The Pensacola journal., 1922-12-04

| blood long inbred to the loss of vigor. He
| had the fine, open, generous face of one
VINO takes the world as in a fairy story.
But now there was care and anxiety in
1t. and a furtive shadow, as though the
| lads dream of life had got some rude
| awakening.
| At this moment the door behind my
| father and Lewis was thrown violently
| open, and man entered He was a per-
| son with the manner of a barrister, pre-
| else and dapper; he had a long, pink
| face, pale eyes and a close cropped beard
! that brought out the hard lines Of his
| mouth. He hustled to the table, put down
| a sort of portfolio that held an inkpot, a
| Wrlting-pad and pens, and drew up a
| chair like one about to take the minutes
| of a meeting. And all the while he apol-
| ogized for his delay. He had important
letters to get off in the post and to make
sure. had carried them to the tavern him
| self.
And now. sirs, let us get about this
| business" he finished, like one who calls
| his assistants to a labor
| My father turned about and looked at
the man.
| his cold, level voice.
1T is, sir" replied the Englishman,
Anthony Gosford!
| We'll, Mr.. Anthony Gosford," replied
my father, kindly close that door that
you have opened
Lewis plucked out his snuffbox and
| trumpeted in his many-coIored handker-
chief to hide his laughter
! The Englishman. thrown off his pat
/ rOnizing manner, hesitated, closed the
door as he was bidden-and could not
regain his fine air.
/ Now, Mr.. Gosford," my father went
on, why vas this room violated as we
see it?"
1T was searched for Peyton Marshall s
! will, sir" replied the man.
! How did you know that Marshall had
a will?" said my father.
II saw him write it," returned the Eng
lishman, here in this very room, on the
eighteenth day of October, 1854"
THAT was two years ago." said my
father. WAS the will here at Marshall S
| death?"
1T was. He told me on his deathbed" /"
"And it is gone now?"
'It is" replied the Englishman.
And now, Mr.. Gosford,'' said my IA
ther, "how do you know this will is gone
unless you also know precisely where it
was?"
II do know precisely where it was,
sir" returned the man. "It was in a
| row of drawers on the right of the win
| dow where you stand-the second drawer
from the top. Mr.. Marshall put 1t there
| WA6Il ne wrote II, ana ne tOlQ me on MS
deathbed that 1t remained there. You can
see, sir. that the drawer has been rifled.''
My father looked casually at the row
OF mahogany drawers rising along the
end of the bookcase. The second one
and the one above were open; the others
| below were closed.
Mr.. Gosford," he said "you would
have some interest in this will, to know
about it so precisely"
"And so I have" replied the man, 'it
left me a sum of money.
| "A large sum-"
"a very large sum, sir"
'Mr. Anthony Gosford," said my father.
'for what purpose did Peyton Marshall
bequeath you large sum of money? You
are no kin; nor was he in your debt"
i The Englishman sat down and put his
= fingers together with judicial air.
sir" he began, IT am not advised that
the purpose of a bequest is relevant, when
: the bequest IS direct and unencumbered
, by the testatOr with any indicatory words
; OF trust or uses. This will bequeathes
? me a sum Of money. I am not required
by any provision of the law to show the
reasons moving the testator. Doubtless.
Mr. Peyton Marshall had reasons which
he deemed excellent for this course, but
4 they are, sir, entombed in the grave with
him"
My father looked steadily at the man,
but he did not seem to consider his ex-
| PLANTATION, nor to go any further on that
/ line.
This effeminate son would know" re-
7 Piled Gosford, a sneer in the epithet, but
, no other. Marshall wrote the testament
in his own hand, without witnesses, as