Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1904-04-14
SO NEARLY LOST
s2sEExEaaa aaasExBEENs
.Jy CHARLES GARvIck


sight OF him nearly drives me madi"
"Oh, let him wait moment, please"
said Miss Mazurka. "Mr. Royce, you
were kind enough to taunt me just
now with my stupidity"
"Oh, pardon met II was rude, | ad.
nit, but I'm afraid it is true," he re-
torted, returning her smile with a
sneer.
1--WE shall see," said Miss Mazurka
Now, we have heard tonight from
your accomplice, that hoary headed
old villain, that you are very clever;
that, in fact, you are prodigy picked
up in the gutter. And how have you
proved your cleverness First, by
swindling gentlemen at cards, who
ought to have been more wide-awake
than to take such a rogue for an hon
est man." and she glanced at BERTHE,
who compressed his lips and nodded
remorsefully. Then you happen to
find out something about this will, and
try to get possession of Miss Ormsby-
and to do that all the more safely, you
play off little trick, as common on
the stage as 1t is in real life, and pass
off some poor, unknown girl who
drowned herself as the heiress. Well,
that was rather clever, Then you
find the will in Lord Dewsbury's cham
bers, and persuade him that he has
burned it; that was rather clever,
Then you come to the end Of your
little game, and narrowly miss win,
ming the prize. You were within an ace
OF marrying this young lady and secur.
ing all the money that the will lett her;
that was clever, too; but when you
are found out and tracked down. all by
stupid me, you do the cleverest thing
of all, and revenge yourself by burn.
ing the will and robbing her of her
property! Now, that was very clever
If you had done it,"
His sardonic face showed a sinister
smile.
praise from Miss Mazurka is praise
indeed" he said.
wait a minute, please | said it
would have been clever If you had done
It; but you haven't"
Lord BERTHE started; old Craddock
moved forward little; the two girls,
clinging together at the end of the
room. turned their pale faces towards
her. but Mordaunt Royce remained
motionless, with the same sinister
smile.
Indeed" he said, and pointed to the
heap of ashes in the fireplace.
yes, | know, | see." said Miss Ma
zurka. II saw you draw the paper
from your pocket and throw 1t on the
fire. But | don't think 1t was the stolen
will. Mr.. RoyceT'
OH" he said, with a sheer. I'm
deed II not-I admit nothing-but,
If all that remains of the will is not
there, where is it?"
All eyes were turned upon Miss Ma
zurka as she drew from her pocket a
folded paper.
"Here!" she said, sweetly, and held
ii up.
His lips twitched, and he shook his
his head
Il am clever enough at any rate to
doubt that" he said.
you are fool" said Miss Mazurka,
with sublime simplicity. rs this not
the will? Take 1t, Lord Berthe"
Lord BERTHE took it and opened it in
silent amazement.
"This-this is the will l found!" he
said, bewildered.
IF you've any doubts, compare the
piece of paper clever Mr.. Royce tore
off In your chambers with the torn
part of the will itself" she said.
BERTHE took from his pocketbook the
corner. of the will which Mordaunt
Royce had so carefully prepared, and
compared it.
by Heaven!" he exclaimed, you
are right! 1t is the Wilt"
Mordaunt Royce took step forward,
his face white as ashes, his lips
burning.
Let me--see!" he painted,
Let him see, by all means" said
Miss Mazurka; "but if he offers to lay
a finger on it-kill him," and she
sprang to her feet, her face flushed,
her self-possessed smile vanished for
the first time. 'Ah, Mr., Roy zee;
where is your boasted cleverness now?
| was simrleton, was Ian amateur
detective. I'd got too difficult a task.
had l? What? Did you think | was
idiot enough TO leave the precious
document in your possession, Mr..
Royce? Not exactly How did l get
it?' she added, quickly, turning to
BERTHE, who stood regarding her in q
state of confused bewilderment and
admiration, Why. easily enough.
saw through my chink in his ceiling
that he always carried 1t in his breast
pocket; | saw what IL was like. and
made up n 'property'-a dummy will
like 1t, and one night, when the gentle
man was sleeping the sleep of the inno-
cent and the just, took the liberty of
exchanging my dummy for the real
will, and it is the dummy he has burn.
! ed in his cleverneSS-the will is there!
Now, Mr.. Roget"
Mordaunt Royce leaned against the