do something for him that I guess I ought to
have done, but I thought he was all right as he was, and I wouldn't do it.
However, he asked me as his executor to see to it that every provision of
this will, which I have never seen, be carried out to the letter. Hansen,
here, is one of the witnesses he tells me, and Hornby is the other. It is
unnecessary for me to say that I shall have to carry out these
instructions as I have been commanded to do."

Turning to John, he added:

"I hope, Hunter, that there's nothing in this that will work any
inconvenience to you, and I hardly think it will."

John Hunter sat through the opening of the envelope and the rapid survey
which Doctor Morgan gave its contents before he began to read, stirred by
varying emotions. Suspicion crawled through his brain, leaving her slimy
trail; why had there been need of secrecy? Why had all these people been
told, and he, John Hunter alone, left out? Nathan Hornby and Luther Hansen
witnesses! But most of all, as was to be expected, his suspicions were
directed toward Elizabeth. She had known--she probably knew from the
beginning. She was in the conspiracy. Of the fact of a conspiracy John
Hunter felt certain when Doctor Morgan cleared his throat and began to
read:

Hunter's Farm,
Colebyville, Kansas,
August 22, 18--

Know all men by these presents that I, Hugh Noland, being of sound
mind and memory, not acting under duress, menace, fraud, or undue
influence of any person whatsoever, do make, publish, and declare
this my last will and testament.

First, I order and direct that all my just debts be paid by my
executor, hereinafter named.

Second, I expressly provide, order, and direct that all my estate,
consisting of one half of the lands and chattels of the firm of
"Hunter and Noland" shall be settled by my executor, hereinafter
named, without the intervention of the courts, and given, whole and
entire, to Elizabeth Hunter, and to her heirs and assigns forever,
and that the division be a legal division, so arranged that all deeds
to the land and all rights to the personal property shall be legally
hers.

This I do as an inadequate return for all she has done and tried to
do for me.

Lastly, I hereby nominate and appoint George W. Morgan, M. D., sole
e