The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-06-27

ms - from the MOAOn -Ict0fe Rim o.
The Disreputable Hicks Whisper
features of the dying millionaire DR..
Stevens could see that something Of seri-
GUS importance was ON the old mans
understanding q importance about his
vast property.
Once more he listened ana then hastily
drawing out his prescription pad and
fountain pen he wrote few sentences 1t
tient rallied and opened his eyes The
physician hold the blank before his pa
tent, who read It through and nodded.
DR.. Stevens then placed the pen ID the
trembling fingers and guided his sigma
ture. A moment more and the physician
had signed 1t ~ . witness and the butler
had done the same.
It occurred to Dr. Stevens that Mr..
Marvin might be able to read this hastily
written viii again. and he called for more
light
Turn on those tungstens.- he ordered.
and placed his ear to the family moving
lips. These were the words he heard:
Tungsten valve and armature connect
ing rod and tracks-
-.Rocker-Arm and counter SHAFT and over
head and tax
Thus the old manufacturer died a he
had lived, with his mind on the great In
dustry he had built up Dr. Stevens won.
dered II he would be happy in any heaven
unless it contained his precious rocker
arms and counter shafts. tungsten valves
and tracks.
The win written on DR. 6tevenss pre-
scriptton pad was given to Owen. He
went to his room and examined It. II
read:
-Bodley Stevens. NJ. D.
"Rx l beQueath half my estate to
my son. Harry. the remainder to my
adopted daughter. Pauline. to be hello
in trust until her marriage by my sec
Rotary, Raymond Owen"
Then followed the signature OF the de-
ceased and that Of the two witnesses. In
vain Owen looked for the handsome DO
quest to the faithful secretary" This
was 4 bitter disappointment. and he con
sfdered for a moment the advisabllity OF
destroying the will. This would make valid
one of the earlier wills in which he knew
he had not been forgotten.
The folly Of such q course Lscame evi
dent after . few moments thought DR.
Stevens, the butler. and several others
knew the contents of the document, 1t
WAS 80 simple that its meaning could
hardly be confused or forgotten. and every
one knew It was in his keeping. It
occurred to Owen that quite likely such
hasty death-bed will written BY doctor
unskilled in Law might not be accepted b.
the courts.
Early tho next morning Owen suspended
his work Of answering teleErams of condo
tence long enough to make hurried trip
to lower Manhattan. whore the late Stan
ford Marvin's lawyers had offices. Owen
had taken pains to 4rst telephone the law
yer and excite his curiosity about the
strange prescription pad will By this Lit
tie piece Of forethought he escaped the
usual hours walt which lawyers habituAlly
fnfict on such Of their clients as they dare
The senior member of the flrm read the
document through. He frowned at It and
shook his head, for this sort Of document
II always distasteful to legal lights. Here
was the win Of one of Americas wealth
lest men, which should have contained
10000 words or more, ali In the compass
Of less than thirty. written in few sec
onds by . doctor.
In vain the great lawyer cudgeIIed his
brains for some naw. The will ought to
be wrong, but It wasn't The meaning was
understand Il, and the fortune was left to
his natural benenciaries. The lawyer
heaved sigh ana said plaintively:
TOO bad. too bad. Why didn't they call
ne.'
.-Then this VIM IL not valid!" asked
owen.
~oh. NO. it win hold: but what . pity
that such great mans last win and to-
-sment should be such an-we1l. so-won
this instrument IL not worthy Of convey
ING such great estate"
He contemptuously slipped the simple
document into an envelope and placed It
in his safe. Owen picked mp his hat. but
hositAtad 1t the door. A question was
forming IN his mind and with Il = hops.
Mr.. Wilmerding.~ he asked hnalIy. in
would have charge q The estate!-
Il should say. reDlled the lavyer. IN
raply 10 your question that the estate
would 10 held IN tzuH by you
While Owen wss husrying back - The
Asuss the lauysr's eookkesDsr vas entsss