Waterbury evening Democrat., 1891-02-19
CHAPTER xxrv.
A SHOT FROM AMBusE

have come between us, AUSTIN" SAID
Grace, as she leaned confidingly against his
shoulder and glanced up into his brave,
dark eyes.
There is perfect trust now, darling"
returned the young mechanic. II was to
blame entirely"
She stopped his lips with soft hand.
tsNot q word like that, Austin. l know
that I was hasty as well. Let it pass.
have other troubles now"
"Other troubles, dear?"
"About poor grandpa's will"
''But why should that trouble you,
Gracea He left every thing to you, under
stand"
"True, but"
'tWell?' as she hesitated and dropped
her honest gaze from his face, 81 am afraid
the will is not genuine"
''Not genuines What do You mean Im
sure I've heard your grandfather say o
score of times, if l have once, that you
would have all his property when he was
gone"
II know, and believe that such was his
intention" said Grace, in an unsteady
voice, ''but-but he did not live to sign the
will"
.Who tells you this2' demanded the
young mechanic, hotly. sit is a scheme to
deprive you of your rights, Grace, and you
must not submit to it"
Why was he so earnest2 Was it possible
that sordid motive influenced him after
ala Grace permitted this thought to mar
her happiness for a moment only, then she
cast it from her as an unworthy reflection
on the character of her noble lover.
81 have seen my grandfather's will,
Austin, and do not doubt but what it con-
tains his true intentions" returned the
girl, after moments reflection; ''yet even
if all is right, l could not live up to the con-
ditions, should prefer death sooner"
"What are the conditionsr
'That become the wife of Clinton Star
! bright"
"Impossibler'
at is true"
'Who showed this to you?'
"Lawyer Gripes read it, and have no
reason to dispute the contents of the docu-
ment."
"Then the will is false, would be willing
to swear to that" declared the young
man, Indignantly. ''This Starbright is at
| the bottom of a tremendous scheme. can
not believe that old Mr.. Vandible could
lend himself to such wicl1edness if in his
right mind"
"Great influence must have been brought
| to bear if he did agree to that" said Grace
tin any event 1 shall renounce the fort
une."
'1f the will holds good, who inherits,
| with your refusal to marry the Captainl'
''Mr. Starbright."
'Tthought so. You may depend upon 1T
that it is u put up job that must not be per-
united to succeed / do not believe Morgan
| Vandible ever signed such paper as that
knowingly
HE did not, am sure of that" asserted
Grace
"Then the document is forgery"
! 81 fear sou
Grace then related the incidents of the
night when her grandfather died. when she
rushed into the room, thinking she heard
him calling, only to find that he was dead,
and the will, just drawn up for his sigma
ture, lay before his sightless eyes I'M
| signed.
"Whatever had been the intention of
grandfather he certainly did not live to
place his signature to the WILL" concluded
! Grace, in a voice husky with the intensity
! of her emotions.
cit is a clear case of the basest rascality ~
exclaimed Austin Wentword. ITO me it
seems evident that Captain Starbright and
his lawyer have plotted to throw the million
left by your grandfather into the hands of
the former. No doubt Starbright would be
willing for you to RET use to marry him, for
then the vast fortune would fall entirely
into his hands. 1t is barefaced scheme that
can be easily frustrated"
! "It must be. Within two weeks the heirs
will be summoned before the probate court
to give reasons, if any exist, why this will
be not admitted to probate as the honest
At that time your testimony will be of the
utmost Importance.
| "Yes," family.
81 believe your evidence alone will be
sufficient to break the will, but we must
nave more to corroborate yours"
"How can you get MORE" queried Grace.
81 was the only one present save the
Captain and lawyer Gripes."
''Wel, we must find more evidence" de.
clared the young mechanic. ~ will consult
with our mutual friend, Louis Fingal. He is
wise and keen between US all believe we
shall be able to outwit Captain Starbright
and his scoundrelly lawyer. Circumstantial
evidence can be brought in. The forged
signature, of course. is not likely to be an
exact counterpart of Mr.. Vandible's chirog-
raphy, and that will count for good deal.
We have two weeks in which to work, il
which time much can be done"
"Yes," agreed Grace, with sigh. 81 wisl
Lura was back here,1 am so lonely in the
great house with only mother and the Cap
tain. may be foolish, but somehow have
q dread of both"
"You shall not be left to the mercy o.
either" declared Wentword. "Lura will
come, and she is a match for the Captain
the best day he ever saw"
81 have always felt safe when my cousin
was here" said Grace. "Iwas quite over
powered with joy when she returned, bu
she made me promise not to reveal he
coming, as she wished to remain dead to thu
world for time, the better to thwart the
plots of Captain Starbright, who at tina
time trusted more fully than I do now"
HE is villain without one redeemln:
trait. 1 believe that it was he who at
? tempted the life of Lura. They are bite
foes, and he feared she would stand in hi
way. The two tramps who hurled her int
Hangman's Gulch that night handled som
of Captain Starbright's money for tina
work, am fully assured"
SHOW terrible" uttered Grace. at doe
not seem possible that one so apparently
kind, so elegant in manners, could be s
Q deeply wicked"
( perhaps you still doubt9"