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Show I THE MISSING WILL By MARIE HAMMOND. (Copyright, 11J, Writcrn Newspnprr Union.) "WV1I, my children, We mndo my will." Iloyd Hnrtley looked Intorested aud his wifo, Nettle, curious. Both, however, how-ever, were too engor lo welcome their visitor to think of anything outside of kindly attentions. u,,j,i helped his life's uncle removo his overcoat, while Nettle placed ills tall nllk hut and cuuo Upon the hut nick. "Yes, sir," resumed Unc'u William Cass, as they led him into tho bright and cozy sitting room and ho snlired tho evening meal uppetlzliigly. "I just w cut to Mr. Bynl, my lawyer, mid had the matter settled once for nil." Ever since they were married, every Tuesday evening Mr. Cass hud come to visii ma ueau who's niece and her hushnnd. Ho would take Mipper with them mid usually ntuy till night. Boyd was not earning u largo twluiy, nnd every ev-ery Wednesday the old imin would return re-turn the compliment by nemllng them a hamper of provisions. Tho eveulug passed in the pleasant home of the ut-lentlvo ut-lentlvo couple who really cared for him unselfishly, was it marked event in tho routine of Uncle William. Ho seemed happy and relieved, almost Jolly, upon this npeclal evening. Ho declared that supper had never tasted co good, and when Nettle placed him In the most comfortahlo tirm chair In the houso and sturted the talking machine, tho old man sunk buck with n sigh of comfort and peaceful enjoyment. "I'll help Nettlo get the dishes out of the wny, uncle," said Boyd, "so wo can be together right away," nnd Joined his wife in her usual tusk. Brisk und active, Nettle hud her part of (lie work done lefnt-i lur ii.u ,iiii. assistant lutd linished putting itwuy the knives nnd forks. She removed her npron nnd ran Into thu hitting room. "Now for a nice evening, uncle," Boyd heard her say, und then there was a wild scream. "What Is It, Nettlo I" f-poko Boyd, startled. "Oh. Boyd I Come hero 1 Come here I" gasped Nellie lu a frightened voice. Undo William lay hack In the elinlr, motionless. There was u set smile upon his face, but ho was dead. Tho old tiiuii had passed away without u Ktruggle mold the homage of honest, loyal hearts and rare homo comfort." They hurled him from their own little lit-tle homo. Martin Evans was then?, sullen looking and bored. Thu lawyer called the day after the funeral. Reverently Rev-erently Nettle hud taken tho old gold-headed gold-headed cuuo and the familiar 7,11k hut of her uncle und stored them nwny, us precious relics, in itn unused wardrobe In the attic. Mr. Byrd was very serious seri-ous when ho Informed Nettle that they' had been unable to Und the will. "It was sealed, attested and witnessed wit-nessed nt my olllce the day of his death," he said. "I do not know all tho contents, but I am aware of tho general legacies my client planned to miiko. We liuvo searched his safety deposit box, at the old home, but have discovered no truce of the will.'1 Finally Martin Evans niiide application applica-tion to lliu court us nearest of kin of the deceased and was uwardeil thu estate. es-tate. Ills spendthrift policy begun at once to develop, lie niiuaudered what was left of a liquid character, then ho mortgaged the store building. He would havo done Hid same with the homestead and farm, but Mr. Byrd bald: "You can draw tho Income from tho farm and live In tho old home, hut 1 will not consent to any loan or sale. I hear you havo funned out that poor little outcast child you agreed to care for, and havo put him lu charge of a wretched couple addicted to drink und who aro nhuslvo to the child." Boyd sought out Evans. "Sec hero, Evans," he, said, "I've u favor to ask of you." "If It's to borrow or beg, don't wusto your time," growled Evans.. "It Is neither. Nettlo Is lonesome, wo love children, and If you will turn llttlu Alan over to us legally wo will adopt him." "Willi? Sure 1" wild Evans. "Good rlddauco to bad rubbish." Llttlo Alan was a welcomo delight to tho childless couple, llo throvo mightily under loving euro nnd comfort, com-fort, lie was eight years old when, ono day, his nctlvu Investigating splilt led him to ransack tho garret, llo located lo-cated the cherished cane and silk hat lu thu old wardrobe. Nettle, returning return-ing homo from u neighbor', with con-sterntitloii con-sterntitloii observed Alan parading I down the street it sipiaro distant, lending lend-ing u band of urchins, Undo William's high hat was on his head, Uncle William's Wil-liam's cane in his hanij. She hurried, her s'tcps, but betoro sho reached tlio culprit u crowd of other boys uppenred, deprived little Alan of his spoils and proceeded to Instltuto a giiino of "sliln- I nie," using the hat for the bull and tho I en no ns tho club. That ovenln-TNeltlo detailed the clrcurastanco of the hour. Boyd examined tho lint. "Pretty badly stove In, nnd insldo band torn loose. I think you can fev that up-, Nettle. Ilctlo !" i "What Is It, Boyd," Inquired his wife, an Boyd, turning back the sweat-band invealed u folded paper It had held in I place, lie opened It con-fully, for Itn folded edges were creas.'d aud polled. '1 lien his eyes snapped. 1 "Kittle," ho said animatedly, "it'fl Undo William's will." 1 Jt was nUengeful (rlrk of fate, thai the little iiUtnist Mutin lJvnns JiAll tumid ndmt sImuI t bit 11iQ.inc.uns of llM-sifn him of tho lnjie'ilnneo un-' lawfully appropriated. |