Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1905-07-28
CHAPTER XVI.-(Continued.l

' cry well. SAID David. But you
can't touch the money without the pa
pers, can you? Without talking Of those
coupons for the present, what should you
say supposing | was to show you now
this minute-one of the other papers that
were in the box?"
DO you mean it, David? do you mean
it?'
L mean business, uncle. I mean sell
ing, not giving
Il suppose" said Daniel, trying to
preserve Il calm exterior, but trembling
down to the tips of his fngers-"I sup
pose, David, that the man who has the
box has communicated with you because
he thinks you are my enemy|
You may suppose. so, uncle, if you
like"
Papers stolen from me-papers the
unlawful possession of which would in
sure him a long imprisonment"
Just as you like uncle. Ony-don't
you see?-at the first mention of the
word Imprisonment all these papers
would be dropped into the fire"
Show me-prove to me-that yon
know something about the box"
L am going to prove it to you" Da-
vid left the door and came back to the
table, standing over his luncle. What
will you give me, | ask you gain, for
only one paper out of the box, just to
prove that the other papers exist?
What paper is it?'
\ on shall see; one of the papers that
are worth nothing. l have actually got
It in this packet, and you shall have it
II you give me ten pounds for it; not a
penny less-ten pounds. If you refuse.
and | have to take it back, ten pounds
worth OF the coupons shall be torn up
and burned. Tomorrow | shall come
back and make the same proposal, and
the next day the same, and every day
that you refuse you shall have ten
pounds worth Of those coupons burned.
When they are all gone you will be
sorry"
'Oh. l don't know what this man
means" the old man cried in distress.
Nephew, | am getting tired of this
Show me the paper if you have it with
you, and | will tell you what | will do.
Put it into my hands"
well, | don't mind doing that If
you tear it up | shall want the ten
pounds just the same. 1t doesn't matter
to me if you tear up all the papers.
Movie unfolded the brown paper
packet-"what do you think of this ?
The last will and testament of Daniel
Leighan.'"
He placed it in his uncle's hands
This is a precious document, truly"
said Daniel, "a valuable document. Why,
man, I've made another will since"
Il don't care how many wills you have
made. | don't care whether it is valua-
BILE to you or not. TO me it is ten
pounds. Tear it up or burn it, just as
you like. But ten pounds"
You are demon, David. You were
only a fool when you went away. You
have come back a demon"
who made me, then? You. Come,
don't let us talk any more. There is
Your paper. Give me my ten pounds and
| will go. Tomorrow or next day, just
as | please, | shall come back"
Daniel Leghans hands trembled and
he hesitated But he did not doubt his
nephew's words. He knew that the box
had been somehow recovered, and that
the papers were within David's reach,
if not in his power
He opened his desk and took out of it
one of those little round boxes which
are made for bottles of marking ink. A
sovereign just fits into those boxes. He
kept one in his desk filled with sover-
eigns. Mary went over to Moreton once
month to get the money for him. He
held this box tightly in his left hand and
began very slowly to count out ten
pounds.
Here, David" he said, with Il heavy
sigh; here is the money. If you had
read this will you would have found
yourself put down for something good.
Well, so far l forgive you. But don't
tempt me too much, or you may find my
real last will and testament Il very diff
ferent thing. You are my nephew, Da-
vid-my only nephew-and I've got a
good deal to leave"
LAS for my Inheritance, uncle, l an
going to take it out of you bit by bit
a little to-day and a little tomorrow |
shall enjoy it better that way. | think
that's ALL Oh. no. You may be Ink
ing to charge me with unlawful posses
sion of your property. If you do, the
whole of the papers will go into the fire.
Remember that. And now, uncle, |
think I've done good mornings work
Take care not to talk about this little
matter to any one or it will be the worse
for you-mind, not to Mary or to George
or to anybody. If you breathe a word,
all the papers go into the fire.
CHAPTER XNII
When Mary came in about one O'clock
to clear the table and lay the cloth for
dinner she found her uncle in a very
surprising condition. He was in tears.
Daniels papers lay untouched upon the
table. and he had turned his head unto
his pillows, as Ahab turned his unto the
wall.
why, uncle" cried Mary, whatever
is the matter?"
Il wish l was dead Mary. l wish l
,,os doc a and hurled and that If was q II