Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1915-08-13
ADeathbed
Triumph
By WILLIAM

A doctor sat by him intent upon some
method of saving his life. An entirely
different problem was In the mind Of
the sufferer.
Doctor" he said presently, "can't l
die for a short time, then come to life
again for a certain purposeY'
what purposeY' asked the doctor.
The invalid cast Ms eyes about the
room to see that no one was present,
then, stretching forth his hand, drew
the doctor to him and whispered what
he had to say. When he came to a
pause the doctor said:
"I have suspected as much"
"Can 1t be doneP' asked the invalid.
ct can be tried"
Some more conversation followed, in
which the doctor gave the sick man
Instructions, and the sick man did the
same by the doctor. Then the latter
ended the matter by saying:
"Are you readyY"
"Yes."
The doctor took from his medicine
case a tablet and placed it In the pa
TENTS mouth.
The sick man, who was lying on his
back, stared at the ceiling. immovable.
The doctor went hurriedly to the door
and opened 1t. There stood the wife Of
the invalid.
Madam" said the doctor, ST fear
that your husband is dead"
The woman hurried into the room and
stood over the sickbed for a few mo-
ments looking down into the pale face.
The doctor, who was beside her. closed
the eyes of her husband, then led her
away, saying:
'aThis has been a long trial to you
Your watch Is now over. Go and rest
yourself"
She suffered herself to be led away
and within an hour was in bed and
asleep.
Paul Markham passed away at dawn
the next morning. Preparations were
made for the funeral, which was held
three days later, and on the fourth
day his widow, who was his second
wife, and her two children by a for
mer husband, all dressed In deep
mourning, entered the drawing room Of
the house in which Mr.. Markham had
died and took seats. A number OF
other persons, including a lawyer, en-
tered, and when all were seated the
attorney unfolded a document and was
about to begin its reading when DR..
Blanchard, who had attended the de-
ceased, entered in company with a girl
Of nfteen. T,a ere -.as about her a mel
ancholy that savored OF despair.
81 have here" said the lawyer, 1.-THE
last will and testament Of Paul Mark
ham. deceased, executed one year ago"
He then read the will, which left all
his property to his beloved wife, Jane
Markham, trusting that she would suf-
hciently provide for his daughter, Ethel
Markham. Having stated that the will
had been duly signed and witnessed,
he added that it would be immediate
ly filed for probate. He was refolding
the document when DR.. Blanchard
arose and, drawing a paper from his
pocket, said:
81 have a will executed a few hours
before Paul Markham's DEATH"
The widows c~ountenance changed
Immediately.
"If you have any such WILL" she
said, ut is a forgery. At any rate 1t
was not witnessed. That l know, be-
cause l was in attendance upon my
husband every day and hour during
his last illness, and | know no one
who could have witnessed a will en-
tered the house."
"What time did you go to bed the
night your husband died?' asked the
doctor.
cat 10 O'clock"
"Your husband did not die till 2
O'Clock the next morning" .
"He died at o O'Clock in the evening.
You called me into the room where he
lay and told me he was dead"
81 told you | feared he was dead.
He was very low. He revived, and at
midnight l drew this simple will for
him, bequeathing all his property to
his daughter, Ethel Markham. Two
persons came at my call and witnessed
the will while you were asleep"
lit WOludu oId1Cu at ~ 0ONtOAy Ga
though she could hardly believe her
senses. For years she had dominated
her husband and for a year, since she
had forced him to make a will in her
favor, had watched him carefully to
make sure that he did not make an
other. At the very end of his life he
had outwitted her.
LET me see it." she said to the doc.
| tor.
He held the paper before her. She
read it and recognized her husbands
signature, though it had been written
IN the agony of death. Realizing that
she had been foiled, she arose from
her seat aud. followed by her two chill
dren, stalked out Of the room.
DIR. Blanchard by the terms OF the
deathbed will was made Ethel's guard.
ian, and she thereafter made her resi-
Gonoo with him Hor life had hear