Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1895-10-19
CHAPTER ".


Tho Eastward Ho was n hint of n
project we had frequently talked over as
- possible speculation. Here we see how
men arc led on step by step from bad to
worse when once they set out on the
Primrose Way.
We resolved to tell Irving in a gen
cral way that we were going To Europe
to make some money and would pay
him and his two fellows their percent
age. Then we coult. apparently work
with IMMUNITY, for IF course IL we CON-
mitted forgery in Europe and we're
recognized as Amcr!cans-as probably
we would bc-tho for.i9n police would
report the case to the New York police
that is, to- Irving.
Edwin James and Brca had dropped
out Of our lives for good, but as my
readers will be curious to know of their
fate in after times will relate it in
this chapter
The $4,000 We gave James cased up
matters Tor 0me. Practice he had
none, but mara:cd to hold ON in the
hope Of realizing on the Brea will mat
ter, but getting; deeper and deeper in
debt. Brca helped him all he could, as
his presence was essential il the old lady
departed and TIE forged will was pro-
duced. One night, four years later,
Brea's mother-in-law had u more than
usually furious outbreak Of temper and
fell to beating the three daughters still
living with her. Before it was over she
had attacked and seriously injured the
eldest, and then flew to her room in
passion. Not appearing ut breakfast the
next morning her daughter went to her
room, but she was not there and tho
he'd was undisturbed. Going to the
room thai served for Office and library,
they found the door rs usual locked
Bursting it open tho poor old maids
found their mother huddled in u corner
Of the room dead.
The genuine will was destroyed, and
the family lawyer, James, Immediately
after the funeral produced and read
"thc last will and testament" Of the
dead woman. Tho four sisters and
host Of poor relations were present mt
the reading. When Sarah, Brca's wife,
heard her name read rs chief heir Of
tho vast estate, she was stunned, but if
sho was stunned the rest of the family
were paralyzed. Legacics were left to
many, small in amount, save in the case
Of the other three sisters. who were TO
have u certain tenement and land in
Harlem and $4,000 u year for life out
of the estate. None Of those present
thought for u moment Of questioning
either the commences of the will or the
validity of tho tcstamcLts save only u
poor relation, u nephew, whose name
was down for $500. He was indignan:
with the old lady and loudly declared
that he would not put up with it. The
next day he employed n bricfless lawyer,
one that had wit and brass enough and
who had his way tn make in the world
and was determined to make it.
Without waiting for the will to he
probatcd or having legal authority to
do so Brca and his wife. the very day
after the funeral. moved into the house
and took possession. But before the
week was out he had persuaded the
three old maids that they would be- hap
pier If away from the scene Of their par
ent's death. 81 he had them installed in
their own house ut Harlem, lie remain
ing III un,iisturbed possession, waiting
only for the will tn bc probated in order
tn takoposscssion If upward Of 5000, 900
IN cash and bonds still i'm the custody Of
the old lady's bank. He had full poe'ses-
SION "f the house, and with entire conf
dencc waited to- 10 put in legal possess
sion Of all
But httlo did he dream that ut that
moment there was one poor torn sheet Of
fooiscap IN the library. casually thrust in
book. lying completely at his mercy to
destroy If he could only have known it.
which was going to tear all his wealth
from his grasp and drive him forth a
fooled plottC- tn become an aiyonturer
and ultimately to perish miserable
outcast.
Brca then attempted negotiations with
the attorney. Cautious a. he was. he
said enough to convince the law-or that
fer some reason he did not want @ case
tn come before the courts. Still the at
torney was half inclined tn join hands
with Brea In the meantime Ezra (tbis
was the name of the man Of law had
acquired great power Ger the sisters,
and they all looked to him both rs
champion and protector. He resolved to
be Protector to one ut lessst, paying as
siduous court to Jane, the youngest Al
though past 30, and without education
or accomplishments, she was warm
hearted and extremely sentimental. and