The Topeka state journal., 1922-12-30
EDening Story
Preparedness Paid.

BY CORONA REMINGTON.
"I am absolutely convinced that
there was a later will made, and II
could fiDd it : feel certain my client
thousand dollars"
"And il you could prove somehow
that there was another will, and then
find it or make the person holding 1t
give it up, you'd make a whole @ lot
more money, wouldn't you, George ?"
You mercenary little girl" laughed
Caruthers. But you're right. l, or
rather we, would make good bit
more
TT makes me feel all thrifty when
YOU say we like that" she told him.
TT is we. The fact that We aren't
quite married yet, Eloise, doesn't make
any difference. We will be soon, ana
we will sooner if I find old Thomas
who would be apt to have it if he
did?'
srm chiefly afraid it's been de-
stroyed, but if it ever really existed
and if it has not been destroyed BIZ
Thomas, my clients brother, probably
has it. You see, it's this way. Five
years ago old Thomas and his son
Jim, my client, had frightful row
about a girl Jim wanted to marry ana
swore he would marry. The father
first threatened to cut him off and
even to kill him if he had anything
more to do with her. But 1T made no
difference; the young chap turned
deaf ear to his fathers threats, ana
not only went everywhere with her
openly but married her a few months
later. When he heard it Thomas tIeW
into a violent rage and had sllght
stroke as a result of his outburSt- That
sobered him somewhat and no one
heard any more about his wanting TO
kill Jim, but that very night, fearing
he might die, he made a will cutting
Jim off entirely and leaving every
thing to Bill. Since then, however
time seems to have softened his atti-
tude, and he not only grew very fond
of Jim'S wife but lived in his house
the last two years of his life, and the
day he died he tried to say something
to Jim about will, but he was SO
weak he cou4d not make himself un-
derstood. Now, since he had become
reconciled, even attached, to the young
wife, it seems natural that he would
want to remembe. her in his will, that
is thru Jim, of course, and he believes
and I do, too, that Bill knows some
thing about another will. But as it
is naturally against his interest to
give it away, he's keeping it pretty
close. Bill was always a good bit of
black sheep, altho no one could CON
vince his father that he could do
wrong. 1t was imPossible-Bill was
Bill. therefore it was all right what
ever he did,
What do you think about it? Do
you think he's honest?"
Somehow there's something about
him don't like. Good gracious, here
it is after o'clock and I've been
keeping you here all this time. Won't
you let me walk home with you? l
haven't my car, but 1 think 1t would
be fun to walk. We could talk on the
way"
''Id love it, but shaven't told you
what came to the office to tell you.
Mama says she won't make us wait
till next year if It would really make
US happy to-marry sooner"
she's a TRIUMPH" exclaimed Caru-
theirs, sweeping the girl into his arms.
Now. I've simply got to find that
will"
They locked the office and went out
into the street. Daylight was nearly
gone and the street lamps blinked
weakly out at them thru the half
"see. that's Bill Thomas's office up
there said Caruthers stopping in
front of a tall building. See that
light on the sixth floor? Wonder
what he's doirg there? It's way after
do you knoE him, and does he
know his brother has engaged law
yer?''
"Yes, I've met him, but of course
we're working in the dark. If our
suspicious are correct and he got onto
the fact that we're trying to catch
him, he'd be sure to destroy the will,
providing it exists. On the other hand,
if he is not afraid of discovery and
everything seems to be quiet he'll
probably hold onto it and hide it
somewhere because the penalty for de-
stroyng such papers is pretty steep.
You see we think it was written in
California when the old man was on
that last trip two months before he
died and of course there are wit
nesses, but who were they? That's the
one thing makes me think the will is
safe, because Bill would be afraid that
some day with proper Investigations
those people could be found and they
would give him away
I'D love to see this man.. said
EIoise greatly interested.
I'D love to know what you think
of him. I tell you, he's secretary of