El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1912-04-29
The Witness
By A. C. Greenwood.

a MID the swish of the rainstorm
"A and the pattering Of the huge
drops upon the trees which over
hung the cleaning surface Of the Win
chester road; amid the gurgling and
bubbling OF full bitches and cutters,
amid the sough OF the wind, Nickel
$50 called by his pals on account OF
his exploits in stripping or nick
ing everything of value from unIor-
tunate and unconscious persons with
whom he came in cOntact) slOuched on,
his footsteps almost inaudible-
Then, where the road DIPS over Iue
steaming orchard, ne saw the gables,
the smoking chimneys, the Illuminated
windows Of Widehenger cottage.
Presently he crept to water-butt
and reconnOitered round its bellying
b side. Through a window before which
the blind had been half lowered ana
the curtains hung in a wide inverted
~" he saw by the light of a flicker
ing fire the CLEAN Of silver upon Ia
bic laid out tOr meal
1t made his fingers itch and tWitch
and mis- eyes grow hard, greedy and
glinting. One sliding. silent step en-
abled him to make sure that the room
was empty, its door shut, the window
unbOlted-
FooIhardy it might be, reflected
Nickel as he inserted the tips Of his
fingernails between sash and sill But
il looked easy. It was-tO his mind
an invitation. The window rolled noise
lessly up. Nickel peered in Gingerly
he raised one leg, lifted ii over the
sill and put it to the carpet; cautious
y the other followed suit
on tip-tOe he crept to the table Ea%
gerly he snatched up three or four
heavy Apostle spoons, an ashtray,
bOnbon dish. He had heard nothing
The opening of the door found him
totally unprepared- A tall. black
bearded man in evening dress /stalked
into the room.
Nickel caught up a mustard pot,
flung il with unerring aim straight
in the mans face, and sprang towards
the window His disturber. with
howl of rage and pain. leapt forward.
Selling Nickel by his skinny neck with
one hand and by one ankle with the
other, Nickel felt himself bent back
ward in a bow, then flung through the
air
ing thud in the fender His aSsailaut-
when Nickel had eyes to see-was
quietly wiping his face and beard
free from mustard. and staring at him
brimly.
Never learnt to put a wedge under
the door to prevent your being intruded
upOn2" he asked with an ugly. mirth-
less laugh. You're a novice, I guess
After q moments silence he went to
the door, flung it open. and shouted
Bill. come here Billr'
a younger man baWled a reply and
came swiftly downstairs. The older
man met him at the door Nickel heard
the one called Bill sharply eXclaim,
heard the others persuasive tones,
though he could not distinguish what
he said.
We'll. Jem, it's great-if It works."
commented Bill at length
Both of them entered the room. Jem
ordered Nickel curtly TO get up.
anL Ha hac
we've a proposition for YOU. Accept it.
and we'll let yOu go and give you a SOW
ereign besides. Refuse, and the police
will be sent for"
'WOt is it?" gasped Nickel Strike
me. I'm on, Wot IS it,"
1T is this. Upstairs there lies an old
gentleman who is extremely ILL., He
has just made new will YOu may
know that two witnesses are re-
Quired for a will. Ny brother here
would be one--I wish you to be the
other"
And that's alp" 'queried Nickel in
establishment.
That's all" said Jem nodding. "ex-
cepting this. Mr.. Onslows ul-yoUr
appearance might disturb him We
want you to see him sign, but we
don't want him to see you. 1t might
give him a shock You must be pre-
pared to swear in a court Of law, IL
necessary, that you were here at 9:45,
that you saw him sign his name, and
that you witnessed the signature. Do
you agree?"
In course I do" calculated Nickel.
smiling with relief Nat 'ArringtOn-s
fny name. an I'll sign 1t anywhere. Is
the old gent ready, sir2''
Bill disappeared for IS minutes or
So Nickel sat on the edge OF a chair
twirling his hat. steaming. Jem re-
glrded him thOughtfully.
Right" cried Bill over the bannis-
ters
Come up" nodded Jem.
Nickel climbed the stairs in high
fea Their His luck was in. he thought:
A sover-rine-gOOd bizi''
The room Jem nodded to him to enter
was but dimly lit he heard Bill say:
Mr. OnslOw-here Is the second wit
ness as he entered. Bill motiOned
him to stand behind the head of the
bed. From that position Nickel saw
the lnvalid's bald head. his bowed
back cropped up with many pillows.
and his fragile pale hands-whiter
than the sheet they lay on. He watched
BIZ bend down sOlicitously pen in
nand, document lying upon a pad
grpped in his fingers. Jem leaned