The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1862-01-23
The Dead Mans Signature.
From The london Family Magazine

From The london Family Magazine.
1t was upon dismal, dark. and cherries
evening, towards the close of November, that
two men engaged in earnest conversation,
might have been seen standing just within the
narrow confines of an old, dilapiated shed, one
Of the appendages of large, substantial brick
house. One was rufianly looking man OF
about thirty, of medium height, short and thick
set, with coarse irregular features, long black
hair and heavy trowning brows, from beneath
which pair Of eyes were cleaning bright and
piercing as an eagles. The other was a person
Of an altogether different look and mien In his
count5nance both intellect and cunning was ex-
pressed; his light, springy gait, free and easy
manners, ready command Of language, aud espec-
tally his rapid, graceful gestures, all denoted a
man from the higher walks OF life.
Dixon said the yiainOus looking individ-
ual, las he cast an uneasy glance around to assure
himself that no listeners were near, Dixon, can
it be acomplished?'
Beyond the shadow of doubt was the re-
ply.
And there is no danger of detection y was the
next inquiry.
out said the other, drily.
Have you matured your plan? ? was then ask
ed.
Yes was the reply.
And you swear to stand by me through thick
and thin, said the other come veal or come
woe
Provided you'll give me a good taste of the
chink after get it,, said Dixon. / don't go
into such business for nothing
i am not the man to bicker about few hun
dreds, when thousands are at stake, was the re-
ply 'Give me a lift and you shall set your own
price. But what is your plan ??
The old man. YOU say, lies in the state bed
room, beyond the gallery.
Yes was the reply.
But does any one sleep in the immediate vi
cinlty 2
Only our grandmother, old Grannie Reed
and she has been deaf as IN adder these dozen
years
SO much the better for our purpose said
Dixon. Well, you must affect, for once, lit
tie fial affection -
That's rather hard matter, interrupted his
companion; but when gold is the question
-
Silence, you fool !! exclaimed Dixon impa-
tiently. Win you take up the whole time talk
ing! Hear me. man. Thus far he's had the
whole neighborhood to see him, but say to the
old woman and the family that you consider the
chamber of death ought to be free from intru-
sion tell them that this is the iast night your
fathers remains will be above ground as an af-
forming the sad office Of watching by them in
private, and that for this night you wish to be
left to the free and undisturbed indulgence of
your own sad reflections. Well, after you have
got them all off, do you at precisely twelve
0 clock place a lamp in the window as a signal
that all is ready. I'll be outside with my men
waiting for it, and wen come and knock three
times lightly on the front door. Then come
down and let US in Now don't go clustering
about and make such a racket as will wako up
the houSe-for if we get caught in the scrape,it
will go hard with US. I'll come with the papers
all made out, TO will the property to you. | am
an old hand at fac-simies Til take your faith
er's dead hand within mine and affiX his sigma
ture to il, 1t shall be so exact imitation, that
even al expert like Neltherelitt can't detect it
from the genuine. Howe and Maynard, my
clerks, shall come with ME as witnesses That's
necessary you know, for if the family go to rails
ing rumpus and carry the affair into court. we
must have something to fall back upon, and
they'll be there to swear that the will is beth
legal aud genuine, signed. sealed and delivered
into my hands by the testator himself in their
presence. Now you've my plan, what's to him
der its being carried into execution?
Nothing returned the other, musingly, 'only
two men and myself to pay will draw pretty well
from my pockets
Fool" muttered Dixon to hims If / be-
Heve upon my word, the fellow would hang him
self to save shilling. Tight, misery scoundrel,
if undertake the job, III make good deep
hole iii his Golfers.
Gervase Elton was the descendant of a lonor
line of Substantial yeOmanry. He had been a
farmer by vocation, and q miSer by reputation,
by nature and education.
The land upon which the fine old farm stood
from its vicinity to the rising town of Birken-
head, had doubled and treUled in value, till
Ger vase Elton became worth some eighty or a
hundred pounds. But If high estimate was
placed upon his estates, very low estimation
was certainly placed upon his character He
was parsimoniOus and misery to the last degree.
Gold was the sole and ultimate object of his ex-
istence. 1t was gold-bright, shining ghttering
gold, for which ne thirsted and hungered gold
which had wrapped his mind, bent his I,ath-
letic form, bro't deep burrows to his brow, turn
ed his hair prematurely white. And now he had
gone aud left it-gone to receive bis reward or
condemnation! He had lived unhonored and
unloved, and there were were none to mourn or
/ lament his death and those who inherited his
estate, rejoiced.'
! Besides his widow who survived him. the old
miser left two sons to divide the patrimony-
/ To say that Thomas, the elder, was his favorite
and exact counterpart, moulded in the same
mould, is sufficient; but Harry, the younger
:
de was handsome, quick and intelligent and
through the Iberality of a wealthy bachelor IN
Gle, his mothers brother, he had received good
education. II Thomas was his fathers favorite
Harry was his pride; but he had in some de-
gree become alIenated from him-he obstinate
" refused tc adopt his peculiar ways of think
ing, and TO submit his business to his superYis
ION And after q stormy interview in which
Harry asked Of his father pecuniary aid and was
sIoutiy denied, he was too proud to recur to the
same subject again, and after leaving the 'olC
mousse commenced business ia Liverpool upoI
q small scale.
Between Harry and his brother no feeling
either Of affection or sympathy ever existed. =
Their characters was as far apart as the nortl
poe IS from the south their views, feelings
tastes wholly unlike. Thomas had lone re
garded him with a jealous eye and deep-ro otet
feelings of luminosity had for years ranked il
his heart and scarcely had the breath of lif
departed from the body Of their father, befor
En Frr- ,71a-