Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1903-10-22
STORY Of A LOST WILL.
BY Euretta D. Metcaif.

bequeaths the bulk Of his estate to
you, leaving only a comfortable in
come to your brother. This was
drawn by my father years ago, when
you and Charlie and 1 were children.
l tell you, sweetheart, there is an
other"
"WhereY she asked despairingly.
"Aunty and have examined every
inch of the house, every scrap of writ
ing since you told us, but we find
nothing. Worse than the dependence
on my poor, weak brother is the
thought that he-oh, Maurice, IL he
has done what we fear, how can l
bear the shame|
I drew the girls troubled face to
nv shoulder with a wave OF SELF
hatred for my share in the dilemma. l,
the conscientious, the methodical,
who lived by the clock, had for once
been careless in business. Darling,
the fault Is NINE" l declared, reck-
lessly assuming all blame rather than
give her further cause to grieve over
a scapegrace brother. Let me go over
the scene exactly as it happened, and
perhaps together we can see ray OF
light where my eyes alone are bind.
Three weeks ago to-day l was prepar-
ing to leave my Office, and had already
put a number of papers in my bag =
pointing to the alligator grip my lance
was familiar With-"yOu know it is
nv custom to stop at the safety de-
posit vaults on my way home and
personally lock up in my private vault
all valuable documents accumulated
through the day"
II know" she answered, shade OF
annoyance darkening her wood-violet
eyes. ut has always seemed strange
to me that you do not have private
safe in your Office"
81 inherited the custom with the
business" l laughed, ignoring her un-
wonted asperity. GAS l was closing
my desk your father came in appar
emily in the best of health and asked
me. much to my surprise, to draw up
a new will.
""There is nothing like being pre-
pared he said, in explanation Since
nv son has developed a passion Tor
gambling he is not fit guardian for
nv daughters share of the estate. II
I should die suddenly the old Will
would leave Maize practically depend
ent on her brothers charity. All, he
promised so well, but now she is my
tower of strength"
Il Immediately drew up will at his
dictation, which, as l told you, named
YOU executrix, and your father signed
it in the presence of Darby, the artist
in the next suite, and the janitor."
"Why cannot they testify?' she
asked quickly, her sad eyes brighten.
ing a trife.
Because the fates are cruel to us,
sweetheart. That very night the JAM
tor dropped dead ia an apoplectic lit
and Darby has disappeared. l have
hunted him like sleuth since this
came up" cudgeling the offending will
with my ruler.
after our business was concluded"
I went on, "your father, Darby and |
sat talking on different subjects,
which by degrees led up to psychic
phenomena. Your father cited numer-
GUS cases investigated by the psyche
logical society which he declared were
sufficient proof that death does not
destroy communication between the
material and spiritual worlds. He
confidently asserted that science is
rapidly reaching point where
thought waves would become telepath-
ic wires carrying messages between
finite and infinite minds. The discus
sion was long and heated, and in con-
clusion he said, turning to me: There
are none so blind as those who Will
not see. You refuse to voluntarily
make or witness any experiments in
telepathy to satisfy yourself, but the
probabilities are strong that 1 will go
first my boy. If do, expect me to
communicate with you in a manner
so weird and startling as to forever
convince you l am right Then,
laughing, he and Darby went out to-
gether and | never saw him again.
Although l do not remember plac-
ing the new will in my bag, l probably
did so the moment it was signed. One
I no
so. Your fathers earnestness was so
impressive, and his .uncanny stories
took such a firm hold on me, was yet
under their influence when next day
a messenger informed me your father
had died suddenly from heart failure.
NV first thought after you dressing
her hand was of my professional
duties as his lawyer. l Immediately
went after the will. 1t was not in the
safety box, neither was it in the bag,
nor on my desk, nor in the waste paper
basket, standing full as 1 had left 1t
the day before. No one had been in
my office, for the only person who
might have entered, the janitor, was
| dead From the office to the vault the
bag was unopened; was never out OF
my hands l have the only key to
the strong box. No one but the wit
nesses knew the will had been made,
and Darby accompanied your father
when he left my Office. 1t was not in
your fathers possession, or it would
have been found, either upon his per-
son or among his papers. Could any
one-who was with him when-when
it happened MaizieY
Poor, little girl! She went white as
the hyacinths nodding on my desk.
HE was with my brother in the
library where he kept his business
papers. To follow that fngerpost is
to travel a yet darker road, Maurice,
| Charlie was alone with him some time
before he summoned help. Don't probe
any farther!"
Gwen l turned sick at the sugges
ton. The new will practically disin
herited the son. He knew of the long
standing document that named hin
his fathers heir. He was the only