The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1916-11-24

Lund became more impatient anu rest
less. And when young Lund arrived.
just a few moments within the hour,
she was greatly enraged to discover
that he had brought along Peg and
the old clown.
"What right has this girl to come
here at this timer cried Mrs. Lund as
Peg, with Flip, entered the room.
every right, as you shall soon see"
said Flip in q suayely aggravating ton
that served only further to infurinte
the mercenary and cruel
The lawyer adjusted his glasses and
opened the will. Then he read the
brief document. In the first two para
graphs 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. Lund
was wealthy in her own right, he felt
that the money he had spent upon
young Lund's education might well be
considered an advance payment of any
share she might have in the Lund
millions.
The third and final paragraph dis.
posed of the dead mans fortune in
this manner: ITO my dear daughter,
Peg, l bequeath all of my money, prop
erty and yaluablcs. and the mammoth
circus. as Il slight PREPARATION for the
wrong done to both the girl II her
mother. La Belle lie Sieur."
Mrs. Lund's outburst Of passionate
,oy-, 1Y.aIt ,1r1,,-,,l ,ha 1-,;1n sc +ha
lawyer as he read The important para
graph. The enragcd oma held aloft
the letter Chockro had given her and
shricked at the top of her voice:
This impostor shall not have the
fortune. Here is d 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
smilingly 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
thn tyny3YipA document a,ll - sra,-n,
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 0 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 u sentiment Of loath-
Ing in It's 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 o 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,
II you attempt to contest the will"
He spoke In gentle tones and his SYM
pathy had a soothing effect.
1--WE tried so hard" Mrs. Lund snid,
as II speaking to herself. i've played
a big game"
"And you have lost" said the law
yer. II 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 s~uDstantiated by
La Bellies letter and by Flip's testi-
mony II the case should ever be
brought to court. Lund had told him
OF the substitute letter, and had out-
lined to him in advance, the game
Mrs. Lund had been playing in her ef-
forts to dispose of the circus girl.
The circus girl. wrought to a high
pitch OF nervous excitement. turned to
Flip and hid her face on his shoulder.
The old clown, as well as everyone ia
the room. was Intensely affected, and
for q moment Pegs sobs alone broke
the silence OF the strange scene.
Then, Is II to set aside the last
doubt In Mrs. Lund's mind, the law
yer said: This will and the letters
prove, without d doubt, Miss Pegs le-
gal inheritance Of the late Doctor
Lund's fortune"
The iona gently freed herself
from her sons embrace, and started
to leave the room. But just as she
reached the door. she halted and, turn
ing to the assembled group, she said,
ia q low. steady voice:
There will be no contest. l accept
the decree, and admit that l have lost
the game l have played for. The mil
lions l knew NIL along were not mine
either by right or reason" And then
she proceeded to her room.
For some time the lawyer remained
In consultation with Lund, his sweet
heart and Flip. The funeral arrange
ment were first completed. and it
was decided to take the remains to the