Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1902-02-21
CHAPTER XXI.

The words fell from the lips of not only
the judge on the bench, but from those of
every lawyer within the bar
John ID. Lloyd!' echoed the voices Of
many in the court room.
"Mr. Sheriff." said the judge, "place a
chair beside me and assist my old friend
Lloyd to position here, if the Lord has
mercifully spared his life"
Sheriff Cobb looked very gloomy, but
he Obeyed the order of the court with
alacrity.
Eyes, judge and friends said Mr..
Lloyd, as the sheriff, after shaking hands
with him, assisted him to the judicial
bench, 1.-THE sea has given up it's dead-the
asylum its mental wreck. John ID. Lloyd
is with you once again. Nor has he yet
greeted his own family. He is in the
hands of the great detective"
81 can well believe you, old friend"
said the judge as he grasped his wasted
hand But if you have not visited your
family, we must not long delay you"
"Mr. Sellars has made me acquainted
with the contents Of the will, said to be
the bankers last and final one" said Mr..
Lloyd. IF such is the case and my name
and that of my lost friend Elliott appear
as witnesses to the same, there has been
a forgery committed"
A gr0an burst from the breast of Her
man Craven. He sat the picture of alb
ject terror-a living, breathing wretch.
Miss DeRosette sat with pale face,
clinging to the arms of her companions.
Your names signed to the will consti-
tute the forgery?' asked the judge.
mo, your honor, the signatures, pre-
sumo, are valid; but in the body of the
will Herman Craven was left but the
sum of five thousand dollars. l am told
that the will now shows that fifty-fve
thousand dollars was the bankers be-
quest to his nephew. There was no ad-
ministrator named in the will A space
was left vacant with the understanding
that If returned safely from my trip to
Europe my name was to be filled in. At
Mr.. DeROsette's solicitation l had con-
sented to act, should l survive him.
Neither was there a guardian named;
but the understanding there was the
same. He desired me to constitute that
Guardian and my name would have ap-
Nleared there but for my trip abroad"
Miserable wretch, what have you to
sayf asked the judge, turning his gaze
on the features of Stephen Craven.
What can l say, judge" was the
sneering reply. Except that Sellars has
got me dead to rights. knitted the bank
er, and my delectable son there-the
Craven coward-forged the will. That is
all there is about it. A Craven need
not die coward! Die game! Be game
sport to the last; that's my motto, and
it's adj l have to say"
care there any here who recognize this
man as Stephen Craven, the man who
married Alvin DeRosette's sister?" asked
the judge.
Il do. your honor" said Attorney
Dobbs. II never saw him but once. The
marriage was an elopement. Miss DeRo-
sette was a school girl, and this villain
eloped with her from Hillsborough, where
she was attending school. At Alvin De-
Rosette's request l visited Richmond, to
which place Stephen Craven at first con-
veyed his bride, and there begged his wife
to abandon him and return to her brother
with me. She would not do so how
ever, and Stephen Craven, entering the
house and surmising my object, ordered
me cut. l cannot be mistaken in the
man."
mo. you are right, old duffer!' cried
cttpntu, Win outtI.
'"rhis man is a monsterW exclaimed the
judge, shuddering.s
mo, no! You are wrong, judge, wrong.
l am nothing If not a dead game sport!
Life is farce-a field in which we each
play our part, then make our exit to be
seen no more. There is no hereafter.
This is the end of life; that is all, and l
will die as have lived-a dead-game-
sportl Yes, without a fear for the pres
ent or the future but look at that livid,
woe-begone picture! That is my son.
Amt he a beaut? He denies his own
father, now that day of peril is at hand.
He put up this job. He forged the bank
er's will and was too cowardly to remove
his uncle from his path. | willingly aid
ed him. Look at him! The bell-ringer
of Wilmington. His hand from the stair
way pulled the wire that drew Robert
Campbell to the door, leaving the coast
clear for me. 1 thrust the blade of the
sheath knife home, secured the bag of
coin and ran upstairs and secreted myself.
During the commotion below | secreted
the gold where Sellars found It not an
hour ago. Herman had provided me with
a key TO the attic, and remained there
three days and nights. When | took my
departure l left the coin behind, beneath
the hearth In Miss DeRosettes room.
You have everything dead to rights now.
What are you waiting for? Why don't
you get u move on yourself? Let Camp
bell get out Of that box and put my
sneaking son and myself in it! Do some
thing"
"This man must be an incarnate fiend!'
exclaimed the judge.
"Fm beaut,. amv' calculated the as
sassin. But I'm not cowardr'
saConilnn,nt, r.f fho i,,...