The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1917-04-02

% report 10 the chief what 1 had don.
and receive his instructions as to mi
next step. | protested against sucl
haste, but my objection tended TO con
vince the man that ] was making d
bona fide transaction.
Il need time 10 think this oyer"
said
And To make arrangements to traT
me. Suppose We meet a few DAYS
hence what is To prevent your having a
force On hand to take the will without
giving me the note? No; this matter
must 20 through. if it does go through,
between you and me alone and imme-
diatel,'. When it is finished there will
be no proof that you signed the note
under duress."
IA note" | laid. must he in pay
ment Tor something"
II have drawn it to read, For and in
consideration of his relinquishing all
claims on the Bradford estate"
But the will being produced you
have no claim on the Bradford estate"
The will will not have been pro-
duced when the note is signed
you should have demanded cash.
You have no cash. Besides, this
matter must be settled secretly and at
once. Delay would be fatal to me-
Suppose after | have received the
estate | decline to pay the note on the
ground that the transaction is crimi-
nal:"
In that case you will not long enjoy
your property"
| had been inclined To- think his case
very weak; but. considering that he
was. or supposed he was. dealing with
a girl who would not care To live in ter.
ror of her life. | changed my opinion.
"But why" | asked. interested more
and more in his plan, would it not be
wiser for YOU to destroy the will and
inherit half the estate as heir-at-law?"
THAT question l decline to answer
There may be number of reasons. /
may know of another will that | can
not control and which is sure to he
produced My 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
VIII. | 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 10 do: Delay would be as dan
gerous to Miss Thurber as to me.
resolved to go with him and take ad-
vantage of any favorable circumstance
that might arise. So long as he thought
was Miss Thurber had great ad-
vantage of him. l had thick veil on
my hat, but in the park did not put it
over my face. Later, if obliged to face
the light it might avail me.
accompanied my man to 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 | 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
he removed the bandage from my eyes
we were standing in a furnished room.
1t was dimly lighted, but l put my
hands to my eyes to cover my face, pre-
that the transition from dark
ness to light was painful. Neverthe-
less caught glimpse Of a table with
writing materials on 1t In the center
Of the room.
When l took my hands from my eyes
turned my face from the light. did
not know how well the man knew
Miss Thurber, but I did not wish him
70 see my features until could no
onger avoid giving him an opportunity
% discover his mistake. Meanwhile he
had unlocked drawer In bureau and
AIKEN ont document, which l surmis-
"a to he the will. What appeared to
De note lay on the table. He was un-
'olding the document, and 1 surmised
Intended to hold it up for me to in
'pect. In another moment he would
doubtless call on me to do so and
would see my features.
While his eyes were bent on the docu-
nent | caught sight Of the letters.
Last will and testament" printed on
L This was enough for me. l deter
mined to risk its being what l wanted.
When he turned from the paper to me
lie looked into the muzzle of my re-
'olver within an inch of his nose.
VI course he was armed. But what
lse Is a weapon which costs man his
lie IL he makes Il motion to use it,"
Drop that document on the table"
aid in my own husky voice.
Surprise, irritation, horror, were writ
EN- on his face He dare not disobey.
lie tossed the will on the table. and |.
lever taking my eye from his for an
instant. picked ii up. taking the un-
igned note at the same time. Then |
'egan 10 back out of the room.
backed into hall and out through n
loor. he following me. alert to take adj
'antage of my changing my glance for
IN instant to draw a weapon. was
obliged to back into the unknown: bur
having come over the ground even