The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1895-09-20
67e SHADOW Q
BERTH: :: = :,,,: Of a Crime.
Another pause and then:

I Another pause and then:
without my knowledge of the past
should have looked upon the hyp0-
critic as the purest of men, cgOtistical,
self-sntlicient, but l could never have
suspected him of crime. There can-
not he any mistake. the torn, half-tle
faced letter my father gave In his dy.
Ing moments was from this man. l
have compared writing and signature
since have been here. oh, no. there
is 10 mistake. only II deeper depth Of
hypocrisy than ven I, with my exrer-
fence. had dreamed off,
Again some time elapsed. dul;ng
which his lips were motionlcss and
thought went ON In silence.
What is to be done. about this
girl" lie muttered presently. II
am sorry for her; but have
never done anything. directly, to cast
suspicion on her; Misrepresentation de-
mantlcd that there should be some one
In the background should suspicion be
around; unfortunately for her circum-
stances marked her out as the person.
There Is 10 choice between her and
me. But now comes the difficulty. He
has told me to send her away IS n
test. Ii l do so. and anything happens
after she il gone. suspicion Is removed
from her and falls upon-whom? The
man who will inherit Mr.. Medlic0tt's
fortune? Not improbably. But there
must he proof, and there Gun be no
proof. Still 1t would he better there
should be no suspicion"
At this point he rose from his seat
and walked up and down the room.
II am sorry for that poor girl" he
muttcred again: "tlere is look in her
eyes mt times that reminds me of my
little sister. l wonder what became of
her? l might have inquired hut
have mover seen since revisited that
part Of the country. Ill try and find
out something about her whrn-by
AMI Ivy. He said this girl was taken
out OF Il wOrkllOusc. l always UNDER
stood she was Il poor relation of Mrs.
Mcdlicott's; as such she would have
been related to me, so 1t is better aS II
is"
Again lie dropped into his chair and
fell into & silent reverie from which
he was aroused by the church clock
tOllins midnight.
II have not yet posted up my diary"
he said. rising and going over to the
writing table from q locked drawer
In which lie took forth thick hook.
Day by day since lie first entered the
house Luke Ahersllaw had written
down In those pages n faithful account
of all that he had done and OF every
thing of Importance that had passed
between him and his employer
lie now recorded word for word the
conversation between him and Mr..
Medlic0tt. which has lecn detailed in
this chapter, and added the following
note:
IL cannot bring myself to suspect
that this gentle looking girl could he
capable of such horrible wickedncss.
How can l tell her to quit the house?
l cannot do 1t. She shall not attend
upon him again. nor go near him;
that precautiOn will he equally effica-
ciOus"
"Should any ugly suspicion over crop
up here is my Defense" he said, with
a sinister smile, as lie again locked up
the diary.
At the appointed hour the next
morning Mr.. Grey, the managing clerk
arrived. and Mr., Metllicott, who was
rather better. at once proceeded IT,
state his intentions toward Luke Abcr-
shaw, who sat OH the other side of the
table looking very picture Of quiet
humility.
"In making Mr.. Abersllaw my hoir,"
Ito said. II do no wrong to any one.
My nephew Godfrey. as my fathers
only living child. inhcrits an ample
fortune. and I have no other person
who has any positive claim upon mo.
Had Godfrcv's elder brother been liv-
ing 1t would have been different"
"Rut there was never any positive
proof of tho child's DEATH" remarked
Mr. Grey. whose colmtcnance express
! ell both establishment at. and disap-
i probation Of. his principals intentions.
at was stolen from THO nurse when
MI infant. and 10 proof of it's death
has ever come to hand. Now suppos-
ing
"Mr, Grey" interrupted Mr.. Medli-
colt, with something of his old man.
ner, this is no time nor place to dis
cuss family affairs. You will please
to execute tho will according to my d.
rections. Mr.. Abershaw will carry on
the good work have begun; II l l.,ve
cOndesccnded to offer any eXplana ion
! 1t tx because my motives shall IL, thor
Ousllly understood and never hpreaf-
ter called in question. When DIR,
Grant arrives will ask him to put
his name us one Of the witnesses"
Nothing remained now but for Mr..
Grey to carry out his principals in.
tentiOns.
The will was brief and simple. It
revoked all former ones.
| The business Of the firm was to be
Mr.. Grey's on the payment of cer-
tain sum to the estate in recognition
of his many years of faithful service"
There was Il few legacies. and. after
that. all money In the bank, NIL prop
crty IN shares. land. houses, etc. We're
left to Luke Abcrshaw subject to the
condition that lie should carry on and
continue all Mr.. Medlicott's philan-
tlropic ndcrtakings-which were duly
speciiied-and in Mr.. Medlicott's
name.
"rhere Is one person forgotten, ia
there not? Miss Rosamond?' remark
I'd Mr.. Grey.
Mfr. AedlicOtt started as IL he had
been stung, seemed to wavpr for q
moment. then lie said;
"fom may nld a codicil to the effect
that she il to receive an annuity OF
ono hundred per annum during liF.
Ahrrshaw's pleasure"
"IIad you not better reconsider that
disposition, sir?" said Mr., Grey, paus-
Ing,
"Oh. yes, sir! pray do" urged Luke,
speaking for tho first time,
II have considered. and know why
do this" answered Mr.. Medlicotf,
waving his hnnd. II can fully trust
Mr., Abersllaw in this matter"
Mr., Grey could offer 10 further oh,
lection, and tho codicil was set down.
Just then DR.. Grant arrived, and tho
tcstntOr requested him to hear tho will
read and put his hand as witness.
II think, DOCTOR" lie added, that
YOU can testify to the soundness Of
my mental condition"
Tho doctor bowed his head but was
evidently much surprised at what he
had heard.
AS it was no business of his, how.
ever. lie wrote his name without offer
ing any comment.
II feel happier. now," said Mr.. Med
licott, with a sigh Of relief, when all
was over.
~ had an idea at ane time" he said,
after u long silence, lie and the score
tary being again alone together. "of n
marriage between you and Rosamond,
hut with the feelings have now to.
ward her'-and lie shivcred-"I know
not what TO say about it,"