Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-11-15

Muldridge was one Of those men 7
who are so dead set in their ways that |
they are liable to oyerreach them
selves He was so anxious to get rich |
that he wouldn't marry lest the ex-
pense Of a family would prevent his |
accomplishing his object When he
had accumulated a fortune he found
himself without chick or q child in
the world to pass it on to. Then it
was a splendid property, consisting OF
houses and lands. He couldn't enjoy
it himself. He was too old. If he had
q son he might be interested during
his last days teaching the boy how to
take care of it and at his death see 1t
pass into the possession of his own
flesh and blood.
! But, not having son or child at
all, he set himself to make such pro-
vision as would insure the passage of
| his estate to one of his nleces. If he
had had a nephew he would have left
| it to him. But he hadn't a nephew,
ard of his two nieces, one, the daugh-
ter of his sister Anna, was but twelve
the other, the daughter of his sister
Elizabeth, thirteen. Had he not been
so wrapped up In his fortune as
| whole and DESTROYS of having 1t 60 as
whole to a descendant he would
have left half OF 1t to one niece and
half to the other. But his object was
to provide for it remaining undivided
rather than to make any person or per-
sons happy. Indeed, he didn't wish to
I ,ol- lie n
light to make persons miserable. Not
exactly that either; he loved to sc.
them at odds He would sell the same
thing to or buy 1t from two different
persons. then set them to quarreling
over which should have the preference,
while he looked on without taking any
part in the wrangling.
Like most persons who wish to indi-
rectly retain the management of their
property after death, Muldridge made
will with that intent He left his
estate in the hands of a trustee till his
niece, Alice Mortimer, and her younger
cousin, Sadie Brown, should have
passed twenty years Of age. On the
latter's twentieth birthday at II o'clock
noon the trustee was to announce In
presence of both girls that the one first
married should inherit the whole of his
estate. His main object was to do all
he could toward having a posthumous
grandnephew. and he further tied up
the estate so that 1t should go to the
first son born to the niece who should
D.! win 1t.
And so 1t came about that Misses
Alice Mortimer and Sadie Brown grew
up neither of them knowing that when
Sadie should reach her twentieth birth
day they would be called upon to hur
~ for husband or lose fortune. II
may be supposed that had they beer
informed of the terms of their uncle:
!, will each would have provided mar
for the occasion. But 1t is questionable,
II this is so. Miss Mortimer was al
incorrigible flirt, and it is doubtful Il
even the contingent possession o
wealth would enable her to make III
her mind between several men she ha(
dangling about her. Miss Brown wa
a demure little body, and since it woul'
be necessary for her to intimate t.
ct some man that she would like him t
marry her it Is quite likely that sh
:, would lose the inheritance.
Muldridge died year before thi
p birthday OF Sadie Brown on whicl
hung half a million dollars. His trus
tee, John Andrews who by the term
" of the will was to DC well paid out o
the estate for keeping the secret, sue
ceeded admirably in holding his tongu
and few days before Miss Brown
| ha RI IN a
that bequest of their uncle, MART
Muldridge, in which they were col
cerned would be made known to then
They were to come to the trustees o.
r fee half an hour before noon ths
IT there might be no slip in complianc
with the law.
Ie The cousins had not been near neigl
bors and scarcely knew each othe
Both arrived at the trustees offiC
lg promptly at 11:30 o'clock and greete
each other in a friendly manner. II
deed, they had reason to be please
with the situation, as they supposed
to be, for it was to be inferred thu
Is each was to come in for a nice shal
of Uncle Martins estate. They sat cha
ting till the clocks began to strike 1
ne when the trustee entered from his pr
IN vate Office with the Muldridge will
his hand and. untying the red tai
about II, read them the documen
When he had finished he said to then
young ladies, you have heard Il
provisions OF the will. If either of yC
marries 1t will be to your interest
VI request the clergyman who marries "
to carefully note the hour, minute al
second and make affidavit to that e
feet before a notary or such person
is authorized to take acknowled
ments"
The two girls sat gaping at the tru
tee for few moments: then Miss Nc
: timer began TO culver with excitemer
while her cousin took on a bewilder'
look. II was an abominabe situate
" for any man to bring about betwe'
two estimable girls. and no one but
crochety old skIniint would ha
thought of such thing.
Up jumps Miss Mortimer and leav
>, the room. bent on finding one Of
lovers marrying him and aDDroDriI