Arizona republican., 1898-06-12
THE PHANTOM WILL.

land farm house that had sheltered he..
for the past fifteen years. Her uncle
and aunt. the Winthrops, had adopted
her when she was left an orphan of
} years OF age. and they had never
regretted it, for she had been a low
and comfort to them in their home,
wnlle tnelr only child, son, had
Drousnt 10 tnem nothing but sorrow
MI. winthrop had spent his life per-
fecting MS farm, OF which he was very
proud, and the thought that after his
death MS son Duncan would squander
1t away In a very short time so vexed
MIN that, after his wife's death, he
made Will giving everything he had
to his adopted daughter. Marie. except
Ing $1,000 bequeathed to his son.
The whole ne1ghborhood knew that
such will had been made, but row
that the old man was dead and buried
1t was not to be found, and Duncans
name was mentioned in whispers of
foul play.
Marie stood looking sadly upon the
| fields of waving grain, and watching
the birds f1utter here and there Pow
happy they were together. Watching
| tiiClI dIduC ACl ISdIlZ0 u6F OWN lone
illness. SO she turned her gaze upon the
highway and saw Duncan Winthrop
approaching the house. Presently ne
stood before her. young man that can
be described by the one word profit
gate.
Il am going to sell the farm next
week, and came to tell you, so you can
vacate these premises said he while
watching the effect his words had up
On the face before him.
You are going to sell the farm
repeated Marie, in dazed way, trying
to realize all that meant for her..
Yes. 1 need the money and must
have it."
But where can 1 go?"
THAT you must decide for yourself
You have had good home here for
fifteen years, and it is about time you
began to get your own living
But Father Winthrop never intend
ed to leave me destitute. He told me
that he had made a will providing for
me, and it will surely be found.''
Duncan Winthrop smiled and pulled
from his pocket a paper which he
opened and held up for Marie 20 see.
! 1t was not such an elaborate affair as
wills are nowadays, but a small sheet
of letter paper, on which was written
in few words as possible, John
Winthrop's wishes in regard to the dis
posal of his estate after his death, and
signed by three witnesses.
us that the will?" questioned Marie.
in astonishmsnt.
"That is the will was the curt re-
ply.
where did you get it,"
81 stole it. Do you think 1 would
let any one else get possession of It !?
1t makes all the difference in the world
to me who has. it, and to make myself
wholly safe think I'll destroy it now"
So saying, he walked to the kitchen
stove, where small fire was burning
and, placing the open paper upon the
Goals, stood and watched the flames
devour it. Marie, spellbound, watched
| it also.
81 shall inform Lawyer Ferris imme-
diately what you have done!" she ex-
claimed, as the last bit of flame flick
cred out
will you?" returned Duncan, with
laugh, replacing the cover upon the
stove. And how will you prove it,
| for 1 shall say 1 didn't?''
They will believe me-
Perhaps, but as long as you can
prove nothing l can snap my fingers at
what they believe. So now you must
see it will be necessary for you TO find
new lodgings very soon." Then he
left the house, and Marie stood irres-
olutely watching him pass down the
road out Of sight.
Mechanically she approached the
~
though hooking her, lay the will in
ashes, but every word visible still, and
she read it through, great tears roll
ing down her cheeks at the words:
81 give and bequeath to my beloved
daughter, Marie Richards, the farm
and everything upon it,
Suddenly it occurred to her that If
she could preserve the ashes in as per-
be proof enough to establish Duncan's
guilt and her own claim. For several
minutes she stood debating in her
mind the safest way to accomplish it.
Presently, securing a piece of tin about
the size of the will, she carefully Slip
ped it under the ashes, and lifted it
from the stove. So far. so god; but
| it was not yet safe, for breath OF
WIFI VI d SuQuCu Jdi WOulQ Ill II IL ~
dust.
Smearing sheet of white paper
with mucilage, with the help of table
knife she gently pushed AMI lifted the
phantom will from the tin to the pa
per, and pressed 1t into place; then. to
protect it from injury, she fasteLed
over it a thin sheet of tracing paIer,
and, behold, the will was preserved:
Somewhat wrinkled and ragged on the
edge, but every word visible. 1t was
accepted by the probate court as gen
uine will, and the property was dis
posed of as Farmer Winthrop wished
| it to be, for no one was inclined to
prosecute Duncan for what he mad
done. He received his $1,000 and was
never seen in that neighborhood
again.
Of course the farm continued to
flourish under one so capable as Marie,
In few years she married the son OF
peighboring farmer and today, a1ter
happy, prosperous life, she is pleas
foood 1iftlo old 1adv very IOnQ