Arizona republican., 1898-10-31
A 1ittle Comedy
 of Errors BY S. s. MORTON. (Continued Frcm Yesterday
(Continusd Frcm Yesterday)
BY S. s. MORTON.

Then we have lost our case? Oh. Mir. North. how can this have happened? We were so well fortified at cvc, point. even granting their claims concerning the niece to be correct: so you have re- peatedly assured me yourself. Mr- North so Hopkins and shepherd have reiter- ated agai1, and againt'
 A grim little smile crcpt upward from the dropping ends of North-s lunstachc and inst illuminated for an instant the sharp glance of his eyes. When he spoke his tones seemed full of mocking sarcasm.
 Well fortified? So we did appear to be It was q strong ease until inc tear ing and rentling of cur opponents be- gan: then our really Ensuhsiantial fabric went to tatters in an instant"
 ''Mr. North. what do you mcan?" dc nanticd HiI5. Maynard. while her beau tiful eyes grew darker still with alarm and excitement. .'Let me know the whole trutl,-thc worst that there is to tell! Speak plainly. if yo. pleasel''
 T will do So. Mrs. Maynard. if you insist, although the plain truth is not always a1i agreeable thing to hear. In brief. then, the will that was put for ward in support of your claim to Mrs. Dunkirlz's fortune has been openly de- clared, and furthermore proven to be, a forgery
 "A forge-y.''
 Mrs. Maynard repeated these words mechanically, as if she were unconscious S1 vehemence she cried:
 ''Who says it is forgery, Who darc5 to say so? How can they prove it?''
 North was watching her closely. re- alizing with how much significance her words and manner at this crisis would be weighed: yet he vcs unable to de- ter;nine the precise effect produced upon her by his announcement. That she was startled and dismayed he could of course perceive at q glance; beyond this he could not anelyze her emotions. Holding himself steadily in hand and continuing his watchfuincss of her. he ! replied to her last excited words with a touch of reckless nonchalance in his manner:
 '-Oh, the proofs arc invincible, Mrs Maynard. I. myself, see clearly now that it was very poor policy to risk that business"
 He spoke at random. knowing that his first venture must Ike made moro or less daringly in the dark; but no sooner were the words uttered than he congrat- ulated himself that his random shot had hit the mark.
 '-Pocr policy" repeated Mrs May : nard, ir pcrpie:lcd tones, while she raised her eyebrows inquirinGly. And pray, Mr. North, who sanctioned this poor polis-y?'
 Precisely what propose to find out, said North to himself, with grim deter imitation By strong implication, my self-or rather Noil. However, that re mains to be established Then to Mrs. Maynard he added, in his most conciliatory tones:
 ''Oh, well, Mrs. Maynard, we can scarcely afford to discuss that point at the present interesting crisis. Of course. whatever has been dorie thus far has been undertaken with the very best in tcntions and confident anticipation of success. 4 few days ago our position seemed tenable enough: now. however. since the case has been subjected to such ,iicrci!ess examination. sec very cluarly the weak and utterly untenablc points. The fact is, Mrs. Maynard, that forgery. as now perceive, was far from s.iillfully contTived. and the best we , cau say for-ah-for the perpetrators | thereof paused just for an instant here, with a mcditative little largh, while he mentally commented: There. l got over that very neatly."-.is, that it proves them to be rather incxperi- cncet in sn;h work. Now. let me go ! over the whole ground, Mrs. Maynard . hc added more seriously. and point out to ye,u She fatal discrepancies that i csi to orIr dc-t!cfcat."
 He had commenced to say ''detcc- ' ton" but inst as the word was trcm- | bling on his lips he substituted for it ] the more non-cornIni:tai! term. 1 Mrs. Maynard haviag assentcd silent | lE to lis prnposition lie proceeded at o:lcc Co his critical review of the forged will
 Tn the first place he began. looking ] at licr SD steadily and llcenly, With s,l.-h strange at.critivencSS, that her cet,s fell she scarcely knew why. this document purpnrtIng to he the last wIll aiil tcsta IucIt of alrs. Jane Dunhiik was fepre- scented to be, and in trutli ,iid appcar.to be. in the handW riting of James fer nan, Esq. now teccascl. but formerly prominent New York lawyer. It Was incvidcnce, and not disputed at all, that the late Mir. Herman was for several ycars-a period embracing the date .,f this wi!l-AlrS. Dunkirk's $ attorney, and. naturally. tlic person to whom she would iutrust the drawing of this Jucu- meut. So far, very good. There is n fair degree of plausibility for us, just OH tlic Suiface. Buf unfortunately competent evidence was produced by Hunter and kctchum, showing that on or about tine 18th of July, which Is the date of our will. you know, and for a certain tiIle previous and subsequent to that date. ths: lat. Mir kcrIian was in Europe. and therefore he could not Ina, C had any acuve personal share in this or any other trfnsactiOp .,f like. nature