The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-12-21

and it is only question Of a few months
now before he will cut you off. Confound
it, sir. / say, do you imagine that Col.
Scott would ever begrudge his son.in-la law a
him on rations? Col. Scott will treat you
| exactly as he treated me. He hates you
| now; he will hate you worse yet. Be ad-
vised, make hay while the sun shines.'
Icould not help recalling my late quarrel
and wondering If. after ali. there was not
some truth in the statement.
but this new WILL" l said. "What
foundation have you for saying such doc
| ument exists?"
Once more the change began to be per-
ceptible in my companion's features. It
seemed as though some terrible mental eff
fort, augmented by spasm OF violent pas
sion, was shaking his entire frame.
Look here" he whispered; this bag
| contains the secret of my life. Of yours, and
of his. One drop of this" taking out a
| small phial containing what seemed to be
an amber colored fluid, twill tell me any
thing 1 want to know. If that viii exist il
| is here III this house, perhaps"
Hastily drawing the cork he poured one
drop into the glass of Madeira at his elbow,
| and swallowing it, seemed to compose him
| self for a nap. Suddenly, however, he
| arose and crossing the room walked direct
ly over to small cabinet where all my
| father-in-law's bills. papers, and private
correspondence usually were kept, insert
| ing a key which he produced from his own
pocket. bnt to which the lock readily WELD
| ed. He soon returned with bundle of
papers from which with dry chuckle he
selected one and handed it to me for in
spection. There, sure enough, was a will
which, inasmuch as it was only dated this
| morning and was inscribed AZ his last will
and testament, left no room for question
ing its validity. This strange document
beaueathed all his property to his grand.
lands, etc., paltry $1,000 a year being left
to my wife aud self. The lawyers who
| were also appointed guardians of the prop
erty, being alone authorized to see that the
child was properly fed, clothed, educated,
etc. Such document seemed impossible,
duly attested.
"But surely" cried, "this cannot hold
good. 1t is vile imposition, a fraud" and
made the motion with every intention of
throwing tho document into the fire.
Hold, hold, my young FRIEND not SO
fast. l have a surer method than even
that, but you must assist me-; and taking
the papers he again crossed the room and
deposited them in the desk, locking it up
as before.
''What would you PROPOSE 1 said,
eagerly.
fold my plans. In the first place we must,
or rather you must-for it is the same
thing-make him revoke the will"
But how. You know my father in laws
determination. You might as we'll try to
shake rock"
Easily enough. When in Germany, at
the cost of my own life, procured this pre-
clous elixir. 1t has several properties ac-
cording to the amount administered. One
drop will, as you see, reveal a secret; two
drops administered to the strongest man
renders him absolutely snbservient to your
will: three drops will transform you into
another person and give you their features,
their shape. their mental capacity; five
drops will kill. For instance, watch me close.
!!y;' and again selzing the pnial and POUR
added the contents of paper, seemingly
little white powder, and then drank it off
at draught. In few seconds
the change became apparent, slowly
the features began to relax. the SINISTER
smile vanished, but the selfish and egotisti-
cal look was still apparent. The hair grew
longer and assumed a rich brown, the eyes
seemed to start from their sockets, but set-
thing back again every wrinkle disappeared
the figure twisting and turning like snake
quickly took the form of a man of about
my age and rs the eyes opened and the
features relaxed, gazed upon myself.
The perspiration WAS streaming down
my face, my knees were shaking, and nv
hair seemed to stand on end, but my second
self appeared perfectly calm and uncon-
fear shrieked aloud, but warning ges-
ture seemed to command silence. And then
slowly the Reconsideration began, and
once more NY former companion sat smil-
ing before me. What surprised me during
the transformation and while my second