Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1915-04-01
CHAPTER XIV.
The Will,

V RSAS- hU ulS w AZ uC iCRGdlCu.
Mrs. Chichester stopped crying.
"Eh? A willy
.'What?" said Alaric, beaming. did
the dear old gentleman leave u will?"
Even Ethel stopped playing with Pet
and listened languidly to the CONVEX,
Isation.
MIR. Hawkes., realizing he had their
complete interest, went on Importantly
'sAs MIR. Kingsnorth's legal adviser
up to the time of his untimely death
| have come here to make you ac.
quainted 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 Nat!' said Alaric reflec-
lively. do you remember. mater. we
met him at Victoria station once when
was little more than Il baby? Yet
can see him now as plainly as if it
were yesterday-a portly. sandy haired
old buck with three jolly chins."
HE was white toward the end and
very. very thin" said Mr.. 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 pencil on
one of the pages of the will.
How much did he leave?" And
Alaric's voice rose to pitch of we'll
defined interest.
Hills estate is valued. approximately
at some f2OO.O0O," replied the lawyer.
Alaric gave /, long. low whistle and
smiled Il broad, comprehensive smile.
Ethel for the first time showed a
CLEAN 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 i'll the family's
combined eyes was astonishing in its
directness. in its barefacedness. II
struck the dignitied gentleman sudden
fly dumb
well? WellY' cried Alaric. How
much? Don't stop right in the middle
of an important thing like that. You
make me as nervous as chicken
Mr.. Hawkes. returned to the will and
after looking at it moment without
reading said:
ITO his immediate relations Mr..
sKingsnorth left. | regret to say-noth-
momentary silence fell like pail
Sssr the stricken Chichester family.
Mrs. Chichester rose. indignation
flashing from the eyes that moment
since showed healthy hope.
"Nothing?" she cried incredulously.
"Not a penny piece to any one?' ven.
3tured Alaric.
The faintest suspicion of smile
fitted across Ethels face.
Hawkes. looked keenly at them and
answered.:
II deeply regret to say-nothing"
Mrs. Chichester turned to Ethel. who
had begun to stroke Pet again.
Ellis own flesh and blood" cried the
poor lady.
what shabby old beggar!' 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 Mr.. Kingsnorth ex-
pressed his attitude toward his rela-
lions in his last will and testament:
81 am the only member of the
Kingsnortb family who ever made any
money. All my precious relatives either
inherited il or married to get it,"
~ assure you began Mrs. Chiches-
ter.
Alpric checked her. "Half moment
mater Let us hear it out to the bitter
end. He must have been an amusing
old gentleman"
Mr.. Aawkes resumed: Consequent
sly am tot going to leave one penny
to relations who are already well pro.
vided for
Mrs. Chichester protested vehe-
mently:
..But we are not provided for
NO" added Alaric Our banks
busted"
We're ruinedr' sobbed Mrs. Chiches.
ter.
''Broke!" said Alaric.
We've nothingr walled the old lady
6 Dear. dear said tie lawyer. How
extremely painful"
Painful? That's not the word Dis
gushing call it, corrected Alaric.
Mr.. Hawkes. thought a moment
Then he said, Under those circum-
stances perhaps II clanse in the will
may have certain interest and an ele-
ment of relief
AS two drowning people clinging to
the proverbiaI straws the mDtller and
son 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 a word of .me?'' asked Mrs.
Chichester