Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1907-09-24
CHAPTER II.
CHAPTER N.
"IY1 DON'T know what you
Isl 4 mean" said BeecOt
P%1@r~1 The lawyer aroused him
s.s.as5.g self To mike q concise


understand" he said in his nervous.
irritable way, these ladies claim to
be the wife and daughter of Lemuel
hriIl, whom we knew as Aaron Nor
man."
"And l think by his real name also"
said the elder woman in her deep,
smooth contralto voice and with the
display of an admirable set of teeth.
Norman was not your husband.
madam" cried Paul Indignantly.
81 agree with you, sir. Lcmuel Kriil
was my husband I saw in the news
papers, which penetrate even into the
quiet little Hauts village l live in that
Aaron Norman had been murdered. |
never thought he was the man who
had left me more than twenty years
ago with an only child to bring up.
But the bills Offering the reward as
Sured me that Norman and KriIl are
one and the same man. Therefore,"
she drew herself up and looked pierre
inSly at the young man, Il have come
TO see after the property. 1 understand
from the papers that my daughter is
an heiress to millions"
Not Millions" said Pash hastily
1.-THE newspapers have exaggerated
the amount Five thousand Il year.
madam, and it is left to Sylvia
'Who IS Sylvan asked Mrs. Irill
in the words of Shakespeare's song.
"She is the daughter of Mr.. Nor
man." said Paul quickly, land is en-
gagged to marry me"
Mrs. Krills eyes Travelled over his
shabby suit from head to foot and
then back again from foot to head.
She glanced sideways ut her compan-
ion, and the girl laughed in Il hard,
contcmptuOus manner. Il fear you
will be disappointed in losing a rich
wife, SIR" said the elder woman
sweetly.
81 have not lost the money yet" re
piled Paul hotly. Not that care
for the money, but 1 do care for Syl-
via Norman
"With whom l have nothing to do"
''She is your husbands daughter"
But not mine. This is my daughter,
Maud-the legal daughter of Lemuel
and myself she added meaningly.
Good heavens, madam cried Zee
cot, his face turning white. What
do you mean?"
Paul sat down and concealed his face
with a grOan. He was thinking not
50 much of the loss of the money, al
though that was a consideration, as Of
the shame Sylvia would feel at her pc
sition. Then q CLEAN of hope darted
into his mind. "Mr. Norman was mar
ried to Sylvia's mother under his owl
name. You can't prove the marriage
void"
81 have no wish to. When did thi!
marriage take place."
Beecot looked at the lawyer, whit
replied, "Twenty-twO years ago." anC
he gave the date.
Mrs. Krill fished in Il black morocco
bag she carried and brought out ;
shabby blue envelope. 81 thought thi
might be needed, she said, passing i
TO Pash. You will find there my mar
rage certificate. l became the wifi
of Lemuel KTll thirty years ago. And
as l am still living. l fear the late
marriage She smiled blandly an,
shrugged her shoulders.
Throwing back his head, Paul re
tOrted, You forget, madam, there
u will"
Mrs. Krill's fresh color turned to
dull white and her hard eyes shot fire
"a will" she said slowly. II shall dis
pute the will if it is not in my favol
l am the widow of this man and
claim full justice. Besides" she wen
on, wetting her full lips with he
tongue, Il understood from the news
papers that the money was left to Nj
KriIl's daughter"
Paul rose and flung back his hea
again. You have not got the none
yet, madam" he said defantly.
Not at all disturbed, Mrs. Krill smile
her eternal smile. Il am here to get i
There is a will, you say" she added
turning to Pash. "And | understan
from this gentleman" she indicate
Beecot slightly. that the money,is lei
to Mr.. KriIIs daughter. Does he nam
Maud or Sylvia?" =
Pash slapped down the certificate il
ritably. He names no one. The wi
is a hasty document, badly wordeC
and simply leaves all the testator die
POoSNTNa'N VI lO-lLly tlduSultl.
(Which of course means Maud her
/ congratulate you, dear" she salt
turning to the girl. who looked happ
and flushed. Your father has mad
mp to us both for his cruelty and d.
serton."
Seeing that there was nothing to b
said, Paul went to the door, But ther
his common sense left him and b
made valedictory speech 81 kno,
that Mr.. Krill left the money to Sy
via"
"Oh, no." said the widow, ''to hi
daughter, as l understand the wordin
of the will runs. In that case til
nameless girl has nothing"
"Pash" cried Beecot, turning d.
spairingly to the little solicitor.
The old man shook his head an
sucked in his cheeks. Il am sorry, NJ
Beecot," said he in a plying ton
''but as the will stands the money mu!