The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1916-10-13

9s the hour of six approached MIS-.
r,,nd haco,ne more impatient ana rest
loss. And when young Lund arrived
lust few moments within the hour'
she was greatly enraged to discover
that he had brought along Peg ana
the old clown.
aWhat right has this girl to come
here Mt this timer" cried Mrs. Lund as
Peg, with Flip, entered the room'
"Every right, as you shall soon see
soid Flip In a suayely aggravating tone
that served only further to infuriate
the mercenary and cruel woman
The lawyer adjusted his glasses ana
opened the will. Then he read tne
brief document. In the first two para
cronbs Doctor Lund referred to his |
marriage to Mrs. Lund, relating that
he had raised her son as his own
child and recounted that as Mrs. Luna
was wealthy in her own right, ne Ieit
that the money he had spent upon
young Lund's education might well De
considered an advance payment OF any
share she might have in the Luna
millions.
The third and final paragraph dis
posed of the dead mans fortune In
this manner: ITO my dear daughter,
Peg, i bequeath all of my money, prop
erty and valuables, and the mammoth
circus, as a slight reparation for the
wrong done to both the girl and her
mother La Belle lie Sieur."
Mrs. Lund's outburst Of passionate
rage almost drowned the voice of the
lawyer as he read the important para
graph. The enraged woman held aloft
the letter Chockro had given her and
shrleked at the top of her voice:
"This impostor shall not have the
fortune. Here is q letter left by her
mother that shows Peg had no claim
on my late husbands fortune"
Then she flung the letter upon the
table, and looked with triumphant
scorn at Peg and Flip. Peg remained
smilingy silent, but Flip drew from
his pocket the original letter that La
Belle had intrusted to him. There was
a look of triumph on his face as he
remarked in a clear, steady voice:
"Mrs. Lund, your sinful eagerness
to possess Doctor Lund's millions has
made you an easy victim of trickery.
l had that fake letter made to mis-
lead you. Peg and your own son COM
posed it, and l hid it In the trunk
where your paid tools might find it."
Then Flip handed the original let
ter to the lawyer and said: This is
the genuine document, and it proves
that Peg is the first and only child of
your late husband and real heir to his
entire fortune"
Young Lund stood silently watching
every move in the game. His mothers
conduct during the past few weeks
had completely killed the boys natu-
raj love for his parent, and had we'll
nigh established sentiment Of loath-
ing in Its stead.
When Flip had finished speaking,
the boy moved to his mothers side.
Her pitiable position, brought to com
plete humiliation by her own folly,
moved the son to compassion. Lund
put his arm over the woman's shout
der and said:
The facts are against you, mother !;
and the evidence will prove the facts,
If you attempt to contest the will"
He spoke In gentle tones and his SYM
pathy had soothing effect.
I've tried SO hard" Mrs. Lund said,
as If speaking to herself. 1--WE played
a big game"
And you have lost" said the law
yer. Il would advise you to submit
to the terms Of the WILL"
The attorney had been fully In.
formed by young Doctor Lund of the
Facts that would be substantiated by
La Bellies letter and by Fllp's testi.
, mony If the case should ever be
brought to court. Lund had told him
OF the substitute letter, and had out
nhed to him in advance, the game
MRS. Lund had been playing in her eff
!. Iorts to dispose Of the circus girl.
3 The circus girl, wrought to higf
e pitch OF nervous excitement, turned Il
e Flip and hid her face on his shoulder
o Inc old clown, as well as everyone ii
q the room, was intensely affected, ant
Tor moment Pegs sobs alone brok,
|. the silence of the strange scene.
t Then, as If to set aside the las
e doubt In Mrs. Lund's mind, the law
g yer said: "Thls will and the letter
prove without doubt, Miss Pegs lie
/ gal Inheritance Of the late Docto
e Lund's fortune"
i The woman gently freed hersel
ae from her sons embrace, and starte,
TO leave the room. But Just as sh
/. reached the door, she halted and turn
g ing TO the assembled group, she saif
e IN a low, steady voice:
=. There will be no contest. I accen
j the decree, and admit that have los
the game have played for. The mi
n, lions l knew all along were not min
W either by right or reason" And the
e she proceeded to her room.
n For some tina tba 1o,,