Indiana State Sentinel, Indianapolis, Marion County, 27 November 1889 — Page 3

THE INDIANA STATE SENTINEL, WEDNESDAY, NOTE! BER 27, 18S9.

FOILED BY HIMSELF. " "Who 13 that letter from, Jenkins." I don't know-tir. The man who brought t is waiting in the irout office for an answer. He looks like a working man dressed up in his Sunday clothes." Mr. John Harnett, solicitor, cut open the envelope carefullv, an was hia habit, took out the inclosure and read : MoREnrx IIocpe, ELDEr.o.vre. Friday. 6 A. M. Dear Sir: I ant in creat tronble. Mr. Monkton vai found dprtd in tle library last nicht ahout 6 o'clock. The cause of death was heart dieeaje. Could you come down here today and remain until a.ter the funeral, and advise tne with regard to the fuDerai arrangement and other tliinUi? It is a great deal to ask, I know; but you see I hitve no ruht to interfere in thee matter, as I am no relative of Mr. Monkton's, and I do not know what to do. You were always hi chief friend as well as esal advier. I am afraid of his brother corulSf here when lie hears of his death. I inclose n oticea which I will thauk you t eet inserted in the various newspapers. I send this letter by our gardener, who will brin? back a reply. Yours truly, Kathekise Ashley. Mr. Rirnett appeared very much affected on reading this letter "fr. Monkton is dead, Jenkins" he paid. "Found dead in his Ii brary last night. How very sudden ! He was here oniy two days asro lookine as well as ever I paw him. This U tter i. from Miss Ashler. Mie wishes me to co to Eldergate to-tlay, but Mr. Morpan iscominjr here in a short time, and I have to ro out with him relatire to some buintf!, which wi.l detain me, I expect, till late in the afternoon. I will not be able to get to KIdergate till the b' o'clock tr.iin. I have nothincr particularly pressing for the next few days, have I?" "No," sir; I don't think v' "Then I will be able to wait over at Eldergate till after the funeral, as Mits Ashley wishe?. I will pive you a note to the man. I don't know when I got euch a chock." 'I he note dispatched, Mr. Barneft pat dov.-n to think over matters. Mr. Monkton and he had beeu friends of many Tears' duration, and having been often at Moredun houne, Mr. Earnett was well acquainted with Miss Ashley, who was orphan niece of his friend's late wife. Mr. Monkton had no family of his own, and Mies Ashley had lived at Moredun houe for the pa?t ten years. Her aunt, Mrs. Monkton, had died a few years before. By the terms of Mr. Mcnkton's will, which Mr. Barnett himself had drawn, the latter knew that he, alonjr with Sir Andrew Dawson, a wealthy neighbor of Mr. Monkton's, whs appointed an executor and a joint guardian of Miss Ashley until she could attain the ace of twenty-one. This ehe would not reach for nearly three years yet, and in the interval some arr increment must r come to with reference ;o her. "I hope that brother of Monkton's doesn't come upon the scone, for he is a

he said to himself. "He will cive us some trouble if he can. However, he need not try to dispute t lie will, although I ldieve he would do it in a minute if ho thought he had the phost of a chance." Here Mr. Harnett's meditations wereint' rrupted by the entrance of hisclient, Mr. Morgan, who had come to keep his appointment, and in a rdiort time both left the oiiice together. It was after 5 in the afternoon when Mr. Barnett returned. "Confound Morsum !" he said to Jenkins, who was his head clerk, and who had ait?4 behind the others in cas of anything beinar required. "I could not got away earlier. It will be after 10 o'clock before I get to Mr. Monkton's house, for I will have to wait till th? .8 o'clock train now. I must co home first. I shall not be back at the ofS co till Wednesday; but if there should be anything particularly ?re?in I mislit take a run tip. You can i-t mo know how things 0 on, Jenkins." "All right, sir," answered Jenkins; and then Mr. Barnett departed. He It-ft Kr.ston station at S o'clock on route for Elderirate, which was distant from the metropolis about two hours" journey by rail. Mr. Monkton's carriage was in waiting at tL station, and he was soon being driven up the avenue to the house. A footman, who appeared to be the only one awake in the house, opened the door to him. But as he enured an old lady, whom Mr. Barnett recognized as a distant cousin of Mr. Monkton, met him in the hall. She was a sturdy old Scotch woman, hale and hearty, though upward of sixty years of ase. "Ye'ree very late. I was thin'-"- r vo tnihtna be here the nizht now, s d advised Miss Ashley to pane awa' to ... . Ul and I would look alter ye if ye aine. Ye'H be after some supper, I'm thinking. Come this way into the dining-room." Mr. Barnett followed the loquacious old lady into the room, where the supper was immediately brought in. "I am surprised to see you, Mrs. Crawford," he said. "I did not know you were here. Miss Ashley did not mention you in her letter this morning." "Lecaui-e she didna ken I wa coming. I'm staying in London wi me son Peter now. and I came down here this morning on a visit by chance. I found everything at sixf s ana sevens, and that pnir lasie greeting like to break her heart; so I juot etaid on tid ye would come," "You were quite right. I would have been here earlier, as I told Mis Ashley in my letter, but I was detained. But I need not keep you out of your bed, Mrs. Craw. ford; I can attend to'cnyself. I know the wav to my rom. I have been often here before, vou know." -Oh, V ni in no hnrrv," eaid Mrs. Crawford. She had dismissed the servant, and had herself waited to attend to Mr. Harnett's wants. He had scarcely begun to do justice to the super, however, when she suddenly l?nt forward and whispered almost into his ear. '"He's here." "Who is here? Whom do you mean 7'' asked the solicitor, almost dropping his knite and fork in his surprite. "Whom should I mean but Henry Monkton, of course? Carao here in the middle of the afternoon and intends waiting tid aiter the funeral, he says. But he may spare himsel' the trouble for onything he'll get, I hone." "But how did he come to hear of his brother's death so speedily ? It w ill not be in the newspaters till to-morrow. Miss shley surely end not send him notice?" .So, she dinna. Shes ower fnchted for i.iui to uo ine iiKe o mat. cries Keemt ber room ever since he came, or else she would hae been waiting here to see ye. But ye'll se her in the morning right enough. He met Blake, the gardner, by arciuent, at the Ixmdon station this foren1 o i and got the news frae him. He has a gude stook o' impudence to come here at the present time, when he kens brawly he daurna Lae showei his noso had' his brother been living. Dear, dear! sic a change ar his death will mak in this hou.se! What's to become o' that lassie? Surely he would mind her in his will." " as he supposed to have ben long dead before he was found ? Who was the first to discover him? Was it MLs Ashley?" "Ay ; she was the first. lie had gone into the library at 7, and Miss Ashley, who had been out at hr tea at ir Andrew Tawson, came horn about 9 o'clock. When ehe went into the room be was sitting dead at his desk." "What had be been doing? Reading, or what?" "He had apparently been looking over some papers and letters, for there wer a lot lying about the desk. The doctor believe he bad not long been dead when he was discovered." "Well, well. I mnst se after things in the morning. It is a little awkward Henry Monkton being here. Who has charge of

the keys of Mr. Monkton's private drawers? Miss Ashley, I presume?" "I hae pot them just now. f-ho wasna fit to look after anything. I locked up some o' the drawers mysel' since I came. "And the papers that were in Mr. Monkton's desk, what was done with them?" "They're just lying as he left them. I was fear d to touch them, and I let them lio till ye would see thetn yersol'. I suppose it will be ower late the nicht now. Ye can put them in the safe if ye like, for I hae the keys here." "If you light the gas iu the library I will have a look at them before I go to bed. They will be better locked up, at any rate, if there are any deeds among theui.' Preceded by" Mrs. Crawford, Mr. Barnett made his way to the library. This had been his dad friend's favorite room, where he spent most of his time. The top of the de.-k wes strewn with letters and documents of various kinds, among which Mr. Barrett discerned a small bundle of titles, part of those connected with the purchase of Moredun house. He got a newspaper and bundled all the papers together. "We will put them in the safe till tomorrow when I will look them over," said be. "His will must be in the safe, or in one of the drawers of this old cabinet." "Dear me, I thocht ye would have had his will," said Mrs. Crawford. "When I made iny will, though gudeness kens I had na murh to leave, ray lawyer, Mr. Simpson, tell'd me that it "was uual for lawyers to keep their clients' wills." "iSo it is; but Mr. Monkton liked to keep his own, and his titles and other documents also. But the will won't be dilhcult to tind, for I have an idea where he kept it. I will co oif to bed, now. I shall He Miss Ashley, in the iuornin;?, and Mr. Henry Monkton, too, I suppose. He has not Wen interfering in the house in any way, bince he came, has he?" "No; he has keept himsol' very quiet. lie said ye would look after things, when ye came. He didna want to meddlo wi' bnything." "I am glad to hear he is so peaceably inclined. You know the reason of his" last quarrel with his brother, I dare say?" "Deed I do. I ken that Henry Monkton has been a neer-do-weel a' his days, and that his brother was aye far ower prude to him. lie paid his debts ower and ower again, and to think that after a' he would try to rob his brother o' his ain money behind his back. I reckon Mr. Monkton caught him in the very act o' helping hi nisei' to his money out 6' the safe." "Yes, and after that he ordered him out of his house, which he should have done long before. Bat, as you say, he was far too good to 1dm. They have never spoken since. Were you in the houe when Henry Monkton arrived? He did not come till the afternoon, I think you said?" "No; I wa.s out when he came." "How is he loking? Does he pe-rn sorrv at hearing of his brother's death'.'"

"fie was looking kind of sträng like, I thocht, and seemed kind of startled when I came into the room where he was. I don't think he heard me coining till I opened the door. He was civil enou.'h, though I dinna ken when I saw him behave sae weel. But, of course, he could scarcely act ony other way and his brother h ire a a corpse i' the house." "Where is the body? In Mr. Monkton's own room ?" "Yes. Miss Ashley's is next to if. The housekeeper is sleeping wi' her, in case she should feel eerie. Young people are ave feared for death, ye ken. er room is a" ready for ye, Mr. Barnett." "Thak you. I know my way, Mrs. Crawford," be said, taking the bedroom candle from her hand as they stood together in the hall. "Good nizht. I am sorry to have kept you up so late on my arconnt." He went slowly up the stairs and along the corridor toward the room he was wont to occupy on the occasions of his visits to Moredun house. As he passed the door of the room where lay the dead body of his friend, so lately instinct with life, a feeling of awe crept over him. A stillness as of the grave seemed to hover in the air. What a strange thing was this which men call death! Next morning, when the solicitor came down stairs, he found Miss Ashley in the breakfast-room. She was a slight, fairhaired girl with a very pretty face. .She wore a dark-blue morning gown. Her eyes looked heavy and bore the traces of recent tears. Fhe greeted Mr. Barnett with outstretched hand. "Oh, it is such a relief to have you here !" she said. "I did not know what to do; and Mrs. Crawford was not here when I wrote you. She would tell you that Henry Monkton came yesterday afternoon." "Yes. I expected to see him at breakfast Is be not going to appear?" "I do not know. He was up early and has gone out somewhere, the housekeeper says. But we will not wait for him. Mrs. Crawford is having breakfast in her own room." "I expected Henrv Monkton would have leeu trying to act the master here," said Mr. Barnett, "but Mrs. Crawford informs mo he has shown no disposition to do bo that he has left even-thing for mo to arrange." "She told me so, too. He Feems to have altered for the better. "Wo could scarcely blame him even if he did assume the mastership in the house; he Is Mr. Monkton's only near relation." "Yes. but how did he behave toward him? Xot as a brother ghould, certainly. Had I been in Monkton's place I would never have lrne with him so long." "Uncle was very patient with him. I believe he always looked upon him as a mere boy, w ho would grow w iser in time. And ho was only eight years younger than uncle, after all. He must be somewhere about forty-six." Mr. Barnett ate his breakfast m co:narative silence. He was debating with limself as to the advisabili'v of imparting to Miss Ashley the terms of Mr. Monkton's will at the pn sent or of leaving it till later. She had said nothing on the subject, and judging by appearances, the thought of the will or of how she herself might be concerned in it did not seem to be troubling her. Had she shown any signs of anxiety with regard to what she should do or where she should go after the fu neral, Mr. Barnett would have felt it his fluty to tell her she was amply provided for, but as it was, he thought it "better she should remain in ignorance in the meantime. After breakfast Miss Ashley went np stairs. Left alone, Mr. Barnett decided that he would wait until ho bad seen Henry Monkton before beginning his work in the library, and went out Into the garden to smoke. "He was in the full enjoyment of bis cigar, when a step comiug down the garden path caused him to turn round. The comer was Mr. Henry Monkton, who held out his hand wish apparent friendliness. He was a tall, sallow-com-plexloned man, not bad-looking, with a restless look in his black eyes. Ho had a mustache but no leard. Saving iu his complexion and his restles-s looks, he had a great resemblance to his dead brother. The solicitor took the offered hand and bade him good morning in as friendly a tone as he could muster. "I have to apologize for not appenring at breakfnft." said Mr. Monkton. "I bad a headache and went out to walk it on". I am going In now. 1 believe you caxao last nuht?" "Yes. You. were in bed, I think. I saw no one save Mrs. Crawford." "She would keep you in talk at any rate. How her tongue does go I I never eon make out half (be My. Confound theso poor relations, always cropping up! Have you seen Miss Ashley tbia morning? the wa.s not very well yesterday." "1 saw her at breakfast. CLa Las gone I

to her room now. You would be sorry to hear of your brother's death." "I have good reason to bo sorry. A better brother man never had.- I am afraid I was sorry trouble to him. I am glad, however, that our last quarrel was made up before he died. I ehould never have forgiven myself otherwise." "Then you have seen him lately?" asked Mr. Barnett in burprise, which he did not attempt tohide. "I saw him in the city on Tuesday and spoke to him. He had been at your otiice. He was rather stern at first, but he had always a warm side to me, bad as I was." Mr". Barnett doubted Mr. Monkton's statement very mueh.but did not tell him so. He only remarked: "It must be a great comfort to jou now as things have happened." "Yes, it is a comfort, as yousay. W ill you be good enough to have a look through my brother's papers, and arrange them ii they need arranging. You und -rstand such things. He w ould have liked you to do it, I know." He spoke as though conscious that by his own wicked conduct in the past he had forfeited all right to interfere in his brother's affairs. Mr. Barnett,' a'though wondering not a little at the petition Henry Monkton was taking up, wisely refraineel from making any remark. He merely said: "I was just waiting to see you K fore I began. I will go in now," and left Mr. Monkton standing alone. Before he could begin his work among the documents the arrangement for the funeral required to be seen to, and the forenoon was prettv far advanced also when he nt length pet himself down to work in earnest. He first of all opened the safe, took out the pape rs which he had wrapped in the newspaper the previous night, and placed them on the dek in the middle of the tloor. "I had better find the will in the first place," thought he. "I can't unde rstand Henry Monkton's behavior at all, no different from his usual style. One would think that he already has an idea how the will stand, or he would be acting differently. He must have come down here simply in a fit of bravado, and with the intent ion, perhaps, of deceiving the people around by a pretense of regret for the brother he has lost He can't cheat rne, however, with his hypocritical talk. I wonder if he knew the will was in his brother's possession, or if he thought I had it. Here is a bundle of titles; the will may be among them. I have seen Monkton take it out from one of these drawers before, I think. This one is half empty. Some of these papers on the desk probably have been kept in it." He sat down and unloosed the piece of pink tape with which the documents were tied together and scrutinized each carefully. "It is not among these, at any rat," he said, laying thorn aside and taking out another smaller bundle. ".Nor here, cither," he added, after glancing over this second lot. "After all, it may be in that old cabinet or in tins dv sk : but I should think h" would not keep anything but letters or things of that kind in either of these two places." Ho happened to turn round after closing the drawer, and the bundle lyiuz on the desk attracted his attention. He unwound the newspaper which enveloped its contents, and scattered the papers loosely over the desk. A slight scrutiny convinced him that they consisted chiefly of letters and circulars of one kind aud another, some of them dated raanyyears back. These he paid little attention to. Then came part of the Moredun house titles, which, together with some leases, formed the remainder of the documents !cfore them. He looked these over ana then placed them in the drawer he had already examined. The rest of the safe was mainly taken up with business books used by Mr. Monkton before his retirement from busint'ss as a merebaut. The Fafe was not a large one, yet it teok Mr. Barnett some time to examine thoroughly all it contained. He had just made up his mind that the document sought for was not there, when he was summoned to dinner. Mrs. Crawford, Miss Ashley and Mr. Monkton were all present, but none of them had dressed for the occasion. The meal passed very quietly, little conversation being indulged in. Even the usually garrulous Mrs. Crawford was silent. When the ladies left the elining-room, Mr. Barnett retired with them, and at once went back to the library to resume his searclu He had anticipated no trouble in finding his late friend's wil'; but the looking for it promised to be a more tedious hurfnes-s than he had expected, although he had no doubt of finding it ultimately. Hours passed, and still the search went on unsuccessfully. At 10 o'clock both cabinet and desk had been thoroughly overhauled, unless there were somo secret drawers which he had failed to discover. Tiiere was no other place left in the room where Mr. Monkton would be likelv to keep the will that he could see. Could it by any chance be in his room upstairs! If it were not discovered there, the conclusion seemed inevitable that the will was lost. II. "Has Mrs. Crawford gone upstairs to her room yet?" It was Mr. Barnett who ßpoke. "No, sir." "Would you tell her, please, I wish to Bee her here in the library ?" "Very well, sir." Tho servant departed, and in a short time Mrs. Crawford made her appearance. It was now Monday evening and on the morrow the funeral of Mr. Monkton would take place. As yt t the missing will had not been found, although every likely and unlikely place had been searched, with the exception of the bookcases in the lib

rary, which Mr. Barnett was eniraced in examining. He had not up to this time mentioned to anyone the fact of the will having disappeared. But for alarndng Miss Ashley ho would have taken her into his confidence. "Sit down, Mrs. Crawford," be said, addressing that lady. "CIoso the door, plea.se; I do not want anyone to hear what 1 am going to say." "Pear me; I hope there's nothing wrong," said she. "I was just thinking o' going to my bed. Miss Ashley is away up stairs to hers, and Henry Monkton to his. What was it ve.were wanting?" "I will tell you directly. Has Mis Ashley said anything to you about Mr. Monkton's will?" "No ; and I didna like to speak o' it to her, but ye'll ken all about it?" "Henry Monkton has not spoken about it either, has he?" "Not to me; but I conldna hae tell'd him onything about it. I dinna think he has mentioned it to Miss Ashley. lie is maybe feared in case lie heard "that he's no to come in for onything. He'll be wanting to keep on hoping as king's he can." The solicitor could not repress a smile at this last sentence. 4,I will tell you w hy I sent for you, Mrs. Crawford. I suppose you are not particular whether you get to bed for a hour or two yet ?" "OIi, no. If ye're "wanting me, I can bide up brawly. "I want you to give mo a hand in looking throutrh tbes bookcases. I have bad some of the books down already. The fact is, Mrs. Crawford, I can't find Mr. Monkton's will ; and I have searched everr place that I can think of. 1 know ho used to keep it in this room." "Mercy on ns! The idea o that! canna find the willl Where can it hae gane, think ye?' "I only wish I knew. It shonlel be produced and read at the funeral to-morrow. If I don't find it, I will have to read from the draft; but Henry Monkton will prob

ably demand production of the principal. It will be a fortunate thing for him il it can be pot." "Ay, I dare say. but we maunna let that happen. Mid Ashley is left something in it, 1 hope?" ".She is left everything, with the exception of some small legacies to the servants and an annuity to his brother futlicient to keep him above want. You are remembored in it also. But if the will is not found Henry Monkton will take everything, as his brother's sole heir." "Will he, the vagabond? I wad be vexed to see't. Tell me what to do and we'll begin at aince." "Well, we will take down these books one by one and see if the will is not by accident between the leaves of one of them, or it may even be at the back of the bookcase." There was silence In the room for a considerable time while the search went on. Eleven o'clock struck. They were the only two awake in that large house. Mr. Barnett was the first to speak. "Did Henry Monkton tell you that his brother and he were on friendly terms before the death happened?" he inquired. "He says he met him last Tuesday in town, and that they spoke to each other, but I can't believe "it." "This is the first time I've heard r. that; but I've spoken to Henry Monkton as little as I could." "I asked Miss Ashley if Mr. Monkton had mentioned it to her, and she said he had not. He would Burtly have told her if it had been the caso." "It's as likely to be a lie as no. I wadna trust that Henry Monkton nae farer than I could see him. But what's this inside o' this big book? It's the will, I do believe!" Mr. Barnett dropped tho book he held and crossed the room to the side of Mrs. Crawford. "It is the will 1" he cried joyfully. "Thank Providence! I was afraid it was lost altogether. I ought to have had you to help me sooner, I see. You have been more fortunate than I." "Last will and testament of George Monkton, dated 5th April, 1NS1," read Mr. Barnett from the back of the document "It must have got in there just as I supposed." He opened out the will and glanced hurriedly over it, and as he did so the expression of his face changed. "There is some mistake here. This is not the will I meant. Tnis one was revoked by another, executed some months later; in August instead of April, now that I rememb'T, but in the same year. This should have been destroyed long ago. I thought Mr. Monkton had burned it" "And what's the difference be tween that one and the other one?" asked Mrs. Crawford, not a little elisappointed at hearing the will found was not the one sought for. "The legacies to you and to the servants are the same. The ditlerence is that Miss Ashley, instead of getting the remainder, gets only one-third. His brother succeeds to the other two. This will was drawn out and signed prior to the quarrel between the brothers. The one I want was exe cuted after that time." "1 would be very sick sorry to see him get onything ava, much lis two-thirds. We hae fa ml ae will at onyrah?. The other mav not be far aflf. We'll finish what we're at, I reckon. Is that will for use at a' ?" "In the event of us not finding the other, it will be. It contains a provision for Miss Ashley, which is one good thing. If there was no will she would get nothing. If the other is not forthcoming we must act on this one." "Do ye think Mr. Monkton would ken o' that will being inside the book?" "No; I don't think ho would. That book does not seem to have beeu disturbed for a long time. He must have thought he had destroyed it. But yet- " The solicitor stopped short in his speech as a sudden thought struck him. "If it be true that his brother and he had become friendly again, he may have burned the last will, intending to make anew one; or he might be aware of the existence of this one, which would do perfectly well," he 6aid. He may have even burned the will on the evening on which he died. Was there any appearance, Mrs. Crawford, of his having burned any papers?" "I he.inl the housekeeper say he had teen burning some papers; but. of course, they might be some auld letters or things o' no consequence." "Quite possible. We will not assume that it is burned yet, till we see. There goes 12 o'clock. Another twenty minutes and we will havefin'shed. What's that?" It was a noise like the faint creaking of a door, distinctly heard through the stillne ss of the house, seemingly coming from one of the rooms on the floor immediately above'. Mr. Barnett and Mrs. Crawford both strained their ears to listen. For the space of nearly a minute they heard nothing. "Perhaps Miss Ashley or the housekeeper looking out to see if the hall gas is still lit. or if we are up stairs," Mr. Barnett said. "I hope it is not that brother spying about to see what we are after. If he had happened to be outside the door a little while ago he might have heard us talking of the will. There it is again, fcjome one is certainly awake up stairs." Bisteninjr intently they now heard a slight sound, as of a "footstep coming slowly down the stairs step by step. The footstep seemed too light to be that of Henry Monkton ; it must be o ither Miss Ashley of the housekeeper, Mrs. JkMing. "They're takin their braw time, whoever it is," said Mrs. Crawforel in a whisper. "They have got to the foot of the stair now. They're coming in here. The Lord preserve us; it's Mr. Monkton himscl'!" The door had opened, and a tall figure ia white walked slowly into the room. Mrs. Crawford, almost fainting with terror, cowe-d down on the floor and clung to the tails of the solicitor's frock coat. Both were opposite the side of the desk from the apparition, which advanced with noiseless tread into tho center of the room, and there paused, regarding them with a fixed stare. It held something in its right hand like a long blue packet. Mr. Barnett, his blood freezing in his veins, stood literally paralyzed and ine:apable of motion. Ilofelt his hair rise on his head. For the fpace of one dread minute he actually believed that the spirit of his dead friend stood before him. Then came a wild feeling of relief as he recognized the apparition. It was not the dead man in the spirit, but his brother in the flesh, whom he beheld. It was Henry Monkton in a fit of somnambulism. There he stood, clad in nothing but bis long nightshirt, his feet bare, his eye s wide open and unseeing, utterly unconscious of where he was or in whose presence. It was the first time in bis life that Mr. Barnett had beheld anyone thus walking in his sleep. The sight was to him something ghostly and terrible a s rt of life and death. What was the sleeping man going to do? What was thiit which he held in his hand? Mr. Barnett stopped down and whispered his discovery of who the apparition was into tho ear "of the terrified Mrs. Crawford, who speedily recovered from her right, and both together watched the movements of the somnambulist, who seemed' unce rtain what to do next. First he laid down the blue packet ho carried on the desk, which the solicitor now paw to be a Ions: envelope, evidently containing something. From this envelope the sleeping man drew forth a document, which he opened out and seemc-d to glance over, after which he refolded and returned It to the envelope. This he laid on the desk, left it there and walked forward to the fireplace, where he stood for a minute or two leaning against the mantelpiece, apparently wrapt in thought Struck by a sudden thought.

Mr. Barnett leaned across the desk, took up the envelope, drew out the document inclosed and hastily scanned it pver. A single glance wa3 ßuihcient. It was the missing will. Quick a thought he snatched up the will found by Mrs. Crawford, which was lying beside him, thrust it into the cnveloje and clipped the newly discovered one safely into his pocket Next ho leaned over and softly placed the envelope with its new incloure back where it bad lain. It was but the work of a second or two, Mrs. Crawford watching him the while w ith bated breath, half suspecting what the envelope had contained. The somambulist, after standing in the same position at the fire place for some seconds longer, returned to the desk, took up the will, went again to the fireplaco and held the envelope and its contents above the now burned-out fire, as though about to drop them into the flames which he imagined he saw. Then he turned hurriedly and glanced toward the door, put his hand containing the will behind him, as if wishing to hide it from the gaze of some one, stooel for a minute in that positiou and then slowly walked out of tho room, closing the door behind him. Mr. Barnett darted after him and followed him cautiously up stairs. He watched him until he saw him go along the corridor and enter his room iu safety; after that the solicitor returned to the room below. "Me rcy on us ! Did ever any mortal see the like o' that?" This exclamation burst from the lips of Mrs. Crawford as Mr. Barnett rejoined her in the library. The good woman had recovered the use öf her tongue and was inclined to laugh at her recent fear?. "I really though it was the dead man hinisel'," continued she. "Eh, but he was awfu' like him, though! What paer was that ve took ? Was it the w ill, and had he got it after a'?" "Yes, it was the will. Here it is, safe and sound. He may do what he likes with the one he has got. I will take care this one does not full into his hands again." "But how would he come tö get it. think ye?" "That is quite ensly understood, Mrs. Crawford. Mr. Monkton must have had it beside him the night he died, and itwouid be lyinp among the loose papers on the desk. His brother, huntingamongthese paperson his arrival here, had found the will, read it; and, knowing that if it were destroyed or putoutof the way he himself would be heir toeverything, resolved to repress it. Iremember you sai i he seemed a little confused when you entered the room. You had probably disturbed him while perusing the will. He has had it in his possession all along. The wonder is that he has not burned it before this. Perhaps he could not make up his mind whether to destroy it er give it up. I can understand now his non-interference with things. He knew that the game was in his own hand." "It maun hae pre'yed on Ids mind to a terrible extent, though. That may be w hat caused him to walk in his sleep. "No doubt. He seemed to be acting over again what occurred in this room when he found the will. You saw hitn look toward the door, as if he heard someone coming, and then put his hand behind him, apparently to hide the will?" "Aye, he ju.-t looked something like that w hen I saw him the first day standing by the fire I'll not forg t what I hae seen this night in a hurry. YVre sure that's the right will now?" "Yea ; there's no doubt of it at this time. It is dated Aug. b, 1 831, exactly four months to a day later than the other." Mr. Barnett's supposition as to the manner in which Henry Monkton had got possession of the will was quite correct. He had found it on Mr. Monkton's desk among the other papers, and after reading it was unable to make tip his mind whether to destroy it or leave it somewhere where it might be found by Mr. Barnett. Mrs. Crawford had disturbed him in the Iibrarj' before he had time to read it, hence he hastily folded it up and carried it with him to his room till he could peruse it at leisure. Prior to the meeting with Mr. Barnett in the garden he had, after much inward discussion, determined to tlestroy the will; and as he knew the solicitor to be we'd aware of its existence, he had invented the story of having met his late brother in London and of having become reconciled to him, in order to raise a belief in Mr. Barnett's mind, when he found the will not forthcoming, that Mr. Monkton might himself have tlestroyed it, intending to make a new one. He was made aware of his brother's visit to town on the Tuesday through an acquaintance, who had met him coming from Mr. Barnett's otiice. About half an hour after Mr. Barnett had retired to bis room Henry Monkton suddenly awoke from the deep sleep into which he had fallen and s; t up in led, unaware that he had ever left it. His room was not quite in darkness, for a small flame suddenly shooting up from the fire dimly lit the surroundings. The light at-trae-teel his attention. "I have been dreaming of that cursed will again," he muttered, thrusting his hanel under his pillow to feel if tho document was safe. "Full fifty times have I resolved to destroy it, and as often something has held me back. The fire is still burning. I will b tormented no longer. This very minute it 6hall be consigned to the flames; then surelv I shall have peace. It is an unjust will, it should have never been made. That girl, an utter stranger, to get everything and I nothing. Not while I live to prevent it" Not allowing himself one instant for reflection, he rose anel crossed tho room quickly to the fireplace1. The flame was still burning invitingly. By its lieht he read the writing on the back of the envelope, to make himself certain that it was the one containing the will, then thrust both envelope and its contents into the heart of the fire. With glittering eyes he watched the creeping flame epee'dily devour them. For some seconds the whole room was brilliantly illuminated, and then came darkness. The incubus was removed; the will was gono forever! Mr. Monkton's funeral was over. Dust had been consigned to dust, to await the final resurrection. The next act in the drama was the reading of the dead man's

will, an event usually anxiously looke'd forward to by eager prospective 1 gatees. In tho drawing-room after the funeral were assembled Mrs. Crawford, Miss Ashley, Henry Monkton, Sir Andrew Dawson, Mrs. Crawford's 6on Peter, who was a clerk in the citv, and Mr. Barnett Several of the principal servants were also present Henry Monkton, in spite of his best efforts, could not wholly conceal his agitation. Miss Ashley appeared calm and composed. She was thinking more of the kind guardian she ha 1 lost than of what he had left behind him. Mr. Barnett, who had the will in his pocket, now rose to speak. "You all know, of course, it is customary for the will of a deceased person to be read immediately after the funeral," he began, fixing his'eyes on Henry Monkton, who quailed under their keen glance. "But before I say more I wish to know, supposing the principal will not be nt hand, if I may le allowed to rend from the draft which I have here. Draft and principal are precisely alike in substaneie." No one spoke for some seconels. No one, indeed, had any interest to sieak pave Henry Mcnkton. Miss Ash ton was no relation to the deceased, and Mrs. Crawford and her son were but distant connections Mr. Barnett was about to resume, when Henry Monkton interrupted him. "What is the good of reading from the draft?" said be. "We must have the will itself. Where is It! Why have you not got it?" "These inquiries, Mr. Mönkton, you are probably in a better position to aciwei

than myself. Have von no idea where your brother's will is.A The question was put so direct that Henry Monkton lost his temper. "What do you mean?" he said in an angry tone. "How should I know anything about it? It is not likely I shall gain anything by it You would take care of that, while framing it I'il bet," Mr. Barnett, without taking nctice of tlm innuendo, simply said: "Then you know nothing of the will? You have not seen it?" "No, I have not seen it; if that will satisfy you; and now, kindly proceed. J suppose the upshot of all this is that there is no w ill?" "Oh, no. You are roMaken; the will is here all right enough." Mr. Barnett said, prejducing it "But I have to thank you lor its restoration as well as its tlisappearance; I only got it last night." Henry Monkton, amazed and confounded at the production of a wid which he could only conclude to be a later one than that w hich he had burned, had not a word to say. He was, however, at a loss to understand the last sentence entered bv Mr. Barnett "I do not understand you." he said at length. "I have no connection with the will whatever. If it was ever lost it is evidently found again. Be kind enough to leave me out of the matter altogether; I know nothine about it." "My friends," said Mr. Barnett, 'look at this man. He comes down here, pretending regret for the brother he has lost, and with a lying story on his lips that his brother and he, who for a very long time had not spoken to each other, had become friends again a week to-day three days before that brother's death. He finds his brother's will in the library, reads it, and, seeing that he himself Is left almost nothing, and that this innocent girl here inherits everything, resolves either to destroy or conceal it. In Iiis policy, he does not assume the mastership here; he interferes with nothing, knowing" well that be can bide his time; and this for the purpose of deceiving those around him into a belief that he neither exnects nor desires to gain any thing by the death of his brother. He intended, no doubt, to counterfeit surprise when no will was found. This will which I hold in my hand is the one taken from the library bv that man. Up till last night at 12 o'clock it w:is in his possession, at which time it found its way into my own." Not one of the hearers was half so much astonished at hearintr this speech as was Henry Monkton. Believing that he had burned the will which he had found, he was amazed at what he heard. But he thought he saw an opening to prove the falsity of some part, at least, of the solicitor's statement. "You will observe," said he, rising and gaining courage, "that this gentlemian accuseds me first of stealing my brother's will, then apparently of restoring it again. This restoration, according to his story, would seem to have taken place last night at midnight At that time I was in bed and asleep; he-, for ausht I know, was the same. I did not see him after dinner yesterday. The w hole tale is a base fabrication. "It is true. I have a w itness here Mrs. Crawford, will you kindly ted what we both saw last night? Perhaps you will convince him." "Deed, I'll soon tell, and no be backware either," said Mrs. Crawford, and she Eroceeded to relate in eletail what she ad seen; the white figure entering the library; her terror when ehe paw, as she thought, the apparition of her dead relative; the packet which it carried in its hand; how the figure turned out after all to le Henry Monkton himself walking in his sleep, and how Mr. Barnett had succeeded in substituting the one will for the other. The company heard the relation of tho story with amazement. As for Monkton, he was simply stricken dumb. Everyone in tho room turned to look at him; he was pale as death. Aware that he occasionally walked in his sleep, he had no doubt of the truth of what Mrs. Crawford had just narrated, or of the fact that he had been tricked by the solicitor. He did not speak. Foiled by himself, by his own unconscious act, he slunk ,ut of the room and shortly after left tho house. dive Urn Time. X. Y. Truth. Overheard on a Warner car. Fussy old gentleman to a chance traveling lady companion: "Have you any children, madam?" "Yes, sir, a Fon." "Ah. indeed! Does he smoke?'' "No, 6ir; he has never as much aa touched a cigarette." "o mach the better, madam; the u?e of tobacco is a poisonous habit Does he frequent cluhs?" "lie has never put his foot in one." "Allow me to congratulate you. Does he come home late?" "Never. Ha goes to bed directly after dinner." "A model young man, madam a model young man. llow old is he?" "Two months."

YVan'l tli Key ih.tngfil, A ftory is told of a poo-f, old, homespnn lady who' had attended for some time an episcopal church in which the serrice was intoned. Meeting the rector on the Btreet ono day, the said to him: "Mr. Pasta re, I hev a little favor toak of ye. I've hin a-sayin' my prayer in F now for ni(?h on to five yenr, and I would reely like to say them in Q for awhile. I'm petting ao hudey in F now that I can't jine in as 1 used to do." To plnse the old lady the rector at once gave directions to have the prayeri said in G. TIo Vort Yet. Judge "Jones, I hear you aid I was carouuntj around town last night. Now you've srot to contradict that utatement. I left the club iust after 12; stopped into the oyster-saloon where I met you, aie halt a dozen raws, and went directly home. Now you've " Jones 'That's what 1 said, and now yon own up to iu" Brown "I'd like to know how!" Jones "Yon acknowledge that you were a midnight raw oysterer, don't you? That's what 1 said." A rrtrab! Man. X. Y. Sun. Tom Fullback (of Yalevard "By George! Here's a man iu Dakota who, when captured by a pon.se the other duy, broke away trom them and killed six, besides breaking six arum, three leers and punching out fix eyes among the lot!" Jack Banhlyme "Great Scott! You don't mean it! Can't we ring him in as a special law student? We're rather weak oa the 'varsity rush line, you know." A CumpUt ;lve Away. Text Siftin?s.j A "Who is that old gentleman across the street to whom you took off your bat?" B "lie is a journalist and one of the most polished gentlemen in New York. II is a shininp H?ht iu New York journal, sui." B "Yes, he has that appearance in that shiny old coat The elbows are particularly briKht" Fa ml ir. fllarper'i Weekly. Infpector "Are you familiar with the requirements of an eleotor, sir?" Dennis "Phwhat's that?" "Are you entitled to vote, sir?" "Faith, an' oi am that; it's tin days oi've been in the connthry, and it'a foor toimcs oi've registered to-day, already." DrprpsA'ng Quiet. Harper's Itazar. "Isn't it lonely here, ficorgef Did you ever know anythine so still?" "Oh, yea. Once." "When was that?" "I hired a plotnber once to do a day work for roe and he never moved from niornin to uigW lie tVa Hadly fold. ' Boston Transcript. nattie-'hat in the world diJ Carrie marry that old man for? Why, she ia actually Riying her life away." Minnie ""ot at all. 5he is selling her life as dearly & possible. lie is avfully rich."

R. R. R.

ItADWAY'S READY RELIEF. The Cheapest and Best Medi cine for Family Use in the World. Sore Throat, Colds, Conzhs, Pneumonia, Bronchitis, Inflammation, Congestion, Influenza, Difficult Breathing, Cured and Breve nted by Radway's Ready Relief. Inflammation of tbe Kiflnevn. Inflammation of th BlaU'iT. Inftam-iation of tL? Dowi in, i oo:ion of the I-UPfrs, fa.p'.tatioa of the Heart, hrtric. Croup, ti;hmT;a. Catarrh, IdCutzv coll CU.Us, Afu Ch.lis, Chilblains, Krost-biks, Nervousness, sleep!The application of the HEADY BELIEF to the pari or ports where the difceuily or ra.n exists w.ll adjrd eus-' and comfort. KAI WAY'S KHADY RELIEF i the cm'.? remedial acent in vofue that will instantly atop pain. Il instant. y relieves and soon cares Rheumatism, Neuralgia. Fr'.atica, Headache, Toothache, Inflammation, AMhma, Infaenza, I;fuetilt BreaUdcc, Lumhaco, fw-elUiig of the Joints, Fains in Back, Chest or Lioibs. Strong Testimony From Honorable Georj Starr as to the Power of Padway's Beady Belief in a Case of Sciatio BLeuuia'.jsm. JCo. S Vax Xes Place. New Tork. Da. Raewat: With me yonr Relief has vork! wonders. Kor the la-t three years I have bad frequent and severe attacks ef sciatica, sometimes ejteMLnf from the lumbar regions to my ankles, and at times in both lower limbs. During the time I hav beo afflicted I hare tried almost all the remedies recommended by wise men and fools, hoping to f nd relief, but all proved to bo f.iiurrs. I have tr.ei varioca kinds oi oaths, manipulations, outwar i applications of liniments t-oo numerous to mention, and jtresrript.ona of the most eminent physicians, all of which :a;lod t ive me relief. I.aM Septem tier, a; the urgent request of a friend i who had bf -n alf.icted ns mjK.i. i, 1 was tadaeed to try your remedy. I was tren suffering- fearfully with one of my old turn. To my anrpriae and delight the first appliaticn gave n:e eate, after bathing and rabbin; the parts affected, leavin th limb in a warm slow, created by the ttelief. In short, time the pain ped entirely away. Aktionen I hav bad slight periodical altacits approaebia a .hnc of weather, 1 know now how to cure my If, and feel quite muster of the situation. RADWAY'S KEADV KKI.IKK is my fri.-nd. I never travel w vhout a botUa iuuyvaU.se. Yours truly, Go. bUüil. - HEADWAY'S U READY R 1SEF. Is a Cure For All Pain, Sprains, Bruises. It Stands First and is the Only PAIN REMEDY That Instantly stops the excruciating pains, sr.sy Inflammation and cures Congestions, whether of the Lünes, btomaeh, Bowel or other glands or organs. INTEKNALLY, half t a tea.poonml In half a tnmtiier of water, will, ia a few minutes, core Cramps, r-r-asm, ur Momach, Nausea. Vomitins:, Heer. born, Jservonnes, HeepleneM, fick Headache, Diarrhea, Colic, Flutuiency, and all other internal pains. 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Diabetes, Dtopv, Ptoppase of Water, Incont.nence of I'rine, Trisht's Disease. Albuminuria, and in all ciea where there are brick. dnst deposit, or the wat-r is thick, cloudv, mixed with subftneea like the white of an eg?, or threads like bite si. k, or there la a morbid, ark. bil ous appearance, aad white bone-f dust deposit, and when there is a prickling, baxnir sensation when pasitn water, and pain ia the traail, of the back and aicng the loias. Kidney Troubles. ATKrys, Owto. DEAR Sim- I thought I would write yoa and tetl you what wonderful work your SsrsaparilUaa Resolvent has done forme. Siv m-eeVs sei I could nt move wUho'it the greatest pain with disease of tre kidneys. I hve trie.! every kind of liniment and aii-fer-nt medicine, and had pit doctor to prescribe; bot nothing did an v rood until I tried ) our Eeo. vert. I took three ho' ties and just sent for three more 1. Yon Pills are a Ood-SAnd. I have recommended them te over a hundred persons, who all say they faod than to be the best Pill tbev ever took. MRS. To M R ARMS', K)M RARDIN. Yard Master. Athens, M. A C. Depot. Kidneys Returning to a Healthy Sate. Radwat Co Gentlemen; I am now takln fta fifth bottle of yonr Resolvent, and am receiving reat benefit from It when sll other medicines fai od, snd my kidneys are retnrn'np to a beaithy condition, au4 wüuld recommend it to all sulIVrin iVo-n any d.s - whatever from their kid i"vs. KespectfuKr tout. W. C. WILLI TT, t Lausmouih. Nee. DIA BETE?. LortfuvA, Mo. Pa. Radwat Dear P!r: I hsve nse,l all toot rem. edies with great success in practice; and the way I found favor With your Resolvent, it cared tns of diabi-tes after three physicians had riven me ap. I detected a change In my urine in two hours a "ter the first dose, and three tollies cured me. Y'our friend, TH03. O. FAGS. Dr. Radway's Sarparillian Resolvent. A remedy compose! of tneredient of extraordinary medical properties, essential to purify, hal, repot and Invigorate the broken down and wasted bo.ly. Quick, pleasant, safe and permanent in 'ts treatment od cure, boid by aU aiu.-gint. One duUar a botUe. DR. RADWAY'S REGULATING PILLS. THE GREAT LIVES AND STOMACH REMEDY. Terfeet Purpativea, Soothing Aperient, Act "Without Pain, Always Reliable and Natural in their Operation. Perfectly tasteless, eleesntly coated wltb sweet fum, purge, regulate, purify, c.eanse and strengthen, ladwty't P.üs ior the cure of all d sorders of lla Momaoh. I.iver, Rowels, Kidneys, ladder, N err on iiraea. Constipation, Costivnes. In ligestion, Dva. Fepsia, Rilliousness, Fever, Inftsnimslioa of the towels, Piles end a.l deranjjemer.ta of the Internal Yi"era. Purely vegetable, containing no mercury, nirh-ra's tr deleterious druirs. t O'Observe the foilo-in symptom renlt,n front disorders o! the digestive organs: Constipation. Iaward Tiles, Fnllnesa of E!oo t in the Hesit, Acid ty of the .Stomach, Na'isea, lieaithtirn, Diagnt for Koo KullneM or Weight in the Stomach, Sour Erucialior., Sinkinjr or Fluttering in ttie Pit cf the Pton sc1, liwimmint of the Head. Hurried or IUCcuIt Breeching-, Fluttering at the Utsrt, Cbrfc.inc or iu fTMNt 1 Sensations when Jn a Lvinc Postnre, Dew or (e Before the Pijhi, Fever or Dull 1'nin In V-t Head, Deficiency of PerspirsMon. Yellownesa of the Skin ar4 r yes. IV in in th Sit-, P,re-t. l'tnb, end buäüea Fiashca of Heat, Burning of tlie Fl!h. A few do.e of RADWAY'S Pj'LW iU fret tie 8Tt tern from all the above named disorders. rrlce SS - ta Pt Hos.

Rend stamp for rotage to KADWAY A COl, Kew Tork, for our book of advice, TO the pmuc. ITHf snre to sk for RADWAT R, ana thtt tbe Bin, "KID WAY" U pa tat 70a bur.