Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1898-03-10

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"
II didn't know what was signing"
gasped Madeleine, "But there were
witnesses and a notary"
Each deed acknowledges 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. Hellow! 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
room, but none of them knew what
was in the WILL"
Exactly" said jeff. elbow 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
a great deal more, but it's fraud"
At that moment he was lighting
match and removing the blower from
the library CRATE.
ooh, jeff, you dare notl" exclaimed
Madeleine, ''you must not 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 fash"
'Dear mel" she said; but jeff was
once more investigating the safe.
Madeleine" he said, ''here's
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
a safer place?",,
''It must be mine!" she exclaimed.
"It can't be his! He hasn't anything.
He meant to steal it, surely!"
"Meant TOP" 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"
"rat it into the bank for me, JEFF"
said Madeleine. 81 dare not, and
cannot bear to leave the house"
''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 il,
then, when they come to look for it,
said JEFF, and he seemed to be worry
ing in very curious way around the
lock of the safe. ''Therel Tha5'll
do, I guess. Now, Madeleine, L
must CO."
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 n tall, grim-looking
woman stood in it.
Glow is mother?" asked Madeleine.
''Is 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 1 could but speak to heri"
thought 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 hps:
"Motherl"
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 daughter! Kiss mel"
So quick, so passionate, so agoniz-
ingly intense was that meeting at the
liDs. hut Madeleine could now whis-