THE MILLIONAIRE'S LAST WILL.

Pelorus Guardian and Miners' Advocate., Volume 24, Issue 16, 28 February 1913, Page 7

THE MILLIONAIRE'S LAST WILL.

(COPYRIGHT.)

I' By Hedley Richards, Author of 1 “A Day of Reckoning,” ‘‘Out of i ; Darkness,” etc.

| PRINCIPAL CHARACTERS IN STORY. JOHN FLETCHER, Millionaire. RICHARD FLETCHER, alias Richard Forrest, scoundrelly nephew of John Fletcher. STEPHEN HOLT, lawyer. MR. RATHMORE, nephew, and junior partner of Mr. Holt. FORBES, butler at Luddenfoot House. JERRY, the village idiot. , KATHLEEN MARTIN, John Fletcher’s niece. NURSE BARNES, night nurse to John Fletcher. NURSE FAIRBATRN, day nurse. MRS. PRESTON, housekeeper. PART 2. CHAPTER 111. I I MISSING. ‘‘Good evening, nurse. I thought I should like a few words with you, as you will ho on duty to-night. I do not think Mr, Fletcher will last till morning, and I would advise you to let the young lady remain in the room. Her presence seems to soothe him.” ‘‘Very well, doctor,” she replied, quietly ; then they wished her good night, hurrying to the carriage, as the big man from Manchester, who had charge of the case, in conjunction with the local doctor, had only just time to,catch his train. ‘‘A splendid nurse, but a trifle too much heart for her own comfort,” was his comment as they drove away.

”A remarkably handsome and clever woman,” was the other’s reply. « • * * ■ Mrs. Preston opened the door of the room, and as Kathleen entered she closed it. For a moment the girl stood 1 timidly looking round the room, with Its large bookcases and the table pushed to one side. Then her eyes rested on the solid brass bedstead, destitute of hangings which revealed so plainly the grey head on the pillow. As she looked, tbe dying man opened his eyes, and seeing her, said : “Come here I ,’’ and she went forward, the nurse rising from her seat to give place to her, and seating herself at a distance. John Fletcher’s eyes scanned the girl’s face, taking In its prettiness and the firm mouth. ‘‘So you are Kathleen ?” he said, not unkindly. ‘‘Yes. I am sorry you are ill,” she answered, wishing to say something kind, yet scarcely knowing what to say to this old’ man, who looked so stern even when death was drawing near. ‘‘l shall soon have done with the pain,” he answered, grimly. Then Ms voice changed as be said : ‘‘Yon are HV:e your mother, but smaller. I suppose you know we quarrelled because she married against my wishes.”

“Dad told me bo at the last.” “He wasn’t a bad fellow ; but he was no match for her.” The girl’s eyes flashed. It was Vfry evident that had John Fletcher been hale and hearty, ha would have heard a few things that might not have pleased him. There was silence for a moment. Then he said : “I J ve left yon fifty thousand pounds.” “Fifty thousand pounds !” and she drew a quick breath. “Do you mean you have left me all your fortune ?” A faint smile lighted the grim face. "That’s only a little bit of it, and thirty thousand was your mother’s. I had the power to stop it if she married against my wishes, so I'm giving it to you with Interest.” “I think that is only just; but it will not undo the wrong. She bad often to pinch and scrape ; hut she was happy for all that.” “You are a Fletcher,” he murmured, "and you’ve had to work for your living.”

"Yes. I was junior teacher in a, girls’ school.” Again there was silence. He was evidently tired, and the nurse came forward and gave him a little stimulant. Then, after a pause, he said . "She does her best, but the other nurse is worth a dozen of her. I me.mt to have left her something in my will, but I forgot. You’ll help her, K a thleen ?” "Yes, uncle.” She began to forget ho had treated her parents badly, and only remembered that he was ill—dyinv, they had told her. “You know it may be a great deal more than fifty thousand ; but think of it as that. Remember the other’s on’y a chance, and don’t set your heart on it.”

She thought he' was wandering, and did not reply until he said ; ‘"Do you understand, Kathleen ?” "Yes, uncle,” she said, thinking it best to soothe him. A satisfied expression came into his face, and he soon fell into a doze. Then her thoughts were busy with many things. It seemed almost incredible that she was the same Kathleen Martin, the junior* teacher, who had had to work very hard for her living. Last night she had been in the bare schoolroom. Here everything spoke of luxury, and she was an heiress ; but she was in no hurry to inherit her fortune. It would have pleased her be Her if her uncle could have recovered and learned to love her. Yes, and she would loved

him, in spite iof the wrong he had done her mother.

Presently h-Br thoughts were interrupted by the entrance of the doctors and she moved to the other side of the room, while the nurse came forward.

They asked a few questions, and then, after some directions to the nurse, came to where she was sitting and said a pleasant word or two, then departed, and Kathleen returned to the bedside. - In a short time the door opened, and Nunse Barnes entered the room, looking so pale and ghastly that Kathleen thought she must have overwalkcd herself. The other nurse and she had a little conversation. Then she seated herself near the bed, without disturbing Kathleen. An hour passed. Now and then the dying man wcmld say a few words, but the watchers were silent. ‘‘You had better get your supper, if you are going to sit up through the night, Miss Martin,” said nurse, adding that she did not require anything ; so Kathleen left her, returning shortly. Time crept slowly on ; the housekeeper, butler, and one or two of the upper servants remained up, as it was known that the doctors did not expect their master to live until morning. Outside the rain beat against the windows, and the wind whistled round the mansion. It was a weird night, and little Kathleen felt a strange awe as she sat listening to the faint breathing of the dying man. Once ho seemed to rouse a little, and as nurse gave him a drink, he said : “There are a good many things I should do differently if I could Hve my life over again, but I’m not at all afraid, nurse. I’m facing death as I faced life, with a firm courage, and I’m going to take this life of mine, that has been something of a mistake to the God who made me, and ask Him to let no evil come out of what I have done or left undone.” After that he dozed, and the two watchers waited for the end, as even Kathleen could see, that the last great change was at hand. Frequently nurse’s thoughts wandered to the man who lay dead in the wood, who had that afternoon been full of life and vigour. So the night wore on, and when the first faint streaks of dawn were visible in the sky, John Fletcher lifted himself, as he never had done since that fatal accident, and sittingup in bed he said, in a clear, distinct voice, ‘‘Phillis then he fell back, and all was over.

Tbe woman and the girl sat in silence looking at the dead face, which was now calm and' peaceful. But for that peace Kathleen would have cried aloud ; the night had tried her sorely, and she felt that she could not hear the tension much longer. Nurse, too, accustomed as she was to death-beds, was unstrung ; twice that night she had looked upon death, and she, too, felt it more than she could bear.

“Come away. I must tell Mrs. Preston, and call Nurse Fairhairn to help me,” she said, drawing Kathleen out of the room ; but when they reached the housekeeper’s room she fainted, and it ended in she and Kathleen remaining there, and after a cup of tea they went up stairs to get what sleep they could. It was nearly ten o’clock the next morning when Kathleen went timidly down stairs. She couldn’t get rid of the feeling that she was an interloper in this grand house—even the fact that her breakfast had been brought to her In bed, and that one of the maids had offered to assist her in dressing, didn’t make her feel of importance—and- it was in a very timid voice that she asked an impos-ing-looking footman if he could tell her where she could find Nurse Barnes

"Yes, ma'am. The nurses are in the blue room ; Mrs. Preston is with them. This way, please, ma’am and he turned leading the way to a room at one side. Throwing the door open, he said "Miss Martin” In such an imposing tone that Kathleen smiled. "I hope you have slept well, ma’am ?” asked the housekeeper, rising from the comfortable chair in which she had been seated, and at the same time Kathleen became conscious there was something wrong. It was not so much their grave faces as the perplexity manifested in each countenance, and she involuntarily exclaimed ; "What is the matter ?”

“I hope there’s nothing wrong, but it’s puzzling, to say the least. I thought as the master had gone I’d take upon myself to let Mr. Holt know. You see, everything is in his hands ; so I sent one of the grooms on horseback into Saddlewood to tell him. As it was early, I told him to go to Mr. Holt’s private residence, and when he got there, Mr. Rathmore, his nephew, that he’s just admitted as a partner, said his uncle had never been home. He supposed he was staying here all night, as he was an old friend of Mr. Fletcher’s, and he might wish to remain till the end.

“Of course, he was upset when he heard his uncle left here last night, and he went at once to the office, thinking Mr. Holt might have had to go elsewhere and remained all night, then proceeded direct to the office. The groom followed him there ; but Mr. Holt had never been near, and Mr. Rathmore advised the groom to call at the inn in the viHage, as ho thought his uncle might have decided to remain there in order to he near at hand. “Thomas calied at the inn, hut Mr. Holt bad not been there, and he happened to speak to the gatekeeper, she said he didn’t go out that way. Jerry had seen him turn through the gate that led into the wood ; and

that’s ail we know, and I think it very strange of a staid, respectable ■ middle-aged gentleman to disappear like this,” said Mrs.’Preston.

“As Mr. Rathmore said he should come over as soon as possible, no doubt he will make inquiries. It is to be hoped he hadn’t a fit or anything of the kind while lie was on his way home,” said Nurse Fairbairn. Mrs. Preston held up her hands in

dismay. “I never thought of that, but I’ve no doubt that’s the explanation. He was excited at having to hurry home from Switzerland. Then I don’t think the master’s will would he an easy one to make. Perhaps he saw considerable harass ahead of him, and altogether it’s been too much for him,” sold the housekeeper. “Then don’t you think the wood ought to he searched ?” said Kathleen, forgetting her shyness in her anxiety about the lawyer’s fate.

All this time Nurse Barnes had sat quite still, looking very pnle, and with an expression akin to fear in her large dark grey eyes, which deepened at Kathleen’s suggestion. “Yes, ma’am ; I’ll give orders and the housekeeper left the room. Then Nurse Barnes roused herself. “Did you sleep well, Miss Martin ?’ she inquired, in a kindly tone. “At first I couldn’t get to sleep. When I did, I slept soundly. I’m afraid you’ve had a bad night,” she said, noticing the dark rings beneath her eyes, but thinking that under no circumstances could Nurse Barnes look anything but handsome. It was not only that her features were good and her eyes fine, while her complexion was wonderfully clear and healthy, though colourless, but there was something interesting about her, which invariably- attracted attention. “I didn’t sleep well l . I have liked Mr. Fletcher, and his death Is sad. I knew the case was hopeless from the first. Still, when the end comes, one feels sad ; and I cannot explain it, hut I have felt his death more than a nurse usually does.” At that moment there was a tap on the door, and Mrs. Preston entered, looking the picture of horror and consternation.

“To think we were talking about the poor gentleman and him lying there !” she said. ‘'‘Lying where ?” asked Kathleen. “In the wood. It’s awful. The boy that comes from the mill every morning to inquire how the master is, found hime He looked like a ghost when I saw him.” ‘‘ls Mr. Holt ill, or what ?” asked Nurse Pairbairn. ‘‘No. It’s worse than that , he’s dead —murdered,” said Mrs. Preston, in a tone of horror. ‘‘Who says he has been murdered?” asked Nurse Barnes, in a quiet voice —so quiet that It seemed to calm Mrs. Preston, as she said, more quietly : ‘‘The hoy says his head’s been struck with a stick or something heavy, as there’s a big wound. At first he thought he’d had a fit or was ill ; but when he looked further he saw there’d been foul play. So be hurried on here, and Forbes was coming to tell me I was wanted when I went to the servants’ hall, intending to send some of the men to search the wood. But there’s no need how , he’s been murdered sure enough.”

CHAPTER IV. WHAT NURSE BARNES HAS TO SAY. For a moment there was silence ; then Nurse Barnes sc id, in a tone that gave the impression that she was forcing herself to speak calmly : "Don’t you think you ought to let Mr. Rathmore know what has happened ?”

"And the police ought to he sent for,” said the other nurse. "Of course, yes. I’ll send the groom back 1 again to Saddlewood, and after he has told Mr. Rathmore, he can go on to the police-station,” said the housekeeper, who then left the room. "Isn’t it awful ?” said Kathleen, with a shiver, as she drew nearer to Nurse Barnes.

"Yes. Mr. Fletcher’s death was natural ; this is horrible,” nurse replied. "I wonder what has been the motive ?” said Nurse Fairhairn. "Something may come out at the inquest.” observed Kathleen, who was losing her shyness under this new aspect of affairs Life had been very strange these last two days—such eventful days that she could hardly realize that less than a week ago she had been teaching little girls to read and write, and now she was discussing a tragedy, the horror of which seemed to touch her when she thought of the genial lawyer struck down when still in his prime. An hour and a half passed, then the hall hell rang, and in a few minutes Mr, Rathmore was announced. He was a tall, broad-shouldered man of thirty, with a pleasant face, but just now he looked very grave, and there were traces of emotion.

As he entered the room, he glanced round, then advanced to Kathleen, saying in a questioning tone ; "You are Miss Martin ?” "Yes \ I am so very grieved that this-has happened,” she said, placing her band in his. "Yes, it Is awful,” then he turned to shake hands with the nurses, after which be seated himself near Kathleen, and looking from one to the other, said : "I want you to tell me just what happened when he was here yesterday.” Nurse Pairbairn was the first to speak, and she told him of the making of the will, and that when Mr. Holt was leaving the house she had, at Mr. Fletcher’s request, fetched him back, and the will had then been locked in the safe. After that Kath-

! Icen relaxed how he had joined her and Nurse Barnes at tea , but the latter did not say anything. “It’s so difficult to imagine who can have had a motive for wishing to murder my poor uncle ; but I am determined to find the murderer,” he said, in a resolute tone. “You may find it difficult,” replied Nurse Barnes. It was the first time she bad spoken since his entrance, and he looked at her attentively, thinking what a handsome, noblelooking woman she was. Shortly after this the superintendent of police arrived, and after a little talk with him Mr. Rathmore took his departure, having arranged that the inquest should he held the next morning at the Dun Cow, the village inn, whither the body had been taken. ■, Before leaving, Mr. Rathmore told Kathleen, as he did not know who were the executors under her uncle’s will, he thought he had better arrange for the funeral. When he had departed, the superintendent put the nurses and Kathleen through a pretty rigid cross-question-ing, after which he interviewed the servants, having previously seen the housekeeper and butler. It was a dreary day, and Kathleen was glad when it was over. But for Nurse Barnes she would have found it intolerable ; though full of dread, the former had done her best to cheer the young girl who had suddenlybeen brought face to face with a big tragedy. The next morning the inquest on the body of Stephen Holt was held at the little Inn in the village ; but only two facts were elicited, viz., that it was undoubtedly murder, and that death had been caused by a blow from a heavy stick ; secondly, that the murdered man had been robbed of his money, hut his watch had been left.

After hearing the evidence, the jury, without leaving the room, returned a verdict of wilful murder against some person or persons unknown. That evening the body of Stephen Holt was removed to his residence in Saddlewood, and the police were stimulated by the offer of a reward from the murdered man’s nephew. During the day Nurse Barnes had often-won-dered what had become of Richard Forrest ; but she was not left long in doubt, as the morning after the inquest, when she was sitting with Kathleen in the morning room, Nurse Fairbairn having gone for a walk, Forbes, the butler, appeared, looking infinitely disgusted. "If you please. Miss Martin, I don’t know what to do. The master gave me orders never to admit Mr. Richard. But he’s dead, and Mr. Richard just defied me, and walked into the house; so I told' him I should tell you, and he said, '"By all means , he should like to see you.”

Kathleen rose. She felt a little curious to see this cousin, who had been brought up to believe that he would be the heir, then disinherited for some reason, and she .wondered whether the reason had been just. Aloud she said :

“I will see him, Forbes. Where is he ?” “In the drawing .room, ma’am.” “All right ; I can And my way.” Then as the butler left the room she turned to Nurse Barnes, saying; “Come with me.” Nurse shook her head ; her face was very pale. But she had her voice under control as she said : “You had better go jilone and meet him , but I have a message, and I would rather (give it to him when there is no one else present, so if you will tell me when you leave the drawing room I will see him.” “A message from my uncle ! I hope it is to say he has forgiven him,” said Kathleen, assuming the message was from Mr. Fletcher. “I cannot tell you what it is,” said nurse, quietly; and Kathleen left the room, going direct to the drawing room.

As she opened the door she saw a tall, slender man pacing restlessly up' end down the room ; but the sound of her footsteps, light as they were, caused him to turn quickly round and face her. Then she was conscious of a pair of piercing dark eyes, a hooked nose, white teeth, and a cynical smile ; but above all, there was a feeling of repulsion. “So you are my little cousin ! I have heard my uncle speak of you ; but your mother had vexed him, hence we are strangers,” he said, taking her dainty little hand in Ms, and looking keenly at her.

“Do you know unde is dead ?" she asked, looking at him. “I saw the notice of the death In a London paper yesterday, and of course, I packed up and came north. I’ve left my hag at the station. And, do you know, that fellow Forbes did not want to let me in. Unfortunately, my uncle was a bit given to whims ; it seems I vexed Mm the last time I was here, so Forbes, who never liked me, wanted to keep me out of the house, but I let him see that wouldn’t do. I guess he’ll feel queer when I’m master here, as, of course, I’ve been brought up to expect.” Kathleen drew a quick breath. She felt that she could not tell him he would never b® h!s uncle’s heir ; but she little knew that he read her like a hook. “Are yon Ml alone here ?” he asked. “No, there are the nurses ; but it has been a very sad time. Have you heard that Mr. Holt, the lawyer has been murdered ?” "Yes, I read about’ it. I wonder who can have had a grudge against the old chap ? But these lawyers are rather sharp- It’s perhaps some poor fellow he has fleeced who has sent him to his doom,” he sard, lyKathleen was up in arms at once.

“You are mistaken. He was a good man, and I hope the murderer will be caught,” she said, in an angry tone. “Of course we all hope that. But when is my uncle’s funeral ?" “To-morrow morning at eleven o’clock. " ‘‘Then I shall be there ; but as you are without a chaperone, I will stay at the Crown, in Saddlewood. I won’t stop- now. After the funeral we shall have time to become good friends as well as cousins,” he said, again clasping her hand. “You mustn’t go just yet ; Nurse Barnes has a message to give you.” “A message from my uncle ?” he said, eagerly.

“Yes ; I will send her to you," she said, and believed she was speaking the truth. “Good-bye, fair cousin,” he said, as he opened the door ; and she passed into the hall, going at once to tell nurse that Mr. Richard Fletcher was waiting to see her. Without a word nurse left the room, walking slowly, and her face was very pale when she entered the drawing room. Richard was standing in the large hay window. He had opened the Venetian blind, and was gazing into the well-kept grounds. Perhaps the nurse’s footfall was even lighter than,Kathleen’s , certainly she had been cautious not to make any noise in opening the door, hut she managed to cross the room without heard, and It was not until she had touched him on the arm that he knew any one was In the room ; then he wheeled quickly round, and as his eyes rested on her an expression of half-incredulous consternation came into his face, and the word's, ‘‘You, Hesther !” hurst from Mm. ‘‘Yes, it is I, Hesther Dean ; but for reasons of my own lam now known as Nurse Barnes."

“Very good reasons, I have no doubt,” he said, with a sneer. He was regaining his composure. “Yes, very good reasons. The world is not very just, and when a scoundrel has cheated an innocent girl into a mock marriage, it is inclined to blame her, so I took a new name when I ’.vent in for nursing.” “What the deuce made you come here ? And how did you find out that Richard Forrest and Richard Fletcher were the same ?” “I was sent here to nurse your uncle ; the rest I discovered by accident.” "What do you think would happen if I was to tell Mrs. Preston, there were certain episodes in your life that she could not regard with favour ?” he asked, with another sneer. "She wouldn’t believe you. I know she regards you as a black sheep, and Forbes is even now longing to have you put out of the house, bfo, Richard Fldtcher, you can do me no harm. You have earned a very had character here.”

"Confound it ! you have altered in these years,” he said, savagely. "Y,es, I have changed. You found me a gentle, innocent girl, who believed all men and women were true, except just a few, who were known as openly wicked. Of the wolf in sheep’s clothing I knew nothing, but you opened my eyes,* and for a time I did not believe in any one. But all that has passed. I know now that there are good men and women in the world ; hut I also know how to talMicare of myself, and I am not afraid of you injuring me.” "At any rate, you owe me thanks for having opened your eyes. It’s done yon good. You’re a deuced fine woman now,” he said, looking admiringly at her. "Hush !” and she raised her hand warningly. “I won’t listen to you. Your compliments are an insult,” she said, quietly, but in a tone that convinced him she -meant what she said.

"I suppose you don’t intend to tell these people about what happened nine years ago ?” he asked ; and she saw that he waited anxiously for her answer.

“I have no Intention of doing so at present, but I shall not promise anything. If at any time I see that it would be better to tell the truth, I shall tell it and he realized ’ that she meant what she said, and it was in a surly tone that he replied : “I understand that you had a message to give ipe from my uncle.”

“I did not say so. Miss Martin misunderstood me. I have something to say, bat it is a warning, not a message.” “A warning,” he exclaimed ; and she saw his face turn pale. “Yes, I want to tell you that the will is safe in this house, and you had better not try to steal it, or”— and she drew nearer to him, saying, in a low, impressive tone —“you will run a terrible risk.” Bichard Fletcher’s face was now ghastly, and an oath escaped him as he demanded what she meant.

“What I said,” she answered, quite calmly ; then her voice changed, and there was a ring of passionate entreaty in it as she said : “Go right away from here, and begin life over again. Try to put the evil behind you, and God may forgive you what you have done. He came to call sinners to repentance.” A mocking laugh burst from him as he said : “Really, you ought to go in for a preacher. I think the Dissenters employ women. What do you say to the Salvation Army ?” She looked at him, not with scorn, but surprise and what looked like humiliation in her face. "How could I have loved you ?” she exclaimed, and she turned and left the room. “Confound it, she’s shown me very Mamly what she thinks of me, but Jor her own sake she’ll hold her tongue,” he muttered ; then leaving the room, he crossed the hall, and as

the footman opened the door he rushed down the steps. “The air of this here house don’t seem to agree with him,” remarked the footman os Forbes appeared. “I should like to have chucked him out,” replied the butler. (To be Cohtlnued.)