pleased.

When the lawyer ceased reading, Lizzie Dalton was as pale as death.

Rising to her feet she bitterly denounced the terms of the will, and
said:

"I don't believe my father ever wrote such a will. He always was
opposed to Mason marrying me. So was I. And what is more, if I forfeit
every dollar coming to me, I'll never marry that man!"

She pointed at Mason.

His clean-shaven face was convulsed with anger.

"So!" he sneered. "That's your answer, is it?"

"Yes!" she cried, hotly. "I hate you, Ronald Mason, and you know it."

"Oh, you'll regret your hasty decision."

"Never! Never!"

"Then if you reject the terms of that will you are entitled to nothing,
and therefore you can clear out of here. This house and everything is
mine. I am the master here now. You get out!"

"Hold on, there! I've got something to say about this," said Old King
Brady, as he flung off his disguise and seized the disputed will.

CHAPTER IX.

FLIGHT OF THE GUILTY MAN.

When Ronald Mason saw that the supposed minister was his enemy, Old
King Brady, a tigerish expression leaped to his eyes.

He recoiled a few steps and gasped, hoarsely:

"What! You here?"

"You can see for yourself!" replied the detective.

"What is the meaning of this trickery?"

"I denounce this will as a forgery!" thundered Old King Brady.

For an instant there was a deep, oppressive silence in the room.

The detective's words startled every one and the lawyer finally asked:

"Upon what ground do you make that remarkable statement, Mr. Brady?"

The old detective held up the will.

"In the first place," said he, forcibly, "the provisions of this
instrument are entirely unnatural. Who ever heard of a kind, indulgent
father disinheriting his only child for not marrying a man whom we all
know he formerly refused to accept as a son-in-law? Who would believe
Oliver Dalton criminal enough to leave his tenderly-nurtured daughter
an absolute beggar, dependent upon the cold charity of the world? What
has this girl done to forfeit her birthright? What has this man done
that Dalton should leave his daughter penniless, for his sake?"

"It does look rather queer," assented the lawyer.

"Queer? Why, it's utterly ridiculous!" cried Old King Brady, in tones
of supreme contempt. "It's beyond reason. Only an insane father would
be guilty of such a deed. Moreover, I have my doubts about the
signature attached to this paper. It looks similar to Mr. Dalt