The Washington herald., 1906-12-18

large interest in the viii that il is better
| should remain away. I shall stay here
And you. Miss Malleson?"
Il shall stop also. said Alice in reply
TO a look from Durham. You go up with
Mr.. Durham, aunt"
Come along then. said Miss Berenga-
ria, Fastening out Of the room; the sooner
this Is over the better. Ugh. I hate wills.
They put me in mind of the family vault.
and 1 can't last long now
The lawyer followed. and Miss Berengs-
ria led him up narrow stair which con
Quoted 10 the turret-rOOm in which the
false Bernard was lying. At the foot Of
this stair she stopped. Durham" she
said abruptly. do you mean to let this
man execute this false win?''
Yes I wish julius Beryl TO commit
himself beyond recall
What VIII you do them"
Il cant say One thing at a time
When the viii is executed We viii watch
Beryfs attitude. Something will happen.
added Durham. thinking Of the incrimi-
mating handkerchief IN his possession
Yes" said Miss Berengaria, climbing
the stairs with a briskness surprising in a
woman of her years, something viii hap
pen. This poor forswOrn wretch up
stairs viii die"
But I thought you said
Il know ! did. / could help him back 20
llfe with careful nursing. and I wish TO
do so. since ! think there is good IN the
rascal. But Berry,. having had the VIII
mace. wil-kiH him Yes" added she.
nodding, 'there viii be "a repetition Of the
crime. / believe Beryl himself killed ST.
mon-the Old-no. he is dead. Let US be
just
What makes you think julius Beryl
killed Sir Simon?"
Nothing, snapped Miss Berengaria:
The looks Ike d murderer" Durham
smiled To himself as he went up the stairs
and wondered at her acUteness in thus
hitting the nail on the head. When the
viii was executed julius certainly might
attempt to get rid Of the instrument he
had used as he had nd himself Of Sir
Simon. but in the house Of Miss Berenga-
ria this would be "a more difficult matter
And II be tries anything OF that sort on.
thought Durham. III have him arrested
at once for the first murder Meantime,
let as see how far he viii proceed with
the plot
The young man lying IN bed was very
weak. His face was thin and pale and
his scrUbby beard Was now longer He
looked haggaTd and anxious, and started
up when the door opened. 1t is only
Durham and T. Bernard" said SIiss Ber-
| engaria IN = soft voice we have come
about the viii.
Michael raised himself on his elbow.
Have you got it," be asked
Yes. said Durham. producing the
document Miss Plantagent viii you
please call up your maid 10 witness it,
While the old lady rang the bell and
Michael read the will, the lawyer looked
closely at the invalid He was wonder
fully ike Bernard and but that Durham
knew that the real Gore was IN another
place he might have been deceived
Michael was clever enough 10 feign Ill
| ness as an excuse for talking little. as
he evidently dreaded TO say much, lest
! Alice or Durham should question his
! identity The whole deception was clev-
| erly carried out. Michael even attempted
/ to account for any difference in his sigma
ture.
7 feel so weak can't write as firmly
as I used to- he said, when the maid
| entered the room. so you must not be
| surprised II my signature is unlike my
usual one"
! If il is as good as the writing in your
| letter, shan't complain" said Durham,
wheeling a small table near 10 the bed.
! Michael looked at him sharply, and
| seemed relieved by this remark He
/ evidently thought that all was well and
/ safe. and heard Durham read the viii
( with closed eyes. Then. raising himself
on his elbow. he signed his name with
/ apparent difficulty. Il was wonderfully
/ like the signature OF Bernard. Miss
/ Plantagenet and Maria appended their
/ SIGNATURES as witnesses Then Durham
put the will into an envelope and prepared
TO go down Michael stopped him.
Mark" he said. using the name
Bernard usually called the lawyer by,
don't you think am looking better?''
Il think you are very i'll, said Dur
! ham, gently.
But you don't think III die?"
I hope not. With nursing you may
| get better"
NichaeTs face assumed an expression
| Of terror. I won't die" he mOened.
sinking back Il want 20 get well and
enjoy myself"
Hush! hushr7 said Miss Berengaris,
folding the clothes around him; no more
of this unhealthy talk. You will get
| we'll
| With Durham. she left the room. while
Maria remained 10 attend on the patient
/ Well said Durham, in a low voice,
you see he expects to get we'll now that
he has signed the will. / daresay he viii
disappear The body of Bernard viii be
/ found. and Michael win share the estate
/ with Beryl"
I don't think so. said Miss Planta-
genet. grimly. Berry, viii now murder
this poor reptile, and take all the money
! to himself"
I fear his expectations viii be disap-
pointed" said the lawyer. dryiy.
To BE CONTINUED TOMORROW.