Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1898-03-02

'nantically searching the lnterlor "
the big iron safe for something which
they did not seem to find.
''That is all. All correct, continued
Judge Wickham. deacon Morris
and I are executors. Everything goes
to Madeleine! I'll take possession o.
once. That is, I'll leave her in full
possession"
"Give me that paper!" roared Jacot
Lapham. "It isn't the will"
eyes, it isl" replied the judge. :"
know the. signatures. I saw it put
there. I was here. It's all right.
Jacob"
"There's another will! The safe
has been robbed! Money missing
Papers missing! I'm robbed"
"It isn't your safe, Jacob; it Is Miss
Lanes safe. If there is another will,
produce it,
"Leave the house! I'm in control
here! Get out! I'm in possession!
"I think not" answered Judge
Wickham. "Your authority has
ceased. Miss Lane is in possession.
She is absolute, unquestionable owner.
Yol and Steve must go!"
It was of little use to storm, but ol
course there was storm, and it was
all the worse because of the bewilder'
ing conduct of that safe. 1t con-
tained no other will, and when Judge
Wickham shut it up it almost seemed
to wink at him. The Judge did not
storm, but he was firm, and so was
Madeleine, and she, too, was calm,
although she remarked:
eff Stephen were gentleman ne
would not wish to remain, knowing,
as he does, how utterly I detest him.
After what you have said and done,
Mr.. Lapham, yon must go at once.
All that belongs to you has been put
into your own room.
"Come upstairs" Steve" said his
father; and as soon as they were in
Steve's room, he added: "Wickham
is going ont to fId Morris. AS sooh
as he is gone we will search that safe. y
"We'll clean it out, too," said
Steve.
Hardly had they left the library,
however, before Jefferson Meredith
came in from the dining-room, where
he had passed most of his time during
the funeral services. and once more
he worried the lock Of the safe q little.
'Is it all right, Jeff?" asked Judge
Wickham. cam not I to know the
new combination? Can't you explain
it to me?"
"Simplest thing in the world" said
JEFF ''Lots OF people remember their
safe combinations that way. The rid
die was no riddle at all"
Independence. Fourth of July,
and the days of the week? How was
it? I must say it's riddle to me-"
"Why," said JEFF, "don't you see it?
The year, 1776. The days, 7. Di-
vide so-17-7-76. to get your three
numbers. Twist the knob the usual
way. That did it. +"
GLOW is it now2" asked the lawyer.
"All independence and freedom, :"
said Jeff. "It is 17-21-76, and
that's what'll puzzle old Jacob when
he comes. down sstairs.zsR ,s.a5 sasd
thing to know how to set and reset
lock-"
jeff was in another part of the house
when the Laphams were puzzled, but
he knew how it was. Even the lock
seemed to enjoy it as thoy tried to
make it once more remember its old
numbers.
"It's au awful riddle, Steve, -
groaned old Jacob; ''but we can't get
in"
That, alas for them, meant that
their plot had failed, md that they
must get out.
Only few weeks later Jefferson
Meredith was slowly, thoughtfully
turning plain gold ring upon ono OF
Mrs. Madeleine Meredith's fingers.
IT feel so safe now," she said; "and
it is what mother would have wished.
"Madeleine," he answered her,
"there are some combinations OF
which only God knows the secret.
This is one of them, and it is locked
forever. Moo 8 Monthly.