The San Francisco call., 1906-07-15
FEfG(J)
IIIJTIE

pan end broom. Before she could return
with them she was recalled by a -
from Vark; and on rushing back she
saw Jacob prone on the floor among the
broken china He had tainted, and the
paper was still cIutched in his hand
Bring water@saltsr' cried Vark. his
eyes. filled with q triumphant light at
the s~ccess of his plot My venerable
friend is ill.,
What have you been doing to him?''
demanded Hagar. as she lOosened the
scarf round the old mans neck
II? Nothing! lie read that paper
which fell out of the jar-Jimmy's jar"
added Vark. pointedly-"and went down
like ninepinr
There was a jug Of water on the
table. used by Vark for diluting his gin.
so Hagar sprinkIed the wrinkled face OF
her master with this fluid and slapped
his hands. Vark looked on rather
anxiously. He did not wish the old man
to die, yet; and Jacob was a long time
coming out Of his swoon.
This paper made him faint" said
Vark, removing it from Jacobs feeble
grasp. Let us see what IL says He
knew the contents quite we'll but never
theless he read IL aloud in a distinct
voice for the benefit OF Hagar. Thus
ran the words Memo: To. extract the
Juice of foxglove-a poison difficu1t- TO
death. Small doses daily in old mans
tea or Cruel. He would die in a few
weeks without suspicion. VIII trust
nobody, but will prepare drug myself"
Hagar looked steadily at Vark- Who
wrote that" she said IN a low voice
-the old mans son or-you?'
"I?' cried Vark, with well simulated
indignation. why should write It? Or
how could I write It? The penmanship
is that of James Dix; it was concealed
in his tobacco Jar; the Jar was broken
by accident; you saw 1t yourself. Do
you dare to
Be silentP interrupted Hagar, rails
ing Jacobs head; 'he is reviving"
The old pawnbroker opened his eyes
and looked wildly around. Little by
little his senses returned to him and
he sat up. Then, with the aid OF Hagar,
he climbed into his chair and began to
talk and sigh. 4
Little Jimmie wants me to die" hs
moaned, feebly. "Hagar's son wants to
kill me. Foxglove poison know it,
Not trace does 1T leave after death.
Hagar's SON. Hagar's boy. Parricide
Parraeide" he cried. shaking his two
fists in the air.
He wanted the money, you know
limited Vark, softly
HE shall not have the money" said
Jacob with unnatural energy. I'll
make a new will-PH dfsinherft him.
II. Mr.. Dix? No, nor
II say yes, you jade, Don't cross a
dying man. l am dying; this is my
death blow. Oh. Jimmy. Jimmy VOLTS
cub! My will! Ny willr'
Pushing back Hagar. who strove to
keep him in his chair. he snatched up
the candle and staggered toward the
safe to get his will While he was
blocking within. Vark hastily fumbled
in his capacious pockets When Jacob
replaced the candle on the table. Hagar
saw thereon a sheet of paper covered
with writing; also pen and ink Jacob.
clutching the wills beheld these things
also. and anticipated the questions on
Hagar's lips
What's all this2''
Your new will. Mr.. DIX" explained
Vark, smoothly. IT never did trust
your son, and I knew some day that
you would find him out. I therefore
prepared a will by which you left
everything to Hagar- Or added the
lawyer, taking another document from
his pocket. '1f you choose to make mo
you? You? Eevefr.a shrielSed Jacob.
shaking his fist. "All shall go to Ha- A
gar, the namesake OF my dead wife.
I'm glad you had the sense to see, that
falling Jimmy. I'd leave her my money"
Mr.. Dix" interrupted Hagar, firmly.
IT do not want your money. and you
have no right to rob your son OF
mo right, No right. you jadeI The
money is mfnei minel It shall be yours
I could have forgiven anything to Jim.
my save his wish to poison me-"
Il don't believe he did wish IT." sai6
Hagar, bluntly.
But the paper-his own. handwrft-
ingY cried vark- -
Yes. yes; I know Jimnny's handwrfe-
ing" said Jacob. the veins IN his FORE
head swelling with rage. He Is a
devil-a par-par-" The violence OF
his temper was such that Harar step
ped forward to sooths him. Even vark
felt alarmed
Keep quiet, you old foolrs said he.
roughly; you'll break a blood vessell
Here. sign this will I'll witness it:
and" He stopped. and whist1ed
shrilly A man appeared Here Is an
other witness" said vark. -SignT
TITS a plot! plotP' cried Harar.
Don't sign, Mr.. Dix I don't want the
money"
"Tu make you take Il. hussyrs
snarled Jacob. crushing the will up In
his hand. Il shall leave 1t TO you-not
to Jimmy, the parricide. First III de-
stroy this" With the old will he an
preached the fire and threw IL IN. With
the swiftness of a swallow Hagar dart
ed past him and snatched the docu-
ment away from the flames before 70
was even scorched. Jacob staggered
0ack. MAD with rage. Nark ground his
teeth at her opposition. The stranger
witness looked stolidly on.
NO" cried Hagar. slipping the win
into her pocket. You shall not disin-
herit your son for meP'
s"Give-give-willI' painted jacob, and.
almost inarticulate with rage, he
stretched out his hand. Before he could
draw 1t back he reeled and fell; a tor
rent OF blood poured from his mouth.
He was dead.
You fool!' shrieked vark. stamping.
You've lost a fortuner'
I've saved ny honestyr' retorted
Hagar, aghast at the sudden death.
Jimmy shall have the money"
"Jimmyl jimmy sneered Vark.
wrathfully. DO you know who Jimmy
is?'
'TYes-the rightful heirr'
Quite so. you jade-and the red haired
Goliath who drove you to this pawn
shopi'
1T is a liei"
TT Is the TRUTH You have robbad
yourself to enrich your enemy"
Hagar looked at the sneering face OF