Cresco plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1913-1945, 1919-06-06
Fate at Long
Range
~0
By SEWARD w. HOPKINS
(CopyrighO

| ~ was SOuc"uSI0 0UOuI mIuuISu
when frantic ringing of my bel
startled me into throwing the book
had been reading to the floor, ant
rushing to the great old.fashioned oak
en- entrance.
! I had but recently moved into Tri
vorton. and had made no firm friend
ships, nor even acquaintances. Ny
small, six-line advertisement was II
the only paper published in the place
| My Great Dane .growled, being un
used to having his early slumbers thus
disturbed.
4 With the exception Of the Grea,
Dane, I was alone. had permitted
my only servant, an old man, to &C
| to visit his sister, almost as old, who
was i'll.
| Opening the door, saw in the clear
cold light Of winter moon, a young
girl. She was pale, extremely agi'
tated and decidedly pretty. :.
"Oh! Are you Mr.. Bayne" she
asked. r
Eyes, my name is Bayne-David
Bayne," I answered. I'm what way
may I be of assistance to you?"
You are lawyer" -
"Yes, am a lawyer" &
''Then-let me talk to you a mo-
ment. We-I-my father" "
please take moment to get your
breath. You are excited. Ny office
is rather chilly. Suppose I accom-
pany you to your house. You wish to
consult me, suppose?"
Eyes, come with me. That is why
! came here. My father is dying. Is
there a printed form Of will?''
"Ah! Your father wishes to make
his will? will be with you in a mo-
ment. But know of no printed form
Of will. However, It will take me but
moment to write it,
my father is Donald Redbagh," said
the girl.
He wants to make his WILL" went
on the girl with 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
docs he wish you to be left without
Entertainer" -.
mo. He wants to leave me every
thing" .tl
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" 81
HE has taken a violent dislike to
my brother. He wishes to cut him of
with hundred dollars. I do not
want that" 4 .~,,s ~ s.
"How much is he WORTH"
More than q million"
"You see," she went on, my brother
Donald married-married a poor girl
against my fathers wishes. Yet like
her, and do not-you underestimate do
not wish him cut off. You are law
yer. You will know how to man.
age"
But if he wishes to make a will,
must write it as he commands" I an.
swered.
"Well-1 suppose so-but it will be
hard on Dom"
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"
"The doctor?"
mo. My father. Don't let him die
leaving a will that is unjust"
had no time to reply, and I could
not have framed an answer If tried.
A tall, thin old servant answered her
ring, and was ushered into q bed
room where man lay huddled in a
heap Of bedclothes, and grave, in
telligent man had seen driving about
the streets sat close at his side.
you are Byrnes?" he asked.
"Yes."
"Mr. Redbagh wishes to make his
will. You will need to"
He glanced at me significantly. He
did not need to finish the sentence. l
could see that but a spark Of life re-
manned in the shrfveled old frame,
and that spark was going fast.
"Write-write-" gasped the sick
man. Leave all to Edna. Just a
hundred dollars to Donald"
Alone with him, and with a strange
feeling of repugnance, I began writ
Ing as he ordered.
1t was a 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 been
paid, to his daughter Edna.
While was writing, a young man
He was we'll set-up, a manly
looking young fellow, and there was
in his appearance that was
not pleasing.
Father" he said in a low, well-mod-
ulated voice, II am going. VIII you
shake hands?"
With scream that seemed beyond
his waning strength, the sick man half
raised himself on his elbow.
"No!" he said sharply, although
feebly. shake hands with you? Go.
thought you had gone"
Il know you ordered me out yester-
ilay." said the Young man ct wos pot