Middletown transcript., 1898-02-19

Q6AG 6ETdnu Was w o ulbBlly AO0pOSs'
able law Office
"Judge Wickham," he said to tht
white haired gentleman who welcomed
him, "Miss Lane is somehow aware
that you and Deacon Morris are exeeu
tors Of her mothers will"
81 had an idea, from herself, that
was to be one of them
"And she wishes you to be ready tc
act at once. She is not upon good
terms with old Jake and Steve"
"Ughl'' exclaimed the old lawyer.
"Tell her I'll be. ready"
Perhaps it was as well that Made
leine watched at her window, looking
toward the village, and that jeff wa;
not again compelled to ring the door
bell, for at the moment when she ad.
mitted him old Jacob Lapham was il
the library.
"You take care of the handbook,
she said, when he had swiftly detail lee
his business doings. "Don't stay"
His face had darkened cloudily over
what she had herself told him, but it
cleared somewhat as he turned away.
Even Madeleine did not hear him say
to himself, aloud, as he was going
down the steps: "Oh, but don't
wish I could see old Jake and Steve at
work on that safeP'
Madeleine reached her room again
unobserved, all the more safely because
her stepfather was crouching before
that obstinate freproof safe, twisting
the knob to numbers that he knew, but
which the lock refused to know any
thing about. He muttered, too, fierce
ly, even explosively, and at last be
arose, exclaiming:
swell! If 1 can't open it, nobody
else can, Sometimes those things will
work SO. I've known it happen be-
fore. At any rate, I've go t all those
things fixed SO that the property cant
get away from me. Pm sole executor,
and the will just nails an d clinches the
Deeds"
Madeleine fingered in her room only
for long, deep, silent fit Of thinking.
At the end of it she arose from her
chair with hard-drawn breath, and
once more went over to the sick-room.
The form upon the bed lay very still,
but the loving blue eyes opened as
Madeleine again grasped the thin hand
in hers.
81 gave your message to JEFF, mother
He sent his love to you again."
81 wish l could see him. My sonl''
she whispered, 'Say good-by to him
for me, dear. Kiss me, Madeleine.
There-there-good-by."
There was heavy hand upon Mad
eleine's shoulder, as she rose, but she
did not turn her fixed gaze from her
mothers face.
"What does she meanP" he harshly,
hoarsely demanded. "Her sonP"
There was no answer in words, but
even Jacob Lapham turned pale, and
the advancingnurse drew back again,
w hile Madeleine sank, upon her knees
for they were all suddenly aware that
the last messenger had Gomez
For Madeleine Lane all earthlythings
were veiled and put away. That hour
of sobs and silence was no time to con.
slider questions of property.
There were others in the house, how
ever, whose business activities were
hindered, very apparently, less by the
presence of death than by the strange
perverseness Of the lock of the safe in
the library. The knob of it was twist
ed and twisted in the most wearisome
way.
'Steve," remarked an anxious voice,
at last, 1--WE must have that money outi
Tie deeds and mortgages must be re-
cordedl Only one will must be found
therel This is awfull'
"We've some days yet, father, and
we can blow it open.''
"We must do it ourselves then. It
won't do to have anybody else open
that safe. We must let Madeleine
alone, too, until after the funeral"
ST don't care," growled Steve, $50
long as jeff Meredith is kept out of
the house. Her Aunt Wickham is up
there with her now."
Aunt Wickham remained with Mad
eleine all through the long, dark night
Of the Arst mourning Then followed
the strange days of interval between
death and a burial. Old Jacob Lapham
had great deal of walking up and
down in the parlor to do, for be was
bereaved man, with more than one
grief to carry. The lock of the safe
had much twisting to endure, but it
still refused to remember its numbers.
Judge Wickham came in, and Mr..
Lapham began to say something to
him about the safe and its contents,
and its conduct.
'Pooh, pooh, Jacobl" responded the
old lawyer; ''you are in no condition
for business. It's no time for it, eith-
er. Wait till after the funeral. Pm
attend everything for you just now.
Madeleine, too-she's all broken
DOWN.
Another night passed and another
day came, and at the hour appointed
there were carriages at the door. There
was no occasion for remark, however,
when the mourners came out of the
house, in the fact that Madeleine
Iao nod on tho ar,vn of T,,dco n;oLh.ua