Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-03-14
1.-THE Old Oaks Secret"
Nitagraph.

Sharpe ......,....... John Weatherby II
1t was at the beginning of the Civil
War and the people of the South were
setting their affairs in order.
In the library of the old Black
thorne mansion the only sound was
the scratch of the quill pen as James
Blackthorne slowly wrote his name
on the will which bequeathed the es-
tate to his ward. Dick Carroll. Lay
ing down the pen he looked around at
the men present with a satisfied air,
then beckoned old Moses to him.
Moses, you're going to be a free
niger one Of these days. See, it's
all written down here" and he point
ed to the clause in the will which
gave the old slave his freedom.
Out in the yard Dick was busy
carving a pair of heart encircled mi
rials in the tough old bark of one of
the giant oaks. Beside him, watching
and talking. stood Nancy. daughter
of a neighboring plantation owner.
whose initial was linked with the ID.
The initials were completed, the heart
half done. when Dick snapped his
knife shut. We'll finish the heart
when l come back dear. Let's make
the most of the little time that's left"
and they strolled away through the
trees.
The call had come to join in battle
and Dick was to go out as a private
in a regiment under his guardians
command. During one of the early
eiSirmishes Captain Backbone was
fatally injured. Dick saw him fall
and rushed to catch him. AS he died
in his wards arms, he told of the will
which gave the estate to the boy.
Dick wrote Immediately to Nancy,
telling her of their fortune and eX-
planning that the will was hidden be-
hind a carved panel in the library.
One day an irritable, irritating man
arrived from the North, announced
chat he was Captain Blackstones
cousin, and took possession of ser
wants and house He also tried to
make love to Miss Nancy, but met
with persistent rebuffs. When Nancy
received the letter from Dick she was
furious and determined to secure the
will. Watching with glasses from her
window one day, she saw Sharp
mount his horse and gallop off.
Quickly Nancy slipped out and ran
down the road to the mansion; softly
she stole through the hall and care
fully tiptoed into the library felt of
the carved panels, found one that
yielded, put her hand behind it-and
found the cavity empty. She stood,
petrified with horror. and just then
Sharp, who had returned for some
thing forgotten, came in and found
her. She pointed an accusing finger
at him.
5"Where is the will2" she demanded.
THE Will? There is no will, he an
swered with a shrug, and now, my
young lady, / must suggest that you
have been making rather free with
my property"
Nancy made no answer, simply
slipped out and ran home as rapidly
as she could.
Sharpe's next move was to sell the
great oaks that gave the estate its
distinction. One lovely day Nancy
observed him going about among the
trees, accompanied by stranger and
Moses with a bucket of whitewash.
She noticed, too, that when Sharpe
pointed with ibis cane at tree the
man made note in a small book and
Moses daubcd q great white splash
on its trunk.
While she was watching this pc
culiar procedure she was interrupted
by some one coming, a pale fellow
with n bandaged arm in soiled
gray suit Dick" she snatched his
arm. "Why, it is really you, and not
ghost of you! How do you hap
pen to be here?"
Dick laughed. sick leave, but
isn't this reason enough?" he asked
rs he put his uninjured arm around
her. Their greeting was broken by
the sound of angry voices, Sharpe's
harsh one raised in command, old
Mosess cracked one in indignant
protest.
II say, what is all this anyhow
What's that chap doing over there
with the trees putting neckties on
'em?" Dick queried as, with his arm
still around Nancy, they hurried
toward the scene of the alteration.
81 dwon' mark that tree" asserted
Moses in a high pitched voice. set
ting his pail down beside the old
1rysting oak with the carved love
token.
"You dare to say you won't, you
dog of a slave" stormed Sharpe with
uplifted cane.
II ain no slave" declared Moses,
covering away from the suspended
cane. Use a free niger, an Use
got my freedom papers to show you
Lets see them. Noses" coaXed
Nancy. while Dick STEPPED between
the old negro and the enraged man.
Moses turned to the oak, thrust his
his arm deep into a hollow and drew
forth a piece of parchment, which he
handed to Dick to unroll. ITS the
will, the will" gasped Nancy Its
your will. Dick. and now this is your
place"
"Nonsensel Impossible, trumpery,
stormed Sharpe, striding toward Dick
Its my freedom paper quaVered
old Moses. 81 know 1t is cause old
Marse showed it to me an l watched
whar he hid it. an then when he
come"-he bobbed his gray nor
scornfully toward the angry sharpe
81 TUX it out an put 1t whar / knew
it 'ud be safe
Whe2 Sharpe looked at the out