Aunt Jane's Nieces

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"What became of it?"

"Sir, I do not know you," answered James, suspiciously. "The paper's

for Lawyer Watson. It's he alone shall have it."

"Here I am, James," cried the lawyer, thrusting the others aside and

advancing to the bed. "Give me the paper. Where is it? I am Lawyer

Watson!"

The gardener laughed--a horrible, croaking laugh that ended with a

gasp of pain.

"_You_ Lawyer Watson?" he cried, a moment later, in taunting tones.

"Why, you old fool, Si Watson's as young as Master Tom--as young as I

am! You--_you_ Lawyer Watson! Ha, ha, ha!"

"Where is the paper?" demanded the lawyer fiercely.

James stared at him an instant, and then suddenly collapsed and fell

back inert upon the bed.

"Have you heard all?" asked John Merrick, laying his hand on the

lawyer's shoulder.

"Yes; I followed you here as soon as I could. Tom Bradley made another

will, as he lay dying. I must have it, Mr. Merrick."

"Then you must find it yourself," said Donald gravely, "for James is

dead."

The doctor, arriving a few minutes later, verified the statement.

It was evident that the old gardener, for years insane, had been so

influenced by Miss Merrick's death that he had wandered into

the stables where he received his death blow. When he regained

consciousness the mania had vanished, and in a shadowy way he could

remember and repeat that last scene of the tragedy that had deprived

him of his reason. The story was logical enough, and both Mr. Watson

and John Merrick believed it.

"Tom Bradley was a level-headed fellow until he fell in love with your

sister," said the lawyer to his companion. "But after that he would

not listen to reason, and perhaps he had a premonition of his own

sudden death, for he made a will bequeathing all he possessed to his

sweetheart. I drew up the will myself, and argued against the folly of

it; but he had his own way. Afterward, in the face of death, I believe

he became more sensible, and altered his will."

"Yet James' story may all be the effect of a disordered mind," said

Uncle John.

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