The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1919-03-20
Fate at Long
Range
@><s
}sS$ssssS2Hs$SSSssS<scS <ss$*sSSSSSe$$z%$ssss'
(Copyright)
By SEWARD w. HOPKINS


It was somewhere about midnight
when frantic ringing of my bell
startled me into throwing the book
had been reading to the floor, and
rushing to the great old-fashioned oak
en- entrance.
/ had but recently moved into Tri-
vorton, and had made no firm friend
ships, nor even acquaintance. MY
small, six-line advertisement was in
the only paper published in the place
My Great Dane growled, being un-
used to having his early slumbers thus
disturbed.
With the exception of the Great
Dane, 1 was alone. had permitted
my only servant, an old man, to go
TO visit his sister, almost as old, who
was i'll.
Opening the door, saw in the clear,
cold light of a winter moon, young
girl. She was pale, extremely agi-
tated and decidedly pretty.
ooh! Are you Mr.. Bayne?' she
asked
eyes, my name is Bayne-David
Bayne," / answered. "In what way
may I be of assistance to you?"
"You are lawyerT'
"Yes, / am a lawyer"
"Then-let me talk to you mo.
ment. We-I-my father"
"Please take moment to get your
breath. You are excited. My Office
is rather chilly. Suppose I accom-.
pany you to your house. You wish to
consult me, suppose?"
"Yes, come with me. That is why
came here. My father is dying. Is
there printed form of will?'
"Ah! Your father wishes to make
his will? will be with you in mo-
ment. But know of no printed form
of will. However, it will take me but
a moment to write it,"
"My father is Donald Redbagh," said
the girl.
'He wants to make his WILL" went
on the girl with a choking sort of Sob
"but don't want you to write it for
him."
"You don't want me to write your
fathers will?" I asked in amazement
"Does he wish you to be left without
inheritance?"
mo. He wants to leave me every
thing"
"And yet you don't wish-it seems
to me there is something more to this
than the mere desire of a sick man
to make will. Please explain"
"He has taken a violent dislike to
my brother. He wishes to cut him off
| with a hundred dollars. / do not
| want that"
"How much is he worth?''
"More than a million"
"You see," she went on, "my brother
Donald married-married poor girl
against my fathers wishes. Yet 1 like
her, and do not-you understands do
not wish him cut off. You are law.
yer. You will know how to man
age"
'But if ne wishes to make O will,
must write it as he commands" I an.
swered.
"Well-I suppose so--but it will be
hard on Don.'
| AS we entered. the wide iron gate
way the girl turned to me again.
"The doctor is with him now. Try
to persuade him to be fair"
1.-THE doctor?"
mo. My father. Don't let him die
leaving will that is unjust"
| "Write-write-" gasped the sick
man. Leave all to Edna. Just q
hundred dollars to Donald"
Alone with him, and with strange
feeling Of repugnance, I began writ
ing as he ordered.
| 1t was brief will. He simply left
one hundred dollars to his son Don
aid, and all the residue of his estate
after his funeral expenses had beer
paid, to his daughter Edna.
| While l was writing, a young mar
entered. He was well set-up, a manly
looking young fellow, and there was
nothing in his appearance that was
not pleasing.
Father" he said in low, well-mod
/
shake hands?"
/ With a scream that seemed beyond
his waning strength, the sick man hall
raised himself on his elbow.
mol" he said sharply, although
feebly. "Shake hands with you? Go
thought you had gone"
/ 81 know you ordered me out yester
day." said the young man. 81 was mo-
here all night. I am going for goot
now. wanted to take your hand be
fore I left"
"Goi"
The young man stood for a moment
with bowed head. 1t seemed to me his
lips moved. Then he stepped noise
lessly to large oaken cabinet, opened
a drawer, took something from it. an(
thrust 1t in his pocket.
Again the sick man and L were
alone.
/ I placed the will on book and hel(