The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-05-31
CHAPTER LII.

TT He silence was tense for several
minutes John Stevens face

TT HE silence was tense for several
minutes. John Stevens face
changed with a score Of different
emotions, and finally settled down
into cool, C0ntemptuOGS aspect
that chilled Bob, when he CHANGED to
glance UP and eaten his uncle's eye
Alice Arlington started for the door.
No one stopped he- and she passed
through, hurrying 10 her room.
Phil Darling stood with month half
open and a great wonder in his eyes
Close that door, Phil commanded
Uncle Jack, when the trio were alone
again.
PM did as he was bid and came back
to his place beside Bob. The two
nephews stood together before their
guardian.
You'll remember our talk this morn
ing, boys" began John Stevens, clear
ing his throat and looking from one 10
the other I have come to another
sudden conclusion. / am going 70 town
as soon as possible and change my will.
l will be able TO go down day after to-
nc rroW, If my cold gets better, and I
intend to make Phil my sole heir. In
view OF your treachery. rank treachery,
Bob, / will cut you OF without a cent -
Bob growled to himself, but made no
reply.
But. uncIe,' Phil began to protest.
John Stevens hand flashed into the
air, a signal of warning.
Not another word" ne ordered. This
is the hardest thing that has come into
my life for some time. had equal
hopes for you two boys and the same
pride IN you both, but for the last year
Bob has been a great disappointment
to me- This last is objectionable"
Here's good luck to you. Phil.
Bob jumped from his chair and forced
laugh as he grasped his cousins hand.
But beneath his affected exterior there
was a crue! CLEAN of jealousy that the
uncle readily recognized. Il don't sup
pose L can stay around here much
longer anyway As soon as / can az
rance my affairs I'll get out and let you
two people live alone. You'll be happier
wit out me, anyhow. / wish you all
possible happiness with Alice"
With that he abruptly left the room.
Don't worry about this AFFAIR.
Phil" said his uncle. You'll win out
you, and I know exactly what your
feeling for her Is You see, once knew
an old-fashioned girl myself. She was
oh. go to bed. boy
The uncle snapped of abruptly, and
Phil left the room
In the morning Bob did not appear
at breakfast, and Immediately after the
meal Alice went away. She had thought
allied that she could not stay longer in
the house.
Her faith in Phil was unaItered. bur
there was that doubt which she had to
combat continually, and ii was too
much for her.
Uncle Jacks cold was woHse, ana ne
stayed INDOORS all day nursing 1t, While
Phil took a long walk In the country 70
think things over.
The whole affair was much harder
for John Stevens. Age was beginning
| TO tell upon him, and he had enter
tanned such great hopes for his two
uephews. To have to disinherit Cne
would be hard. but he must do IL Phil
| had always been the man on whom he
could relvi the other always was unde-
penLg lie aud weak.
He would have to go to town the
next day, no matter how his cold was,
and make a new will, as well as tear
up the one lying in the bank vault
there.
| Bob spent the day in his room. He
was figuring on the possibility OF max
/ ing the old will stand. It seemed quite
| hopeless, and yet his MIND continually
| reverted to what IL would mean for him
| il his uncle did not make a new will
| Several times he thought Of imploriue
/ his uncle to give him one more chance.
But that had proven futile before, and
| he did not like to suggest IL. Besides
| his anger towards Uncle Jack and Phi
was great that he could not humble
/ himself in any way.
| At dinner last night Bob appeared for
/ the first time. The meal was eaten in
/ mechanical fashion, and nothing but
the merest trifies were talked Of by the
/ three.
s'WelI, I've got to go down town early
| tomorrow morning" sighed Uncle Jack
| finally.
Both e his nephews understood what
that me~nt. but neither remarked about
Il.