Smyrna times., 1925-03-18
Maggie and the
W;Il
By VERA M. JONES
%, 1925. western Newspaper Union.)

will is found or not. You can file
claim for unpaid wages, you know"
IF she can prove she has not al
ready drawn them," Peter Hines broke
in from the desk over which he was
bending.
"Or that Sarah Baldwin didn't think
she had done enough in giving Maggie
a home in exchange for her services"
SOphy, his wife, supplemented. Sarah
was not fond of spending, you know
Why-the way she treated Peter-her
only relative-never a penny"
Maggie Flannery sank back in her
chair, the lassitude Of her hopeless
ness marking every line Of her worn
face and frail body.
The search continued in silence. The
room, bedchamber, was in state of
upheaval; drawers thrown open and
contents jumbled; books from the
case piled on the floor; the wardrobe
stripped, the garments heaped on the
old fOur-pOster.
Then, as SOphy pushed the last Of
the dresser drawers she had been ex-
band, whispering: "Cheer up, Peter
Suppose a will does turn up! 1t may
only give Maggie her wages, after all,
and make her heir"
Peter gave her a warning nudge.
mot a chance" he breathed. "YOu
know the old skinfint always warned
me Maggie was to be her sole bene-
ficiary at death. My one hope is
since the document wasn't filed-that
get my hands on it first. 1 won't rest
until l do"
But finally Peter did, sinking down
on the bed and lighting a cigarette.
Accidentally the flaming match fell on
the garments beside him. In snutting
it out he suddenly laughed.
Sarah not fond of spending" he
quoted his wife. "Well, if this is a
sample of my aunt's wardrobe, think
we must agree she wasn't! :"
At the sneering tone the old woman
reused herself: Miss Sarah liked her
old things best. She always said:
old clothes, like old friends
'Maggiew broke in Sophy, don't
be impertinent."
LET her be, SOphy It's edifying to
hear these "reminiscences This now"
and Peter mOckingly picked up an
old dressing gOwn-"this, Maggie,
| Judging from it's ancient appearance,
was treasured as a lifelong friend,
eh p
Just then the little man In gray
turned from replacing the last book
in the case; and just as suddenly Pc
ter jumped to his feet.
But let's end it! What say you,
Mr.. Bowling think you're convinced
we've searched thoroughly"
There's certainly no evidence Of a
document" Mr.. Bowling admitted. He
gazed at Maggie Flannery.
Peter Hines turned to the lawyer
III tell you, Mr. Bowling, what
think the explanation is: My aunt IN
tended for me to come into the money
this way! You securing her life
time she-well, she acted anything but
like wealthy woman should toward
her only relative. RemOrse for that
] l.
her with a desire to make amends. But
she was a proud woman; wouldn't
want me to know. SO-by dying
intestate-yOu see-restitutiOn, with
out humbling her pride"
Then a sudden thought came t
SOphy. Quickly she grabbed up thu
old dressing gown, after a swift glanc,
convinced her 1t was the most dilapi
dated of the garments. Here, Mag
gle, is that robe of Miss Sarah's; tina
ought to make a grand keepsake
since you loved her so we'll! Take II
and go. And don't come back her
again, or I'll have you arrested 70
false pretenses-claiming wages w
don't owe you! Go nOw!" WithOu
further ado SOphy took hold of tn
dazed old woman and thrust her dow
the back stairway.
Shortly after Peter returned. Hi
manner gave pOrtent of mystery.
you get rid of her?"
Sophy smiled. "Yes; and l gave he
that old dressing gown"
Peter started, then staggered towar
chair. "My God". he gasped. "The
you gave her the will"
"Peter" chided Sophy, wild-eyeC
You're crazyw
Her husband wagged a torture
hand. You did, I tell yOui When
picked up that old gown on the bed
suddenly noticed a paper sticking OF
of the pocket. On it was plainly wri
ten: Last will and testament of S,
rah Baldwin l was just going {
grab 1t and thrust 1t in my pock,
when Dowling happened to look u
and start toward me- So the onl
thing l could do was push 1t back
its place until~I got rid of him an
Maggie. l knew that If they saw
the jig was up He'd claim big fe
, for finding it-and she'd claim ever
| thing legally And good Cod TINT