Iuka reporter. (Iuka, Miss.) 1888-1894, 1890-10-09

paramount importance to adjust here in
this very city, and this very day"
She looked at him wonderingly, and
he continued:
"Do you realize that the object Of
Mr.. Clifford's murder was the theft oil |
the will which establishes you as his |
heiress? That will was stolen. and |
until it is recovered you are pauper."
Her eyes began to light as he pro.
crossed. with strange. intelligent fire,
and when he ceased speaking she dc.
manded, breathlessly:
In the event of his will never being
found, to whom does my fathers for.
tune fall?"
"To his next of kin, his sisters son,
Max Boyden"
"Ah!" she exclaimed; II see it ALL
But my mother! She is living; why
should she not inherit her share?"
"That is mystery which have not
yet been able to probe. All that l
know is that she is not mentioned in
the will. Every penny is left uncondi-
tionally to YOU
Little Oracle walked slowly to the
window and for few moments stood
looking down into the quiet, sunny
street, lost in the deepest thought
Suddenly she turned, asking:
Is Mr.. Bancker still in the house? II
50, please call him; have something
to say to you both.
The detective having been quickly
summoned to the little parlor, Oracle
continued:
@My good friends, until the present
moment my lips have been sealed con-
corning the past. l see now that must
speak in justice to you both, and assist
you all can. On the night that my
poor father was murdered, murdered
by the man whom from early childhood
] had been Taught to regard as my
father-I was in the adjoining room
with the nurse, waiting my chance to
go to my father, as requested by Mr..
Edgar We had both partaken of the
drugged tea, she having taken more
than [, and half dazed from the effects
OF the drug, l was upon my knees be-
hind her chair trying to wake her, when
Nicholas Garland entered by the win
dow, and stealthily entered my fathers
chamber A dew moments later came
that terrific death-cry, followed by the
violent ringing of the bell. An instant
later Garland rushed out with several
papers crushed in his hands, and stimuli
taneously Max Boyden appeared at the
window"
MAX Boyden !" exclaimed both man
n the same breath.
eyes. He demanded money, and Gar
land handed him quantity of English
bank-notes, and telling him that he had
lad to do the fatal deed, hurried him
,ut of the window, scarcely moment
before Mr.. Edgar appeared"
"And the will?" demanded the law
yer.
II know nothing about it," replied
Oracle. Gas it has been stolen, / sup
pose it was among the papers which
Garland carried"
She paused, and for an instant an
ominous silence fell upon the group, to
be broken at last by the lawyers ex-
claiming:
"Oh, Oracle, my child! Why did you
not speak at once?"
IT believed Nicholas Garland to be
my father" she said, firmly, "and would
you expect daughter to send her father
to the scaffold?"
Lawyer Edgar looked at Detective
Bancker, and it was the latter who
spoke.
WELL" he said, though the odds
are against us, we must set to work and
do the best we can with the light we
have. The body of the man Garland
has been taken to the morgue. The
sooner Oracle identifies it, the better.
At the words the poor girl recoiled
with low cry.
Must 7 look upon him again ?" she
faltered.
ooh, yes" replied Mr.. Bancker, in
his most business-like way. ut is alb
solutely indispensable that you should
establish his identity. Besides, you
must be present when any papers that
may have been upon his body are ex-
amined."
Finding himself forced to make the
most of his opportunity, and fearing to
put her obstinacy to the test, Boyden
placed himself between the girl and the
door by which they had entered the
court, saying:
Oracle, have you thought over
what l said to you when we last met ?"
"No" came the defiant reply; II re-
member nothing you have said, nor do
wish to-
"You had better do sol" he said,
warningly.
IF this is all you have to say to me,
stand aside and let me return to my
friends, she retorted.
"Your friends" he echoed, sheer
ingly; "who are they?"
"A detective and Mr.. Cliford's law
yer from England.
"Old EDGAR"
eyes"
In the excitement of the moment
Boyden had failed to recognize the
lawyer, and his surprise was SO much
the greater.
: what is he doing in this country?'
ne demanded, excitedly.
"You must ask him, was the tanta.
lizing reply; Stand aside and let me
pass.
mol Grace Garland, warn you that
those men are playing sharp game
with you'll"
"I do NOT ha1iava ~ Rar;1ao To-