The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1898-02-09

JHem are recorded. we nave nOtnlng
to do with them. I'll put them back.
There! Now, Madeleine, just look at
these All of them new deeds. You
and your mother to Jacob Lapham.
You and she did actually sign them
ALL"
81 didn't know what l was signing, +"
gasped Madeleine, "But there were
witnesses and notary
Each deed acknowledges a large
sum of money actually paid, and here
are the mortgages, bonds, notes, that
old Jake Lapham paid that money out
for"
''There never were any mortgages,
said Madeleine, "but those are my
own signatures-all of them.
''They are dated as If they had been
signed three years ago" he said; 'as
soon as you were old enough. It's a
very completely finished piece of rob-
berry Hellowl What's this?"
"She signed her will that very day, :"
replied Madeleine. "Aunt Wickham
and Judge Wickham, and two other
gentlemen, came here with Mr.. Lap
ham, and we were all in mothers s
room, but none of them knew what
was in the will"
Exactly" said JEFF. GLOW they
did work the matter! Here are two
wills, made the same day. How could
they make those stupid witnesses sign
! twice?"
81 heard Mr.. Lapham say, Sign
here, and sign here, )" said Madeleine.
Judge Wickham was leaning over
mother and saying something to her. -
''He was unsuspecting, said jeff.
"This is really her will, giving all to
you and making Judge Wickham and
Deacon Morris her executors. This
other thing gives all to Jacob Lap
ham and makes him sole executor,
giving you only life estate. 1t says
great deal more, but it's a fraud"
At that moment he was lighting q
match and removing the blower from
the library-grate.
"Oh, JEFF, you dare notl" exclaimed
Madeleine, ''you must not!s What are
you going to do?"
Nothing at all, he said, calmly.
''But fire is good for fraud. How
well it all burns There go the deeds,
and the mortgages, and the bonds,
and all the notes. The will went up
like fash. "
Dear me-" she said; but jeff was
once more investigating the safe.
Madeleine, he said, ''here's O
stack of greenbacks, and it's your own
money. II is right where he can get
it. Don't you think it ought to be in
a safer place?",,
''It must be minep she exclaimed.
"It can't be hisl He hasn't anything.
He meant to steal it, surelyl"
"Meant to?" replied JEFF. 'Why,
he has already stolen it and hidden il
here. This is your safe, to be sure,
but it isn't safe enough. You are
going to put your money into the
Compton National Bank. Fifteen
thousand dollars and more. All thai
old Jacob Lapham has stolen during
several years, except what Steve has
wasted; one way or another"
''Put it into the bank for me, JEFF, .
said Madeleine. 81 dare not, and ]
]
S'I'll put the will right back where
found it," he said, as he did so.
"They all saw it deposited here?"
YES" replied Madeleine. "Uncle
Wickham and the witnesses came down
and saw it put away there"
"That's where they will find It,
then, when they come to look for it, >
| co;I TaR oO1 1,a aaa,,,o1 - H. ,,.z,.,..-
ing in very curious way around the
lock of the safe. ''There! That'l
do, 1 guess. Now, Madeleine, ]
must go"
Not many, not very many, seconds
later JEFF walked unconcernedly out
of the house, as if nothing extraordin
ary had happened Madeleine, on the
other hand, after closing the door be
hind him, went slowly and thought
fully upstairs.
A door at her right opened at thaf
moment, and a tall, grim-lookinG
woman stood in it.
"How is mother?" asked Madeleine
''Is Mr.. Lapham there?"
''He is asleep just now," said the
| uuIHcs tohO nus hOt oNliISu VI
|, spoken.
Madeleine walked past her into the
room, and bent above an emaciateC
form lying upon the bed
The face was placid, but there coulC
, be no misunderstanding of the mes
sage it conveyed.
"Oh, if l could but speak to her'
thought Madeleine, while her whole
frame shook and her own face grew as
white as was that upon which she was
gazing, and then a faint whisper broke
through her lips:
"Mother!"
A pair of blue eyes opened languid
, ly, and the nurse now at the window
did not hear as acutely as did Made
leine;
. ''My daughterl Kiss mel"
So quick, so passionate, so agoniz
ingly intense was that meeting at the
lips; but Madeleine could now whis
per;
JEFF has been here mother HI
sent his love to you."