White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1937-12-09

Wrltten WIN reu-nOt poker.
II don't know how to word a
formal will, but I hereby give and
bequeath all my property rea. and
which I left in a previ-
GUS will to Brooke Reyburn-except
the amount as stated in said will to
be given to my faithful servants,
Henri and Clotilde jacques, to my
nephew Mark Trent, to have and to
hold during his life and to dispose
of as he wishes. know now that
my ideas of right and wrong should
not deprive him of his rightful in
heritance. He was wonderful son.
He has been devoted nephew. /
make him sole executor without
bonds of my estate. I ask him to
provide an income sufficient for
frills and fun for my dear young
friend, Brooke Reyburn."
Brooke studied the signature.
Mary Amanda Danes without a
doubt, unless it was clever for
gerry, Anne Gregory's name sprawl
ing under it, and Henri's and Clo-
tides tight, foreign writing.
Suppose she destroyed this paper
which would deprive her of for
tune? A lighted match under it and
it WOULD go up in smoke. Who
would know? Who would believe
Henri against her? Wasn't he al
ready under suspicion in the filling
station hold-up? Suppose he did try
blackmail? He wouldn't get far with
it.
What terrible thing was she think
ing? The eyes of the white faced
girl who stared back at her from
the mirror were big with horror.
Was she two persons? Had her other
self turned craven? Had that
thought changed her face? For an
instant she had been criminal at
heart. She, Brooke Reyburn, who
considered her personal standards
Of honor and decency of the high
est. After this she would under
stand temptation as she never had
understood it before.
A car! Lucette and Sam. She
must hurry and dress. Sometime
during the evening she would give
the paper to Mark Trent. That
would be her answer to Henri.
Where could she put it meanwhile?
She would tuck it inside her frock.
She was fastening the corsage of
green orchids Mark Trent had sent
her to the front of her cleaning
silver frock when she met her brown
eyes in the mirror. She dropped
the flowers as If they had burned
her fingers. She couldn't wear his
gift until she was sure that he be-
lieved that she had not known until
this evening of his aunt's change of
mind. Why hadn't he come directly
to her when he had heard Mrs.
Gregory's story? Because he be-
lieved she knew where the will was,
that she was dishonest, that was
why. Perhaps he was right. What
would he think of her if he suspected
that for a split second she had
thought of burning it?
She would wear Jerry's gar
denias; she had chosen Mark the
Magnifcent's orchids first, simply
because he was her host, she as
sured herself.
She added more color to her white
cheeks, to her lips, busted her face
with powder, anything to switch her
mind from that nightmare instant
Of terrifying suggestion.
She waited until she heard her
brothers. and her sisters doors
close before she opened hers. Sam
popped his head out and called:
white tie tonight, Brooke%
"Of course, Sam. Our promising
young playwright must be swanky.
I've had your top hat ironed and
there's gardenia in box on your
dresser"
She heard his groan Of resigna-
ton as she started down the stairs.