Middletown transcript., 1898-02-19
gasped Madeleine. But there were

WEtU65S6S huQ o uUIbA j.
sEach deed acknowledges large
sum of money actually paid, and here
are the mortgages. bonds, notes, that
old Jake Lapham paid that money out
for"
nThere 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. HellowI What's thisP"
"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
room, but none Of them knew what
was in the WILL"
s'Exactlyi" said JEFF. "How they
did work the matterl Here are two
wills, made the same Cay. How could
they make those stupid witnesses sign
twice?"
ST 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.
'sThis is really her will, giving all to
you and making Judge Wickham and
Deacon Morris her executors. This
other thing gives all to Jacob Lapham
and makes him sole executor, giving
you only life estate. It says great
deal more, but it's fraud.o
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 notl What are
you going to do?"
"Nothing at all, he said, calmly.
"But fire is good for fraud. How
well it all burnsl There go the deeds,
and the mortgages, and the bonds,
and all the notes. The will went up
like a fash"
ssDear me!'' she said; but jeff was
once more investigating the safe.
Madeleine" he said, "here's a
stack of greenbacks, and it's your own
money. 1t is right where he can get
it. Don't you think it ought to be in
safer placer"
st must be mineW she exclaimed.
''It can't be hisl He hasn't anything.
He meant to steal it, surelyp
"Meant to?" replied JEFF. "Why,
he has already stolen it and hidden it
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 that
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, J"
said Madeleine. II dare not, and I
cannot bear to leave the house."
"I'll put the will right back where
I found it," he said, as he did SO.
''They all saw it deposited here?n
"Yes,' replied Madeleine. "Uncle
Wickham and the witnesses came down
aud saw it put away there"
"That's where they will find it, then,
when they come to look for it," said
JEFF and he seemed to be worrying in
very curious way around the lock of
the safe. "Therei That'll do, I 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 that
moment, and tall, looking
woman stood in it.
'sHow is mother2'' asked Madeleine.
lis Mr.. Lapham there?"
''He is asleep just now," said the
nurse. "She has not stirred or
spoken"
Madeleine walked past her into the
room, and bent above an emaciated'
form lying upon the bed.
The face was placid, but there could
be no misunderstanding Of the mes
sage it conveyed.
"Oh, if could but speak to hell"
no ught Madeleine, while her whole
frame shook and her own face grew as
white as was that upon which she WAS
gazing, and then faint whisper broke
through her lips:
ssMotherln
A pair Of blue eyes opened languidly,
and the nurse now at the window,
did not hear as acntely as did Made
leine:
"My daugbterl Kiss mel''
So quick, so passionate, so agoniz-
ingly intense was that meeting at the
lips; but Madeleine could now whisper:
ssJeff has been here mother. He
sent his love to you."
"Give him my love, dear. My sonl
It is easier to leave you with him"
just then the nurse turned suddenly
from the window. and burly form
which had lain upon q sofa near it
sprang vigorously.to its feet and strobe
to the bedside.
Madeleine Lanel how dare youP
She must not talkl Have not for
hidden this sort of thing?n
"She il my mother, Mr.. Lapham,
and you are not my father,n said
Madeleine, resolutely. "But think
it best not to speak to her again, just
now. If l did think best I should do