Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1893-06-01
CHAPTER vIII.-CoNrrNUED.


'sIn the first place. he began, looking
Ut her so steadily and keenly, with such
strange attentiveness, that her eyes fell,
she scarcely knew why, s'this document
purporting to be the last will and testa-
ment of Mrs. Jane Dunkirk was repre-
sented to be, and in truth did appear to
be, in the handwriting of James Ker-
nan, Esq, now deceased, but formerly
prominent New York lawyer. 1t was
i1evidence, and not disputed at all, that
the late Mr.. Herman was for several
years-a period embracing the date of
this wiil-Mrs. Dunkirk's attorney, and,
naturally, the person to whom she
would intrust the drawing of this docu-
ment- So far, very good. There is a
fair degree of FEASIBILITY for us, just
on the surface. But unfortunately
competent evidence was produced by
Hunter and Ketchum, showing that on
or about the 10Th of July, which is the
date of our will, you know, and for a
certain time previous and subsequent to
that date, the late Mr.. Herman was in
Europe, and therefore he could not have
had any active personal share in this or
any other transaction of like nature
that may have occurred in New York
during that time. In short, they proved,
by the utter impossibility Of the thing,
that the late Mr.. Herman did not draw
that will, all our representations to that
effect Notwithstanding! There, you
perceive, is their first point, as clear as
MONDAY; it is something that we can
not possibly controvert."
''Can it be possible!" exclaimed Mrs.
Maynard, looking up at him with the
words. ''They proved, did you say, Mr..
North, proved that Mr.. Herman was in
Europe as early as the 10th of July?"
''They proved it, Mrs. Maynard, in
black and white; proved it by his own
unconscious testimony; proved it, re-
greet to add, beyond a peradventure or a
shadow of doubt"
"Oh," she cried impulsively, with a
quick disdainful little gesture, ''to
think, Mr.. North, that we should have
failed to detect so fatal discrepancy
as THAR
s'It is amazing" assented North dry
". ''Nor is this all. You see, the fault
lies primarily in that date. In the sec
ond place, one of the witnesses-let me
see, what was his name?" He threw
his head back refectively, and the sharp,
gray eyes swept the frescoed ceiling for
an instant.
ssWas it Norristown?" suggested Mrs.
Maynard, family, as she twined the
slender glittering links of her watch
chain around her finger, in a preoccu-
pied way.
SIT was Norristown, thank your The
sharp gray eyes returned with the words
to Mrs. Maynard's face. 'Well, then,
it was shown conclusively that Norris
town died exactly ten days previous to
the date of the will ian unquestionable
alibi, by the wayD which important
fact, in the Judgment of the court, rem
dered all his subsequent proceedings
invalid, at least within that jurisdic-
ton"
sNorristown is dead?'' echoed Mrs.
Maynard, with quick change of color.
Then she added, in tone of tragical
despair:
81 perceive that you are right, Mr..
North; shred by shred the unsubstan-
tlal fabric is going to tatters! What
next?"
Next" pursued North, with a rather
inexplicable smile, 1--WE come to the dis
closures made by the experts. The
whole affair, you see, has been merci-
lessly sifted. Hunter and Ketchum are
unrelenting."
''Unprincipled! Mercenary!" cried
Mrs. Maynard, with sudden little flash
of resentment. "All that they wish is
to secure for themselves handsome fees
from the estate''
"Oh, possibly" returned North, with
indolent amusement. Nevertheless,
my dear Mrs. Maynard, whatever their