The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1893-01-28
THE MISSING WILL.

"It's q very mysterious business" said
Lawyer Simpkins, rubbing his nose and
adjusting his spectscles. "Hiram Green
sent for me 10 days before he died end
gave me his bonds and securities 70 drsv
the July interest for him. / put them oil
back in the tin box myself. and be counted
and examined them. II day hs died
he tried to tell ne something about Jeify
and that box. Jerry-tin box-aal in
the box-Jerry,' was about ~ ! could
make out"
"Apd the tin box was stolsp." said Tom.
the lawyers son and partner.
"Well it has disappeared. If It was
stolen it is of prscions littlA use to the
thief. Every paper in it could be traced,
Trust old Hiram Green to look out for
that"
'What was It worths"
ITO lawful owner about 10000"
It was just three days before his uncle
died that Jerry learned that Hiram Green
had left his entire property to Jacob, al
ready the richest man ct Rye Hill,
When his last illness attacked the old
man it was to Jerry he turned Tor the
affections Jacobs harder nature could
not make acceptable. It was Jerry and
Sally who nursed the invalid day and
night with faithful unweasied care, and
1t was with bitter sense of wrong that
Jerry knew himself to be disinherited.
Still the mans gentle nature overruled
his anger, and the last three days Of Hi
ram Green's life were Is tendsriy nursed
~ If Jerry knew himself to be his sole
heir.
But afterward the whole nature of the
man seemed changed. Knowing the SYM
patty Of the people about him was with
him he was meyer weary of telling Of his
wrongs, and he made no secret Of his de-
light at the disappearance Of the tin box
and the large slice of property it con-
tanned.
A year passed away, and then all Rye
Hill knew that Jerry Green lay i'll with
fever, and the doctor had given him up.
Very sick, indeed he was. and Sally was
heartbfoken when one day he whispered
q request to see Lawyer Simpkins alone.
Seeing lawyer seemed to poor Sally q
death warrant, though Jerry had no for
tune to will away.
Wondering, but ready to humor the
within of dying man, the lawyer an
swered the summons at once.
"Mr. Simpkins, will you promise to
keep secret what l tell you nows" Jerry
asked in hoarse whisper.
"Certainly will; lawyers have to do
that every day." ~
"Then will tell you where Uncle Hi
rams tin box is. You have the key.
"Yes, but-Jerry Green, don't tell me
you are the thief"
II did not take it away, but was half
mad, ! do believe, and ] wanted to spite
Jacob. So I buried 1t under the porch
steps. l never opened it. Everything is
there, and 1 suppose Jacob might as we'll
have it now"
"Ill keep your secret, Jerry, for be-
lieve you when you say you were half
mad"
Great was the excitement at Rye Hill
when it became known that Lawyer 6imp-
kins had had = communication from the
party who had stolen the tin box, con.
Tossing the theft and revealing the hiding
place. There was . group of half the
people of the village in front of Jacob
Green's porch when Jerrys carpenter
work was torn away, and the earth that
covered the buried treasure removed.
Lawyer simpkips took small key from
bis pocket.
"Stop q moment" he said, as Jacob
Green was about to take the box. "As
executor of Hiram Green's estate, l must
open this box and see if the contents are
all right"
There was sudden catching of breath
audible as the lid of the box tell back.
On top was an open paper, and Lawyer
Simpkins read aloud:
I, Hiram Green, do give and bequeath
this box and all that it contains to Sarah,
wife of my nephew, jeremiah Green, /
leave it to her As token of my love for
both, and because / think she will he
more careful of 1t than my nephew. And
] do ask of my lawyer. Robert Sinpkins,
that he do see my wish carried out, and
give to Sarah his advice about investing
the money. HIRAM GREEN.
There was one moment Of intense ST.
lence and then cheer rent the air. Every
man there was glad that the misery,
grasping Jacob Green was disappointed,
and every man rejoiced for Jerry and
Sally.
But the sick man was humble - child
when the lawyer told him the news. He
did not die, nor did anyone but Lawyer
Simpkins over guess his secret, but he
was q broken, prematurely aged man,
creeping humbly about, and living on The
income his wife drew from the contents
of the tin box, which he had hidden for
spite, and by 20 doing overreached him
self.
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