The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1919-06-24

viii @hieS she eb Sas she ,oY S1pY OF the hsT
leaves all the PROPERTY to Tore
Tore laughed and lifted his shoul-
ders.
Enter" he said with graciousness
which was In some strange way vague
ly insulting; 1t was as though he were
the master here, and because Of his
generosity not only Stairway but the
girl as we'll were allowed upon the
premises.
Now 1t was Teresa who flushed.
Come. Senior Billy" she said qui-
etly. ''We are going to have coffee
together"
For the fraction Of a second the
two men stood fronting each other,
their level eyes filled with challenge,
with a mistrust which was little less
than hatred.
Then the Spaniard. bowling again,
turned away. with slight smile play
Ing under the small, pointed mustache,
and Stairway followed his hostess.
Pedro himself superintended the
serving Of the simple breakfast.
"Senorita." Stairway said at last,
pushing back his chair, 81 should like
to go back to the drawing room. There
might be something there to give US
a hint that will help u.s.
"Si," she said, 81 had thought Of
that. / looked last night carefully
after you had gone"
"You found nothing"
Nothing that 1 could understand 50
she answered quietly. Something I
could not"
He looked up at her quickly, his
eyes full Of question.
"This," she answered, not waiting
for him to speak.
She placed a folded paper before
him. He glanced at 1t, frowned,
looked again, and turned once more
to her.
ut Is his will. Dated last night.
But why has he made a new one?"
"Read It," as quietly as before,
though her eyes were Frightening with
some surge Of emotion he could not
guess.
He ran through 1t hastily, skimming
the lines, eager for the gist OF II. And
when he had found 1t he leaped to
his feet, his hands clenched, amaze
ment and anger mingled i'm his eyes.
1t Is forgery" he cried sharply.
NO." shaking her head. "It is his
signature. And, look, to make certain
/ investigated. Pedro and Juana and
Vdel witnessed the signature. That
Is what brought Mr.. Dempton last
night"
But" he muttered heavily, "the
thing is impossible! Why, he has
given everything, everything to Tore |!
And he hated Tore more than he pre-
tended to hate an American!"
"Yet IT Is his WILL" she reminded
him. "And he is gone. And Senior
Tore is here"
ALREADY with the air of master 7"
shouted Stairway. He was already
half across the room, sheer wrath in
his eyes now, the will crumpled In his
hard hand.
walt" the girl cried, running to
him. her hand upon his arm as though
she would hold him back. "What are
you going to do7'
"To tell him that he is no less a
fool than a thief" he retOrted. "That
he must explain his opportune pres
ence here as well as the disappearance
of De la Guerra"
/; again / appear to eavesdrop.
Again / prove the adage that he who
listens hears disappointing things of
himself" 1t was Tore leaning indo-
lently In the doorway.
"YOu are going TO say, senor-"
y Stanwny flung the crumpled paper
In front of him.
Explain thatw he snapped "You
can't get away with thing like this,
Tore. Explain itT
"When have read it," replied Tore
coOlly, his small hand carelessly TAX
Ing up the document. "Ah"-with
what sounded like very genuine sur
prise In his tone-"it Is De In Guer-
ra's will! I"
Teresa and Stairway watched him
closely,