Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1904-02-18

SO NEARLY LOST

BIZ CHARLEs GARvIcR

hlnS ana ask MIN, SAID Royce
coolly.
BERTHE rang the bell and the vale
appeared.
Have you been burning anything? 2
he asked.
THE litter, you fool; you mean tht
pieces of wood, the bits of frame on the
The man looked from one to the
ether.
Burning? Oh, yes, my lord.
cleaned up the litter and put it on the
| fire.
Il told you" said Royce.
The man began 10 look anxious.
well, yes, my lord, | cleared out
| the waste-paper basket"
Didn't tell you! murmured Royce
"Only the waste-paper basket" de
manded BERTHE.
Yes, my lord, only the basket, as
as far as | can remember"
"There," interjected Royce.
"As far as you can remember! You
idiot, it Is only few minutes ago!
cried BERTHE What did you burn
Was there a paper, a folded paper
amongst it?'
The valet looked confused and dis.
tressed.
Really, my lord" he began.
BERTHE seized newspaper and fold
ed it up in the shape of the will
Look at that" he said. WAS
there a paper, written paper, folded
like that?"
The man'G face cleared.
mo, my lord, am certain there was
not, he said positively.
Royce shrugged his shoulders and
held up the burnt scrap.
81 am afraid you have made a mis-.
take" he said. Lord Dewsbury has
missed paper like that he describes
and find piece of it in the CRATE
half burned"
The valet coIored.
81 don't understand it, my lord" he
said, in troubled voice. Il could
almost swear that there was no paper
of that description amongst those
burnt"
| Almost swear!" remarked Royce
significantly
Great heavens!" exclaimed Berthe
There. get out of my sight" he added
and the miserable and perplexed vale
fastened to obey. What is to b'
done, Royce"
What do you mean?" said Royce
easily.
why, this-this will, you know!
said Berthe; 1T may be of the utmos
| importance. | wish to heaven I'd reat
| it. Great powers! will. you know, i!
serious thing!' and he strobe up ant
| down his room.
Royce flung himself into chair anC
| laughed
MY dear Bertie" he said, "yol
make me laugh! | beg your pardon
Why on earth should you attach any
Importance TO this will?"
"What?" exclaimed BERTHE. stoppinl
short and eying him in amazement.
81 say, why should you upset your
self about it?' said Royce, cody. :"
don't myself think it was anything bu
a draft, just the outlines of a will to bt
copied by the lawyer"
Bertie's face grew less dark.
But SUP sing that it was a genuine
will, it isn't of any value,"
mot of any value? Why not7"
Because the last will Lord Arrow
! field made was in favor of Stuar
Villiars, and this was former one. o
course, and therefore not worth th'
paper it was written on"
do you think" said BERTHE
doubtfully
Il don't Think am sure!" respond
/ ed Royce Evidently it was of no i'm
! portance, or it wouldn't have beer
| showed behind that picture You ma,
| depend upon it. someone considered i
as waste paper, and used it to back NJ
the painting. just as he would hav,
used an old newspaper If it had beer
hsndy."
Bertio's face cleared
IF you think that, why am lesi
uneasy about il; but perhaps I'd bet
ter so and tell old Craddock about it..
i 'lf You take my advice you won't d,
anything of the kind" said Royce
What good will it do? You win b.
making a stir for no purpose! Yo1
haven't got the will. you know. And
| don't want to make you angry. m.
dear BERTHE, but lawyers are unbeliey
ing animals, and I shouldn't be SUI
prised if old Craddock declined L
} credit your story"
"What?"
That's my impression, See here
Craddock, | happen to know, is agen
and attorney for Stuart Villiars. Yo
go to him and tell him that you hav
discovered will of Lord Arrowfield's
and he'll say. In whose favor is Il
and what's the date?' You answer
1 don't know He will say, 'Produc
the Wilt! Oh you reply. 7. or m
servant, have burnt it, My dear fe
5 low, old Craddock will laugh at yo,
and, to put it bluntly, so will the res
of the world"
3 Il don't like saying nothing abou
it," said BERTHE. troubled and perple,
ed. why, Royce, II looks as if-a
4 ! IL | had DESTROYED IL purposelv"