Waterbury evening Democrat., 1891-02-13
CHAPTER XIV. AN UNPLEASANT INTERRUPTION.

AN UNPLEASANT INTERRUPTION.
 "Gone! The will gone: If you have lost that paper, Seekmore Gripes, I'll be the death of you, cried Captain Starbright, in stern voice, in which anger and alarm were mingled.
 "The wind must have blown it out the window" returned the lawyer. "A look outside will make every thing plain sailing again.
 Procuring the lamp Mir. Gripes leaned out into the night, flashing the glow up and down the porch that ran the length of that side of the house. He saw nothing of the lost paper, and as there was scarcely movement of air, it was not likely that the document had been cast out by the wind.
 It was but n few feet from the window to the porch, and both men proceeded at once to search the premises.
 No discoveries were made, however, save that the imprint of a foot was found in the garden where the ground was soft and damp.
 The track was followed to the sidewalk, where all trace was lost.
 Somebody IS on to your tricks, Captain" said MT. Gripes, after the twain stood once more in the lawyers room.
 A black look came to the face of the dis comfited Captain.
 Ut seems evident that theft has either been committed, or else -"
 The ferret eyes of the lawyer were fixed in a keen gaze on the face of the speaker
 "Well, Captain!''
 "Or otherwise you are playing double game!'
 "Indeed! I am gentleman, sir"
 "Doubtless."
 "I have professional honor at stake, Captain Starbright. Rather than go con trary to my convictions of right, sir. would pluck out my right teye."
 An incrcdulous smile moved the tawny mustache of the Captain.
 The lawyer did not seem to be offended, however. Evidently he understood the man he was dealing with perfectly. It would be a hard matter to abraid the feelings of a man like Seekmore Gripes, who had been for more than forty years criminal de- fender of the most conscienceless type
 His class exist and prey on the public in all large towns, as the reader knows, and in giving his character an airing no offensc is meant toward that large class of honor able men who make law their calling in life.
 There was no disguising the fact that tho will was lost. Gripes knew that it was stolen, the Captain could not be sure. In any event he was puzzled and deeply chagrined.
 II do not understand it,'' finally muttered Captain Starbright. ''Who could wish to destroy the will!'
 ''That is not for me to say. Yo~ ought to be posted"
 q can think of but one who would be ben cited by such villainy," said the Captain.
 "Who is that?'
 ''Mrs. Penroy."
 Exactly"
 ''It can not be that she has had hand in thls. She hasn't the requisite nerve to do such a thing" IA weak woman, ehg' smiled the lawyer. II find them the hardest cases in my experi- ence."
 ''Then you imagine that she, that faded widow, without life enough to more than ex- ist, has compassed ten miles of space at night, watched your movements with the keen eyes of detective, and at an oppor- tune moment snatched this precious paper from your table!' '.I can't say that l do. It is for you to draw inferences."
 Do you intend to go back on me, MT. Gripes?"
 "Not if you show proper shrewdness." "What would you advise!''
 s"rhat you find that will at the earliest possible moment"
 "But that may be impossible. The one who would steal the will would not hesi- tate to destroy it.' 1 True enough" | "If the will is destroyed we lose every thing"
 "Undoubtedly'' "Mrs Penroy being the only direct Twin E heir to Morgan Vandible would inherit :, every thing. know she hates me and i she would not hesitate to -' ! ''f see, I see," interrupted Mir. Gripes. ''But you must excuse me from further con- sideration of the case tonight. It may be I necessary for you to employ detective. Ii this woman you mention is so timid and 1 weak, she would hardly dare destroy the 1 will. It may be that she will be open to compromise. Move cautiously, Captain and see her at the earliest moment. It's a bad piece of business anyhow"
 Then the little man resumed his seat al the table and turned his back on his client Ignored completely
 This move on the part of the willy lawyer did not please Captain Starbright, and he secretly resolved on revenge at some future tim 0.
 The Captain promised to call again and then departed. He had left his horse al one of the hotel stables. The distance was nearly half mile. He had proceeded but a few rods when a pedestrian brushed against him proceeding from the opposite direction | At the same moment the Captain felt 8 hand touch his. As the stranger swept on Captain Starbright felt a bit of folded pa pc in his palm. Quickly he turned about and called after the pedestrian. No answer was vouchsafed Then the Captain .hastened on until the rays of street lamp greeted his vision Under this he paused, and consulted the paper so strangely thrust into his possession
 "CLINToN SrARBRIGHT: The storm you have invoked will soon burst. I give you fair warning that you may be on the defen- sive. Nothing you can now do will save you from the gallows you have dared tc win the Vandible millions. The old million aire left will, not the one to which his name was forged-you are left out in the cold. A FORMER FRIEND"
 The,note plzzled and enraged the Captain His thoughts reverted at once to the person who had once before thrust a note of warn ing into his hand-Louis Fingal. Doubtless his hand was in thls although the penman- ship was not similar
 ssBy my sotlll' calculated Captain Star