The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-07-21

acquleSce when 1T is finished. / suppose
her affirmation will be all that is neces-
sary?'
was somewhat surprised at the strange
ness OF the request, but replied:
certainly, if l am confident that she
Is compos mentis and she too ill to dictate
tne instruction herself -
hefe slight exclamation broke from
tne Ups OF the occupant of the bed, as if
aoouO TO frame a word or sentence; but
she was checked by jackson, who, with
threatening scowl, evidently not meant
for my observation, said:
Don't exert yourself, my dear niece. 1
will do all that is necessary" and then as
drew the writing materials before me,
he quickly leaned over toward her and
Kissed i'll her ear, 'Remember-be care
ful!' with such emphasis as to cause her
TO sink, pale and trembling, back amona
the pillows of the bed.
A half hour elapsed and the will had
been completed. All Blanche Pickering's
property, personal and real, was to be di-
vided between the man Jackson and his
son Henry, with the exception of a few
small legecies Then l read it. and after
propounding the few necessary interroga-
tories to the legator which were answered
in low, trembling affirmative, 1 request
ed her to sign it.
Drawing my chair up to her side, with
the paper and pen in my hand, l waited
for her to obey my request, intiInating tc
jackson that it would be as well to have
Cooper as a witness.
The latter individual had evidently fall
en- asleep, for, call not bringing him to
the bedside, jackson arose and walked to
where his confrere lay.
At this moment and with the rapidity
of light the girls hand caught my own
and, leaning my head downward SO that
could listen to what she might desire to
say, heard her whisper in passionate, be-
seeching words:
81 am forced to thisl They intend to
kill me! For heavens sake, help mel'
Then she ssg k back, and before jackson
had been ablSsao observe us we had both
resumed our former relative positions
At last the will had been signed, wit
messed and sealed, and, hat in hand, /
stood at the table awaiting my clients
further pleasure, as if had not the idea
in my mind of returning before morning,
and that, too, with an officer of justice.
1 followed my servitor down the stairs,
listened to his untruthful regrets that the
carriage must have returned to the house.
as agreed upon, and then gone to the city;
declined his offer to remain for the night,
and, having been directed the route to the
station, stood once more in the open air.
Suddenly wild scream Of terror as
sailed my ears. In moment was again
up the steps and turning the knob of the
door in an Intellectual attempt to gain adj
mittance.
was about to attempt to force an en-
trance through the window when the door
was flung suddenly open and the man
Cooper stood before me.
He discovered me at once and struck at
me with his clinched fist. Evading the
blow, I whipped out my revolver and,
striking him with the butt end, knocked
him senseless upon the steps.
/ was again about to turn and enter
when the form of jackson dashed down
the staircase through the open door and
felt myself in his grasp.
1 saw at once that he was unarmed, and
elevating my pistol fired, but the shot was
turned aside and the weapon knocked
from my hand to the ground.
Then ensued fearful struggle between
us, in which we both were precipitatsd
down the steps upon the gravel walk be
low, uppermost.
1T was perhaps for two minutes that
held him by the throat, dealing him blows
with my disengaged hand-he having the
other in his strong grasp-when, with
dexterous twist of his powerful arm, he
turned me aside and lay PROSTATE upon
the ground with the viselike grip of his
strong fingers grasping me by the throat
until my eyes were starting from their
sockets and every muscle became inactive
Selling large stone which lay near
him he raised it in his left hand and was
about to strike me on the head when
sharp, loud report rang on the air. The
form of the rufian fell back. His fingers
relaxed their grasp
A form in white passed before my I'M
certain vision, and then for the space of
five minutes was utterly unconscious.
When at length the mind awoke from
it's stupor, Miss Pickering was bending
over me chatting my temples and attempt
ing to perform what nature had done
restore me to sensibility.
From her 1 learned that she had risen
from her bed at the exit of the two ruffians
from her room, and observing my danger
GUS situation had fired at Jackson Just as
he was about to strike me with the stone
with my revolver, which she had picked
up on the steps.
I also learned that her scream was
caused by the resolution of the murderous
twain to start after and murder me- fear
ing that she had communicated something
to me which might upset their well laid
plans.
Having securely bound the still uncon-
scious Cooper and removed the corpse O.
jackson into the house, we awaited the
coming lnorn-Miss Pickering meanwhile
informing me of her imprisonment by
Jackson for over a year and his resolve to
force her to make will and then make
away with her. Her parents having died
and left her sole heiress to a large prom
erty, her appointed guardian, jackson, |,
half brother of her mother, was playing
for no diminutivo stake.
The next morning a farmers wagon
conveyed Cooper to the city, and, the affair
having been reported to the proper au,
thorities, he was arrested and conveyed to
Jail. His trial took place month later,
and he was rewarded with seven years
penal servitude.
n.