Evening star., 1934-03-26
CHAPTER XIV.
"RIGHTFUL HEIRS"


x yoRMAN sat down on the
n couch, but this time instead
VI of drawing Judith into the
/ circle Of his arm, he faced
her.
What did you mean about mil
iionaire stenographer?" she asked.
with serious intentneSs.
"A reporter just telephoned and
asked me how it felt to be married
to one. Judge E. C. Morgan has Tom
Bevins' will, he filed it in Probate
Court this morning. And"
Norman .. go on"
He left you the bulk Of his estate,
several million dollars and the con-
trolling interest in the Bevins Con-
struction Co. His wife and daughter
will be cared for through trust fund"
He paused and waited for Judith to
say something, but she sat mute, star
ing into the flames.
Judith" there was a note of ir-
ritation in his voice, haven't you
anything at all to Say?"
Judith looked up. her cheeks chalk
white, her eyes limpid with unshed
| tears-"What can I say?" she asked.
Aren't you surprised =. Judith?"
and now she heard suspicion in his
voice. You didn't know this was
coming did yeu?"
mo, Norman" she spoke with firm
honesty. then added, at least not
this way"
"You mean you expected money!"
he asked.
mo, / really didn't"
And under the circumstances you'll
return it to the rightful heirs" he
suggested gently.
Judith looked at her husband a
forecast of pain to come in her eyes.
To whom was her loyalty more i'm
| portant, the ghost Of memory, or
this man beside her?
| Guardedly, she answered. Norman,
I think we'll find when the will Is
read, that the money and the company
stock has been left me in trust, not
for my personal use"
But. of course, that viii, be depriv-
| ing Mrs. Bevins. the rightful heir,
from using it as she would prefer"
Judith looked up in surprise. She
started to ask if the money had not
been earned by Big Tom, then reallz-
ing he would see only the ethical side
OF such a question, countered with:
Lets wait and see for ourselves what
the will contains. What else did the
reporter want to know"
"A million and one things. He
wanted to know why the old gentle
man left his fortune to you, his
stenographer, instead Of his rightful
heirs
Norman" Judith jumped to her
feet, "if you say 'rightful heirs to
me again III scream. AS II I could
help what I didn't know was going 10
happen"
She wheeled from him and ran to
the little glassed-in Sun-porch ana
threw herself onto wicker couch.
But there was no time for tears. Lige
was beside her, the telephone IN MS
hands.
Miss Sanford" he said.
Hello, Judy" elias friendly voice
came across the wire, hate like the
dickens to call you at a time like
this. but I'm determined you're going
to have your say. Every biddy In
town will be tearing your reputation
to shreds by nightfall and well.
how about it child. what spell did
you cast over Big Tom to have him
leave you five million?"
Five million?" questioned Judith.
then, ella, I swear didn't know
anything about it, but please say for
me that I'm hoping Mr.. Bevins' heirs
will withhold judgment until the will
is read. Say if I have been left any
thing at all and ella, give
my word of honor I don't know what
the will contains but If have
been left anything it has been left
for me to carry out some business
for him, and not for my personal
use''
There was silence at the other end