Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1904-02-06
MY UNCLE'S TEST.


When the Try voice of the little lawyer
died away three beneficiaries by the
will stood amazed, astounded at its pecu-
liar provisions.
My cousin, George Vardon, was the
first to break the silence.
1.-The man must have been mad" he
exclaimed
1T is such strange will. If | under
stand it, his immense property is cut
into halves, of which my cousin, Nora,
receives one part, and the other is to be
divided between Harold Waring and my,
SELF" continued George Vardon.
quite right assented the lawyer
But in the event of the death of Miss
Nora Waring within one hour of the
reading of this testament the entire prop
erty is to 90 to found an orphan
asylum; not only her portion, but ours
as well. In the event of either the death
of 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
property willed to us becomes ours I'M
conditionaiy. Am / right?
Right again, Mr.. Yardon," answered
Mr.. Brief, the lawyer
"But why this absurd provision about
our sudden death within the hour? |
assure YOU with n nervous little
laugh-"I have no immediate intention
of giving up the ghost. Miss Nora looks
superhly health, and Harold Waring is
at least not an invalid"
Il cannot explain the will at ALL The
old gentleman mad queer fancies gathered
tnlu s.Nfn s,4 Id
you may depend upon it that he was
quite sane and that the testament is abb
soutely valid. | drew it up myself, and
there is no possible flaw IN IT. Let me
call your attention again to another
peculiar provision in the will. You three
are to go ut once into the blue room,
close the door and remain there fifteen
minutes. You will find upon the floor
carved box, which one of you is to Open
1t may possibly be that in that box there
may be some explanation of the terms
of the will. | have the honor to wish
you very good day and long life to
enjoy Your property"
With which Mr.. Waring bowed him.
self out of the room.
My uncle had amassed n large proper
ty in India, where he had led a very curl
Gus life, being familiar with a very mixed
company of natives and whites His CON
hdential valet, Lal Singh, was a man Of
such varied accomplishments that | never
found him looking at me without feeling
the creeps shiver down my back.
|, Nora Waring, was the favorite of
the three kinsfolk who were left my uncle
upon his return to England. He was alb
surdly fond of me, and in continual
fear lest | should make nm unhappy mar
riage to some man unworthy of me.
As to his nepnews. who We're also my
cousins, | had never been able to find out
whether he liked chem or not. Otter |
had observed him looking curiously at
them, and then anxionsly, for my cousins
were patiently, If not confessedly, admir-
ers of mine.
do not know what curious fancies
passed through the minds of my cousins
as the automatic lock of the blue room
clicked behind us, but i confess that for
my part | was ready TO conceive all man
ner of Borgia devices. From the puz-
zled, strained look on the handsome face
of George, | knew he was worrying over
the situation.
As for Harold Waring. he strobe in
with his easy, dehonnaire swing looking
every inch the soldier and gentleman.
The room was bare of all furniture
save desk and small table in one cor
ner, on the top of each OF which lay n
cane walking stick. The carved box men,
toned IN the will stood ON the floor in an
opposite corner.
Let Nora open the box. 1t will be
something for her TO remember when we
laugh about it in the future" suggested
George.
We walked over together to the box,
and | was about TO turn the key when
Harold Warning thrust me roughly on one
side, struck by some sudden impulse of
danger
mo, no. Nora! Let mer' he cried. and
quickly turned the key.
The lid rose from the box before he
had time to touch il and from beneath
1t slid out half dozen horrible Fat heads
and sinuouS necks. | shrieked aloud in
terror and fed screaming across the room
to the door, But the walls flung back
my cries and the door seemed to mock
my efforts to wrench ii open. l was in
a palsy of agony, expecting every mo-
ment to feel the dreadful clutch of death
faSten on me.
Courage, Nora, couragel Wen be all
right little cousin" cried a tremulous
voice in my ear.
The strong arm of Harold Waring was
wrapped about my waist, and | felt my
self propelled toward the table. He lifted
me from the ground and leaped across
a reptile which barred the way. George
Nardon was already covering on the
table. beside himself with terror, all
h'1"HVou sumo. Ills race was aSheu
gray and his limbs shook beneath him
Keep backw he cried; there il no
room for more, and / got here first
Keep back, curse your
He seized the cane which lay on the
table and struck out wildly at us. Har-
table ~ 'i0
There is room for two" he said.
And If there was room for only one.
that one should be Nora, you coward -
lump Harold!' l cried, Jump
i.e ieaped aside just in time 10 avoid
tIe spring of the cobra. He circled
around the room, jumping from side to
side J" , frantic efforts to avoid the
'' ID death that menaced him.
Ny heart stood still. Ii seemed To me
that the room was filed with those
gnaStly. erect, quivering bodies. with
hooded heads, from which shot forked
tongues of death with unnatural, dis.