The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1918-02-07
CHAPTER ONE-(Continued).

passive, though a tear glistened
on his lashes. Comte d'Astrignac
said:
MY congratulations, Perenna.''
"Let me remind you, major"
he answered, THAT this legacy is
subject to a condition. And l
swear that, if it depends on me,
the survivors of the Roussel family
shall be found"
Tim sure of it," said the Off
Ger. Il know YOU"
I'm any c~ase," asked the pre-
feet Of police of Don Luis, "you
do not refuse this conditional
legacy?"
well, no." said Perenna, with
a laugh. There are things which
one can't refuse
"My question:" said the pre-
feet, was prompted by the last
paragraph of the will: If, for any
reason, my friend Perenna should
refuse this legacy, or if he should
have died before the date fixed for
its payment, [ request the ambas-
sador of the United States and the
project of police for the time be-
ing to consult as to the means Of
building and maintaining in Paris
a university confined to students
and artists of American national
ity and to devote the money to this
purpose. And | hereby authorize
the project of police in any ease to
receive a sum Of 100000 francs out
of my estate for the benefit of the
Paris police fund
NJ. Destinations folded the paper
and took up another.
"Thcrc is Il codicil to the will.
1t consists Of a letter which Mr..
Mornington wrote to Maitrc Lcp-
ertuis some time after and which
explains certain points with great
er precision
| request Muitre LepertuiS TO pen
my will on the day after my dep;h. in
the presence Of the project Of police,
who will be good enough to keep tho
matter an entire secret for a month.
One month later. TO the day, he Will
have the Kindness TO summon to his
office Maitro Lrpcrtuis, Don Luis Per-
emma, and a prominent member OF the
United States embassy. Subsequent 10
the reading Of the will. IA chcquc for
1000, 900 france shall he handed Ia my
friend and legatcc Don Luis percnna.
after a simple examination Of his pa
pers and Il simple verification OF his
identity. | should wish this verified
ton To bc madc as regards the person
ality by Major Comte d.hstrignac, who
was his commanding officer in Morroc-
CO, and who unfortunately had TO re-
tire prematurely from the army; and
as regards birth by a embc OF the
Peruvian legation, as q Luis Peren-
ma. though retaining his Spanish ma
tionality. was born in Peru,
Furthermore. | desire that my will
be not communicated to the RouSsel
heirs Until w days later, at Maitre
Lepertuis' office. Finally-and this is
the last expression of my wishes as re-
CARDS the disposal OF my estate and
the method of proceeding with that dis
posal-the project Of police will be
good enough 10 summon the persons
aforesaid 10 his office, for a second
time, at q date to be selected by him
self, not less than 80 nor more than 90
days after the first meeting. Then and
not till then will the definite legatee
be named and proclaimed according to
his rights. nor shall any be so named
and proclaimed unless he be present at
this meeting, at the conclusion Of which
Don Luis Pcrenna, h must also at
tend it, shall become the definite lega-
tee if, as l have said. no survivor nor
heir of the Roussel sisters or of their
cousin Victor have come forward to
claim the bequest.
Replacing both documents in
the envelope the project of police
concluded:
You have now, gentlemen,
heard the will of Mr.. Cosmo Morn
ington, which explains your pres
ence here. A sixth person will join
us shortly: one Of my detectives,
whom l instructed to make the
first inquiries about the Roussel
family and who will give you the
result of his Investigations. But,
for the moment, we must proceed
in accordance with the testator's
directions.
"Don Luis Perenna's papers,
which he sent to me, at my request
a fortnight ago, have been exam
ined by myself and r perfectly
in order. As regards his birth, |
wrote and begged his excellency
the Pruvian minister to collect the
most precise information"
"The minister entrusted this
mission to me-" said Senior Cae-
srss, ths Peruvian sttache. III