Newport weekly independent., 1904-01-01
MY UNCLl1 1'Esl

AuWJCI ulCu d dWdy WC tulCC OCuCH- ciaries of the will stood amazed, astounded at it's peculiar pro visions.
 My cousin, George Vardon, was the first to break the silence.
 '0The man must have been mad" he exclaimed.
 'sIt is such a strange will. If l understand it, his immense prop erty is cut into halves, of which my cousin, Nora, receives one part, and the other is to be divided be tween Mr. Harold Waring and my self,0 continued George Vardon.
 Quite right" assented the law yer.
 sBut in the event of the death of Miss Nora Waring within one hour of the reading of this testament the entire property is to go to found an orphan asylum; not only her portion, but ours as we'll. In the event of either the death of MT. Harold Waring or myself within the same time his portion is to, be added to the share of Nora, and is to become hers. In case all three survive the hour, the prop erty becomes ours unconditional- ly. Am 1 right?'
 Right again, Mr. Vardon," an. swered MT. Brief, the lawyer. But why this absurd provision about our sudden death within the hour? l assure you"- with a nervous little laugh-"I have no immediate intention of giving up the ghost, Miss Nora looks superb ly healthy, and Mr. Harold War ing is at least not an invalid"
 T cannot explain the will at all. The old gentleman had queer fan cies, gathered during his long so- journ i'll India. But you may de- pend upon it that he was quite sane and that the testament is ab- solutely valid. l drew it up my self, and there is no possible flaw in 1t. Let me call your attention again to another peculiar pro- vision in the will. You three are to go at once into the blue room, close the door and remain there l5 minutes. You will find upon the floor a carved box, which one of you is to open. It may possibly be that in that box there may be some explanation of the terms of the will. l have the honor to wish you a very good day and long life to enjoy your property"
 With which Mr. Waring bowed himself out of the room.
 My uncle had amassed large property in India, where he had led a very curious life, being fa- miliar with very mixed company of natives and whites. His con- fdential valet, Lal Singh, was a man of such varied accomplish ments that l never found myself looking at him without feeling the creeps shiver down my back.
 l, Nora Waring, was the favor lte of the three kinsfolk who were left my uncle upon his return to England. He was absurdly fond of me, and in a continual fear lest l should make an unhappy mar, riage to some man unworthy of me.
 As to his nephews, who were also my cousins, I had never been able to find out whether he liked them or not. Often I had observed him looking curiously at them, and then anxiously, for my cousins were patiently, if not confessedly, admirers of mine.
 l do not know what curious fan cies passed through the minds of my cousins as the automatic lock of the blue room clicked behind us but l confess that for my part was ready to conceive all manner of Borgia devices. From the pug zled, strained look on the hand some face of George, knew he was worrying over the situation.
 As for Harold Waring, he strode in with his easy, debon- naire swing, looking every inch the soldier and gentleman.