed his glass; several Of the jury fol-
lowed him. and the others chewed
away with silent thoughtful intentness.
Doctor Lorenzo Zavala, viii you
speak for the defendant"
The doctor turned his chair 30 as to
face both the brothers and thu jury. bnt
did not rise.
Men" he said, Il have kRown the
late David Forsyth for twenty years.
Ihaye been his physician aed been his
friend I saw bis wife die. and watched
his children grow 10 what they are.
When the gold motber left them, Mary
was twelve years old. David ten. and
George eight For her father and
brothers, Mary sacrificed all that makes
rhA @sn4tth ~, ~ I.ap xyon1An -