Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1894-04-07
CHAPTER XVI.
CATHERINE DYKES WILL.

cr0wed to the doors.
All that can gain admission are
there. and when the young minister
tbut recently called steps to the pull
pit and begins his sermon dense silence
rcigns.
lie is preaching the funeral sermon
over the remains of Catherine Dyke,
whose sufferings are at last over, whose
peaceful face, stillcd in death, looks
almost Joyous us she lies encased in q
costly casl;et shrouded in black, COW
cred with iiowers-the outward SHOW
of mourning, the Ia t tribute to the
dead. The good man. young In years,
seemingly hardly accustomed to his
position, speaks the words usual on
occasions like this. Not dead,' but
sleeping. Gone before. A happy par
ticipant in the joys of the angels, etc, VI
and the congregation file slowly past,
each gazing upon the white, still face.
Some of them for the first time, moved
only by curiosity. doing it because
"others' do it. Others with sincere
sorrow and regret: some who will miss
the kindly face Of the good-heartcd
maiden lady
II is all over ut last. The last OF the
vast congregation have walked up one
aisle. down the other. have had their
"look," accompanied ly such remarks
as Don't she lonl; natural, or ''llow
altered. would | y - s,'a '"lv known
her." and so on. The undertaker's
assistant screws on the lid of the
casket. and IL is carried from the
chur, h by six pre,e naturally grave
men. out into the cemetery adjoining.
dust to uust, ashes to ashes" and
the crowd dispense.
DR.. Gareau is watching the inter-
ment from the door of his Office. lie
has returned TO West Chester only that
morning, but short time before. lie
shu, dcrs as he hears in.isiinctly the
thud of the & DDS of earth upon the
pine box in which the caslct has been
enclosed. Tomorrow like service
vii lie rendered the dead form in the
room above, lying cold and SIT II in the
ice box. He HIS stood beside 1t for n
short time after his return, hut the
trick ing of the water rum mr. off as
the lee melts has filed him with hor-
ror. L cshiftine has caused him UNI
mi.taliabl" dread. AMI he has gone
20 the room below, the Office, ans. Is
standing in the door TO breathe 81.
fresh summer mir. Yes, tomorrow his
patron must Uc buried. but before this
he shudders-t norc is much 10 do.
On the OPPOSITE side Of The STREET. IL
front of the church Il man j. watcl. y :
him. A man wh". to the passcr-iy,
would Seem to ne iiy gazing ut 'Ar
roo.s OF the o. este houses. VINO
slowly puifs the riggs Of smoke frc':,
his cigar mp into the morning air.
IL Is Rogrrspn. lie Is Stud. ing :H1
you"g doctor, trying Ia rea the Sd,
han some face.
'Lon't look like criminal" Is -
thought; but you cant 30 NM. ou
looks. The most lovaLic lli.ie wo'' an
/ ever saw murdered il:r. L ia. .!Ir'i..
one after the other poure.. !.i1.;ua iva;'
in their ears.
lie determines TO shadow him ali
day, gain Ambulance to his office.
ques ion him in an unob:rusivr inau-
ner. Not hard tn NJ TO do 10 gain
adnittance to the Office OF Il doctor.
Adrian Dyke drives rom the GENE
terry To the Office OF Bol!;nap. his law.
yer, also the legal pd' iser Of the 10.
ceased aunt. lie is going 10 take him
TO his residence. The will Is 10 be
read and B.lknap is to read i.
Taker is ut the ouse already. Not in
the house c.actly, bat wandering
about the groun lie fishes 10 hear
this will read. lie has been putting
in his idle time studying the
signs of burglnrious entry intc
Dykes library. The inarksarc plainly
visible The wori, has b, en- done from
the outside. lie is 5 u Ting near the
gate as the carr aye Occupied 10y
Adrian Dyke and lhc lawyer DR. YES up.
He ton hes his hat respectfully to tho
master of the houSe, mods hi, head
Gu e,cssly to the lawyer. who stares al
him supc. ciliously.
Have you accomplished anything
yet? asks Dyke in low tone.
a have outlined my plan, that's all.
l have b, en- sizing up the signs oil
the burg lary."
"Ah, well, what do you think of it2'
eagerly.
"Looks like the work Of q profcs-
sional. won't be sure"
81 wonder II he is going to invite me
in?" thinks Taker.
At The top Adrian Dyke stops and
turns 10 him.
1--WE aie going to read the will OF
my aunt who has be- N inferred this
morning. IL will probably occupy my
time for an hour. DO you wish 70 see
inc AGAIN.
"Weli. yes. would like TO speak
to you on II certain matter"
Hr AIS that the man is about Ia
defeat his plans.
~ ell, mo In, then. don't sup
pose you'll mind the y reading"
mo. not atall. | am used to legal
forms.
Not so dry for you," he thinks az
he follows the lawyer and Adrian
Dyke to the dining room, where the
will is to lie read.
Thers are q number of people pres
ent, distant relatives of the old lady,
who have come TO s, IL they have been
remembered; all of the servants, with
the exception of Mary Calder, who Is
engaged with her mistress above.
The lawyer looks about him, gazing
sharply, Almost rudely, upon the
anxious fac gathei ed around the
table. Talscr occupies . standing
position ncur the door. where he can
see all that transpires- Adrian Dyke
sits near the lawyer.
hr. Ielknap opens the green bsize
bag which he has brought with him,
and slowly takes out q legal.looking
document Then, adjusting his eye.
Elasses, and clearing his throat, he
says, looking at the stolid face OF Con.
rad Gardnrr twho Is sitting Immediate
" In front of him rs though addr'ss.
ing that gentleman, '.lf you will give
me your atient on, VIII proceed "a
read the last will and testament OF
tn. I esteemed lady, now de eased. Miss
Catherine Dyke"
Conrad mods his head. He half be.
lieycs the lawyer Is speaking TO him.
The document Is unfolded, and, in q
raspy tone. Mr.. lielkuap begins: