Evening star., 1923-12-27
Continued from Yesterdays star.)

Geoff's face was a study, but he
made no comment, and the doctor
went on:
ALLEN wanted to ask you about it,
but when he couldn't lind you we de,
cided that we would hear that Will
read If / had to show my hano py
going over the district attorneys au-
thority and getting an order straight
from Headquarters in New York; but
it wasn't necessary. You know how
hot it was today?"
Seems to me ] took notice of 1t, y
Geoff responded dryiy, as he fondled
the long. pendulous ears of the hound
which crouched at his feet.
We'll. Newbury called them to-
gether in the library and they left all
the windows open, so Allen ana L
stood on the lawn close to the mouse
wall just cut of sight. Dunn. the
secretary, was sitting out on the ter
race and / don't know where the
hadn't shown up all day-but Lane
was there besides Mrs. Cayley and
her daughter"
Where was that lady visitor, Miss
Sherwood?" asked Geon.
She had taken book and gone
down to the boathouse just after
lunch. I can't repeat all the legal
language that lawyer had wrapped
around Benkard's last wishes, but l
got the hang of it clear enough. Mrs.
Cayley is left an income of fifty thou
sand a year for life, to start on the
day of her daughters marriage to j.
Stoneham Lane; if the marriage does
not take place, she receives an income
OF five thousand a year. Mildred cay
ley gets a million dollars outright on
the day she marries Lane; If she
doesn't, she is cut off without penny.
Twenty-Five thousand was left to
Newbury, the same amount to Will
liam Dunn, and lesser bequests to-
other Office employees whose names
7 never heard before. To Henry Carp
is given fifty thousand for valuable
and faithful services'-I. remembered
that sentence all right!-and the rest
of the estate goes to Lane If any
one attempts to break the will, he is
cut off and his share reverts to the
estate. What do you think of it?,
ut kinder settles one question that
I've been askin' myself most o the
day" Geoff said slowly. II guess
mcbbe | won't talk about it now,
though, Doc: it'll only muddle things
up till we find out where Lane was
Wednesday night. How did the rest
o 'em take it,
That's why I been waitin' here for
YOU" The doctor paused impressive
ly. "Geoff, two things happened that
beat anything / ever heard of! New
bury made a little speech as if he had
learned it beforehand, saying how
gratified he was, and Lane pretended
TO be overcome with surprise that
his friend should have left the bulk
of his estate to him. Mrs. Cayley said
never a word. but I heard her give
sort of a little gasp. and then Miss
Mildred got up-I could hear her
chair scrape back--and I'll never for
get her words nor the tone she spoke
them in. Mr.. Newbury,' she said, 1
have no intention of trying to break
my uncle's will and / will oppose the
possible efforts of any ond else to
do SO. | shall never give myself in
marriage to Stoneham Lane. l am
grateful TO my uncle'S memory for all
he has done for me even though am
fully aware of his real motive, but
would not have accepted cent of
his money had it been left uncondi-
tionally to me; there would be curse
upon it"
Mildred, be silentv her mother
cried. Mr.. Newbury, do not listen to
her, she does not know what she is
saying! The shock of this frfghtful
tragedy must have temporarily un-
hinged her mind. She is still under
age"
~ am coming to that Mildred in
terrupted. Mr. Newbury, I must ask
your indulgence for Il moment, and
Your belief that II was never more
sane than l anr now. ! shall not be
twenty-one for seven months, and
know the pressure which will be
brought to bear on me to carry out
my uncle's wish in regard to my mar
riage. 1t will be desperate, carried
to any lengths. You had a hint just
now of what its nature may be If /
hold out, when my own mother as
serted that my mind was unbalanced
Surely, my dear child" New
bury began in that pulpit voice of his
and Lane growled something under
his breath that sounded mighty like
cuss word to us, while Mrs. Cayley
gave a yowl like a cat. The differ
ence between five and fifty thousand