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

"A WHY SAID Royce, ralSlng MS
eyebrows
BERTHE nodded excitedly.
Eyes. will. The will of old Lord
Arrowhead"
Nonsense" said Royce moistenine
his lips and smiling.
But it vast" said BERTHE, triumph
antly; land I'll show 1t to you directly
The will OF Lord Arrowhead, Stuart
Villiars' uncle, you know"
II know" said Royce. Left all his
money to Stuart Villiars!"
Yes" assented BERTHE; "and that's
the strange part of 1t! He hid II
somewhere in the back Of this picture
and how viii Stuart Villlars be
placed?"
Royce felt himself growing white.
"Oh, you read 1t, them" he said, in
quiringly.
1t seemed to him an hour-a year
before the answer came.
mo, / didn't read It! | was just
about it when Vassel came! | had
got as far as a dozen lines, perhaps,
but tho lawyers terms in 1.-THE
'saids' and 'aforesaids' me. "
so you cont know anything about
it?" said Royce, a wild delight running
through his veins.
mo, not the sense OF It! | put it
aside when 7 went out. Well read 1t
now, Royce; you're cleverer at that
sort of thing than am, and will know
what to do, To tell you the truth, ]
feel as If had stolen the thing! Never
found a will before in my life. you
know"
Royce laughed
Il can quite understand your feel
ings," he said. Let us have look at
it,"
BERTHE turned and thrust his hand
behind the clock, then his face length
ened with a look of surprise.
That's rum" he said, thoughtfully;
Il put it behind there!"
"Here?" said Royce, shifting the
clock There is nothing herc,"
"Then-where-d | put it?' NUT
tered BERTHE, knitting his brows. 81
could have sworn put it there; just
out of sight you know. My man came
in while | was reading 1t, and feeling
as | say. like n criminal of the deepest
dye. hid II away"
You didn't hide 1t here, evidently,
said Royce, carelessly; did you lock
1t up?"
No" said Bertic; the keys are in
my bedroom, and | didn't go in there. y
But he went to the bureau notwith-
standing, and searched 1t. NO. no;
am sure didn't put it anywhere else
than there Bless my soul, distinctly
remember doing sol"
NONSENSE" said Royce, laughing
softly. you think you did you mean,
It's the easiest thing in the world to
make a mistake of that kind! You
must have put it somewhere else in
the hurry of the moment"
But where?" demanded BERTHE, i'm
patiently. II tell you | got up from
the seat there and put it behind the
clock. Great Heavens! | can see my,
self doing it now
ihpNNt Subph HIS Htdu.
whenever one loses anything. one
is always sure of putting it in some
particular place-and then finding il
somewhere else" he said.
BERTHE thrust his hands through his
short curls in the deepest pcrpleXity,
ITS most extraordinary, he said
and then hunted about the room. It's
only waste of time!" he exclaimed al
last; Il know put it there"
Strange" remarked Royce "Yor
say YOU burnt the france"
Il didn't s6y sol" said BERTHE. 81
left 1t here on the table--some of IT. al
any ate"
We'll, somebody has burnt 1t. any
way" said Royce. pointing his foot a
the fire: there are bits Of the Woo
smouldering now. And there is 10
of paper ashes, too, he added "Why
BERTHE, it's my opinion you flung tha
precious Will on the fire."
NONSENSE" exclaimed BERTHE. i'm
patiently; II am not such a fool as t,
90 that! What are you about 70
Royce was down on his knees and wa
stirring about the ashes under tn
crate.
Looking for the will. my dear boy.
he said. lightly No there is n,
trace of it, Stop What's this?" an,
and he held out the fragment he ha,
cut off and half burned.
BERTHE took it, and his face went pal
at the scrap of paper.
Great heavens, Royce" he eXclain
ed, under his breath. this is it,"
Royce rose and brushed the dus
from his trouser knees before answe'
ing.
Are you sure?" he said.
"Surc! Yes! Here are the word
Last Will and Testament" Gres
heavens, what is to be done? wi
take my oath that didn't put II on tn
fire, Roycen"
Royce looked at his distressed an
anxious countenance and laughe
easily.
IF not. who did," he said lightly.
1T must have been that idiot of