Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-03-26

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turbed at the new situation brought ABOUT
by the disappearance OF MT. CRAWFORD
will But apparently the main reason Tor
his disturbance was the impending pow
erty of his fiancee. There was no doubt
that Mr. Carstairs and others who had
called this man fortune hunter hao
judged him rightly.
However, without further words on the
subject. / waited while Hall locked the
door Of the Office. and then we went to-
gether to the great drawing room, where
the funeral services were about to take
place.
purposely selected a position from
which I could see the faces Of the group
of people most nearly connected with the
dead man. had strange FEELING, as
looked at them. that one OF them might
be the instrument of the crime which hao
brought about this funeral occasion.
During the services / looked closely
and in turn at each face. but beyond the
natural emotions Of grief which might ne
expected. 1 could read nothing more.
The brother Philip Crawford: the near
neighbors, Mr.. Porter and Mr.. Hamiiton'
the lawyer, Mr. Randolph, all sat looking
grave and solemn as they heard the last
words spoken above their dead friend.
The ladies Of the household. quietly con-
trolling their emotions. sat near me. ana
next to Florence Lloyd Gregory Hall had
seated himself.
All Of these people I watched closely.
half hoping that some inadvertent sign
might tell me OF some ones knowledge
Of the secret. But when the clergyman
referred to the retrbution that would
sooner or later overtake the criminal
could see an expression Of fear or appre-
hension on no face save that OF Florence
Lloyd. She turned even whittier than be-
fore, her pale lips compressed In
straight line, and her small black-gloved
hand softly crept into that OF Gregory
Hall. The movement was not generally
noticeable but it seemed to me pathetic
above all things. Whatever her position
in the matter she was surely appealing
to him for help and protection.
without directly repulsing her. Hall
was far from responsive. He allowed her
hand to rest in his own, but gave her no
answering pressure, and looked distinctly
relieved when. after q moment, she with
drew 1t.
served this, and I could see that to him
it was an indication of the girls per-
turbed spirit To me 1t seemed that II
might equally well mean many other
things. For instance. 1t might mean her
apprehension for Gregory Hall. who. 1
couldn't help thinking, was far more like
ly to be q wrongdoer than the girl her
self
With a little sigh / gave up trying to
CLEAN much information from the present
opportunity. and contented myself with
the melancholy pleasure 1t gave me sim
ply to look at the sad. sweet face OF the
girl who was already enshrined I'm my
heart.
After the solemn and rather elaborate
obsequies were over q little assembly
gathered in the library to hear the read
ingrof the will.
As, until then. no one had known Of the
disappearance Of the will, except the
lawyer and the secretary. IT came as a
thunderbolt
II have no explanation to offer" said
Mr. Randolph. looking greatly concerned.
but free Of all personal responsibility.
MIR. Crawford always kept the will in
his own Possession. When he came to see
me, the last evening he was alive, in re-
gard to making a new will. he did not
bring the old one with him. We ar
ranged to meet in his office the next
morning to draw up the new instrument.
when he doubtless expected to destroy
the old one He may have destroyed it
on his return home that evening. 1 do
not know. But SO far 1t has not been
found among his papers in either OF his
offices or in the bank. OF course 1t may
has not yet been exhaustive. We will.
therefore, hold the matter in allegiance a
few days. hoping to find the missing
document"
His hearers were variously affected by
this news. Florence Lloyd was simply
dazed She could not seem to grasp a
situation which so suddenly changed her
prospects. For she we'll knew that in the
event Of no will being found, Joseph
Crawford's brother would be his rightful
heir, and she would be legally entitled to
nothing at all.
Philip Crawford sat with an utterly ex-
pressionless face. Quite able to control
his emotion. il he felt any. he made no
sign that he welcomed this possibility OF
a great fortune unexpectedly coming to
him.
Lemuel Porter, who. with his wife, had
remained because of their close friend
ship with the family, spoke out rather
abruptly:
"Find 1t! OF course it must be found.
It's absurd to think the man destroyed
one will before the other was drawn
II agree with you." said Philip Craw-
ford. Joseph WAS very methodical in his
really have changed his will. / think he
merely threatened It. to see IL Florence
persisted in keeping her engagement"
This was generous speech on the part
Of Philip Crawford. To be sure. gen.
erosity OF speech couldn't effect the dts
1t must by law 90 to the brother. but
none the less the hearty, whole-souled
way in which he spoke OF Miss Lloyd was
greatly to his credit as q man.
LAS you know. I called on Mr.. Joseph
Crawford during the-the last evening OF
his life."
The speaker paused. and indeed it must
have been q sad remembrance that pic
tured itself to his mind.
did he then refer to the matter Of the
will?" asked Mr.. Randolph. in gentle
tones
HE did. Little was said on the SUBJ
ject, but he told me that unless Florence
consented to his wishes In the matter Of
her engagement to Mr.. Hall, he would
make q new will. leaving her only q small
bequest.'
I'm what manner did you respond. Mr..
Porter"
II didn't presume to advise him def
nitely, but I urged him not to be too hard
on the girl, and. at any rate. not to make
q new will until he had thought 1t over
more deliberately"
What did he then say?"
Nothing Of any definite import. He
began talking Of other matters and the
will was not again referred to. But
can't help thinking he had not destroyed
It,"
At this Miss Lloyd seemed about to
speak, but glancing at Gregory Hail, she
gave q little sigh and remained silent.
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