The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1915-02-02
By j. Hartley Manners

Qualnted with some OF IT'S contents.
He spread formidable looking doc
ument wide open on the table, adjust
ed his pince nez and prepared to read.
Dear old Natv' said Alaric refiec-
lively. DO you remember. mater, we
met him at Victoria station once when
] was little more than a baby? Yet
can see him now as plainly as IL 1t
were yesterday-a portly, sandy haired
old buck with three jolly chins."
He was white toward the end and
very. very thin" said MIR. Hawkes.
softly.
WAS he?" from Alaric. Fancy that.
1t just shows. mater. doesn't it?" he
bent eagerly over the table as Hawkes.
traced some figures with a pencil on
ole of the pages of the will.
"How much did he leavey' And
Alaric's voice rose to a pitch of we'll
defined interest.
"His estate is valued. approximately,
at some f200,O00," replied the lawyer.
Alaric gave long. low whistle and
smiled broad. comprehensive smile.
geam of genuine interest.
Mrs. Chichester began to cry again.
Perhaps it was my fault / didn't see
him oftener," she said.
Alaric, unable to curb his curiosity,
burst out with. How did the old boy
split it up?"
ITO his immediate relations he left
Mr.. Hawkes. looked up from the will
and found three pairs of eyes fixed on
him. He stopped. 1t may be that
constant association with the law
courts destroys faith In human nature;
but. whatever the cause, it seemed to
Mr. Hawkes. in each of those eyes was
reflected the one dominant feeling
greed The expression in the family's
combined eyes was astonishing In its
directness, in its barefacedness. 1t
struck the digniied gentleman sudden
! ly dumb.
"Wen? Well?" cried Alaric. How
much? Don't stop right in the middle
of an important thing like that. You
make me as nervous us a chicken"
Mr.. Hawkes. returned to the will and
after looking at it moment without
reading said
Ito his immediate relations Mr..
Kingsnorth left, | regret to say-noth-
ing"
A momentary silence fell like a pail
over the stricken Chichester family.
Mrs. Chichester rose, indignation
flashing from the eyes that moment
since showed a healthy hope.
"Nothing?" she cried incredulously.
"Not penny piece to any one?" ven.
tured Alaric.
The faintest suspicion Of smile
fitted across Ethel's face.
Hawkes. looked keenly at them and
answered.:
81 deeply regret to say-nothing."
Mrs. Chichester turned to Ethel, who
had begun to stroke Pet again.
His own flesh and bloodv' cried the
! poor lady.
What a shabby old beggarr com
mented Alaric Indignantly.
''He was always the most selfish, the
most began Mrs. Chichester, when
Mr.. Hawkes.. who had been turning
over the pages of the document before
him. gave an ejaculation of relief.
"Ah. Here we have it. This, Mrs.
Chichester. is how MIR. Kingsnorth ex.
pressed his attitude toward his rela-
tions in his last will and testament:
"I am the only member of the
Kingsnorth family who ever made any
money. All my precious relatives either
inherited it or married to get it,"
IL assure you began Mrs. Chiches-
ter.
Alaric checked her. Half moment
mater. Let us hear 1t out to the bitter
end. He must have been an amusing
old gentleman"
Mr. Hawkes. resumed: Consequent
ly l am not going to leave one penny
to relations who are already we'll pro.
vided for "
Mrs. Chichester protested vehe.
mently
But we are not provided for"
NO" added Alaric. Our banks
busted"
Were ruinedw sobbed Mrs. Chiches.
ter
Broke" said Alaric.
We've nothingv' walled the old lady.
Dear. dear" said the lawyer. "How
extremely painful
Painful? That's not the word. Dis
gusting call it." corrected Alaric.
Mr.. Hawkes. thought moment
Then he said. under those circum-
stances perhaps clause I'm the will
may have a certain interest and an ele-
ment of relief
AS two drowning people clinging to
the proverbial straws the mother and
ton waited breathlessly for Mr.. Hawkes.
to go on.
Ethel showed no interest whatever.
when Mr.. Kingsnorth realized that
he had not very much longer to live he
spoke constantly of his other sister.
Angela" resumed Mr.. Hawkes..
Angela cried Mrs. Chichester in
surprise. why she's dead"
THAT was why he spoke of her."
said Hawkes. gravely.
"And not word of me?" asked Mrs
Chichester.
1--WE will come to that little later"
and Mr.. Hawkes. again referred to the
will. 1T appears that this sister. An