Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1917-04-10

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q girl who would not care to live In ter.
ror Of her life, ! changed my opinion.
"But why" asked, interested more
and more In hts plan, would It not be
wiser for you to destroy the win and
inherit half the estate az heir-at-lawr'
"That question I decline to answer.
There may be number Of reasons. ]
may know of another will that I can.
not control and which Is sure to be
produced. Ny uncle did not trust me
and might have put duplicate will In
some ones hand to be used In case !
captured or disputed the one he had
made. have no knowledge Of such a
win. I simply state the case to you
Alphabetically"
There was no doubt the rascal had
thought it all out and had provided
for every possible contingency. What
was to do? Delay would be as dan
gerous to Miss Thurber as to me- ]
resolved to 60 with him and take ad-
vantage Of any favorable circumstance
that might arise. So long as he thought
I was Miss Thurber I had a great ad-
vantage Of him. I had thick veil on
my hat, but In the park did not put It
over my face, Later, If obliged to face
the light 1t might avail me.
accompanied my man to a car wait
ing without the park. We entered It,
and he drove away. Presently he stop
ped and told me he must blindfold me.
After objecting consented, and after
that I did not know where We went.
When we reached our destination he
helped me out Of the car and guided
me up few steps into house. When
be removed the bandage from my eyes
we were standing In furnished room.
It was dimly lighted, but put my
hands to my eyes to cover my face, pre-
tending that the transition from dark
ness to light was painful. Neverthe-
less I caught glimpse OF table with
writing materials on It In the center
Of the room.
When took my hands from my eyes
turned my face from the light I did
not know how well the man knew
Miss Thurber, but I did not wish him
to see my features until ! could no
longer avoid giving him an opportunity
to discover his mistake. Meanwhile he
had unlocked drawer In bureau and
taken out document, which I surmis-
ed to be the will What appeared to
be note Lay on the table. he was un-
folding the document, and I surmised
intended to hold it up for me to in
spect. In another moment he would
doubtless call on me to do 30 and
would see my features.
While his eyes were bent on the docu-
ment I caught sight Of the letters,
Last will and testament" printed on
II. This was enough for me. I deter
mined to risk its being what I wanted.
When he turned from the paper to me
he looked into the muzzle Of my re-
volver within an inch Of his nose.
/ OF course he was armed. But what
use Is a weapon which costs man bis
Life II he makes motion to use itT
"Drop that document On the table," I
said in my own husky voice.
Surprise, irritation, horror, were writ
ten on bis face. He dare not disobey.
He tossed the will on the table, and I,
never taking my eye from his for an
instant, picked 1t up, taking the un-
signed note at the same time. Then
began to back out Of the room. I
backed into a hall and out through q
door, he following me, alert to take ad-
vantage Of my changing my glance for
an instant to draw weapon. was
obliged to back into the unknown; but,
having come over the ground even
though blindfolded, I had some idea Of
1t and got safely down the steps, on to
the sidewalk and kept on till I backed
up against an automobile.
The problem was now to get into It
and start 1t without giving him an op-
portunity to draw and shoot me. !
thought 1t necessary to order him to
throw Up his hands, enforcing the Or
der by putting a bullet close to his ear.
He obeyed readily, and, though I was
encumbered with my skirts, I tumbled
Into the car behind the wheel. What !
could not do with my feet In starting !
did with my right hand, holding the
wheel with my left. In this way ! got
Of, but the moment after turned my
face from my enemy bullet whistled
close to my ear. I ducked, and before
another came I was not clearly distn-
guishable In the darkness.
When I returned to the Office with
the will, for which I had paid nothing,
great was the surprise Of all concerned
Miss Thurber bought the unsigned note
of me for $4,000, signing It In pay
ment I afterward set myself up IN
business with the funds.
What He Didn't Know.
Peyton r. Hayden was long con-
spicuous figure among the lawyers OF
uy1lIn hn fond M