Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-01-30
The Argus Daily Story
The aeologist-By F. A. Mitchell.
Copyrighted 1918. By Associated Literary Bureau.

inscriptions on bricks three or four
thousand years old. reading cures for
toothache, corn salves and solutions
for the itch" his father fell i'll and
soon became convinced that he had not
long to live. Calling Edith to him, he
told her what she already knew-that
she was his heir.
81 won't have 1t, papa" she said.
Your fortune belongs to Louis and
not TO me at all except such amount as
you choose to leave me for a gift"
The old man was greatly pleased at
this ingenious and unseIfsh statement.
especially since he knew Of his wife's
desire that he should cut off his son in
favor OF her daughter.
Louis" continued Edith has shown
more common sense than you. papa.
He hasn't a business hair in his head.
and you could never make one grow
there. He'll make reputation in the
profession he has chosen that we shall
all be proud of. See If he doesn't"
"A reputation for digging up dead
persons who should be suffered to re-
main in their graves. However, I'll
think over what you say. and maybe
I'll make Will leaving the bulk of the
estate to Louis, providing for you lib
orally ut the same time. But II you
really wish me to do so you'd better
not mention it to your mother. One
reason that influences me is that If
leave IT all to you she will manage it
for you, and II Louis should need any
OF 1t he won't get it-not from her"
After awhile Mr.. Robson's condition
was such that Edith wrote Louis that
If he wished to see his father alive he
had better come home. Louis returned
the day of his fathers death In an in
terview between the two Robson ad-
mitted that he had been wrong In the
matter OF his sons career. and Louis
expressed a regret that he had not at
least tried to fulfil his fathers desire
The night after this interview and
Mr.. Robson's death Louis was suffer-
ing remorseful feeling. natural under
the circumstances. but not warranted
by the facts. Not being able to sleep,
he got out of bed and. throwing on a
dressing gown. started to go downstairs
to the dining room for some refresh
ment that he hoped would induce slum-
Der. AS he left his room he saw a
fash of light at the other end OF the hall.
Thinking that burglars were In the
house. he went cautiously toward II.
BY continuous flashes he was guided
to room his father had used for an
office. Through the crack made by the
door being partly open he saw his step
mother with an electric lamp hunting
through papers in a tin box she had
taken from a closet She found one
that she appropriated, but evidently
was not satisfied. Hearing a slight
sound that Louis made involuntarily,
she gave up the search. and. seeing
that she was about to come out OF the
roOIn, Louis reiterated.
Believing that his stepmother's
search had some connection with his
fathers disposition of his property.
Louis thought a long while over the
,, matter. In the room Mrs. Robson had
visited was a desk. His father had
long ago showed him drawer opened
by secret spring and told him that
he kept there any paper of impor-
lance he feared might be lost or
stolen. Louis determined to open this
drawer and see if it contained any
thing of moment. As he approached
the room he perceived a light in it.
Drawing near, he looked in and saw
/ his stepsister, Edith, hunting through
/ the tin box. Not finding what she
wanted. she went to the Desk. pressed
| a spring. opened a drawer and took
.
/ come out when she started at seeing
/ Louis.
/ What does this mean. EdieT' he
| asked
What mean?" she said. her bosom
heaving.
"An hour ago ! was coming down
/ stairs to get a biscuit and | saw your
! mother ransacking that box. She took
! from it a paper
Zone like this?"
Eyes. And now see you taking
! another from my fathers desk Ex-
| plain
/ THE paper mother took from the
| box is a will your father made when
you went abroad. disinheriting you
and leaving all his property to me.
A week before he died ! begged him
to leave the bulk OF his property to
you, merely providing for my comfort
He consented to do so and made this
will. telling me Of the drawer in his
desk and directing me to put 1t there.
| Fearing mamma would try to inter
fere in the matter of these Wills
came to take away the one she has.
| Then l concluded to take this one out
OF hiding and give 1t to you tomorrow
morning"
Louis took the paper from her hands
! and. opening il. read:
!. Henry Robson. being Of sound mind
etc. do devise and bequeath all my prop
erty. real and personal. TO my son, Louis
/ Robson. on condition
Louis stopped reading for a few
moments then continued:
that he marry hiE stepsister. Edith,
provided she ooussrtE.
When he looked from the paper
again he saw IN the girls bushes that
there wO sd he no difficulty In comply.
ing with the provisions OF the will