The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1869-10-28
arm on biz c,ne,' he whisp"led

|
me to star, with surprise.
"Who is it T. / asked -
"Eldrige Parsons" was'thc reply.
The ncwphew of whom, y"u sP"ke!'
"The same" NV friend answered
docs he resemble his uncle :" ] was
on the punt IF inqulrlng. bur juStt''cn
the Stranger drew the glove from his
right hand. and 1 saw that he f'stjoi"l
ofthe middle finger D"s aoa"ting, cir
cumstauce which, for sufficient reason.
absored my attention.
.sDo you know the exact date Of Mr.
Parsons death ?" l asked, when We
had gained the street at the lose o. the
perform ance.
"Ycs," said Georgc, sit was the
twenty-third Of December. Ills daugh
ter received telegram from her cousin
announcing the fact the same day. But
why do you ask 7"
ri have reason which may or may
not prove good one," | returned and
stating that had business engagements
for the whole Of the next day parted
with my frieLd, promising to meo' him
on the following evening.
Next afternoon found me ut the Of
fee of DR.. Parsons.
"Dr. Parsons, l presume?' we're the
words with which / accost,d the gentle
man had seen at the theatre.
"Yes, sir,
"you may not remember me, Do"tor,
but I believe We have met before"
81 beg pardon, sir, for not recollec.
ting tae occasion"
You weie iu New Orleans last win
tor, were you not"
81 was," he ansa cred, with some
embarrassment. ..
t-rr am Tie gentleman ON whom you
| called to draft will. .
He turned pale, but made no reply.
Surrogatc's Office this morning" re.
sumcd, "and-"
"Ycu speak Of my uncls's will" he
hastily interrupted.
"Aud yet" continued, "you said it
was yo"r's when you applied to have it
written. You rcprcs, n'ed yourself as
desirous of executing such document
preparatory to c'"barklng On pcrl"us
vuyage. The paper was draw" i" ac
rordance with your Instructions, leaving
the date to be filled at the time of sign
ing. Your locks were yr"y then, aud
you certainly linked old enough to have
u marriageable daughter, but your dis
guise was not perfect, . a'Fd I rel'ted to
the mutilatcdS"yrr
"What do you meau!' he shou'edin
a defiant tone, spriuging TO his feet.
"Simply that your uncle's signature
to that paper is Il .joryery|" 1a"swered,
rising and confronting him. "13c died
on the tccnty hiriof December Your
own tcle. ..ram to that effect is in exist
ence. L, was on the tnenty tow'h, the
day before Christmas, that YOU called on
me to prepare the paper now On record
as mis- will. The Inference Is plain you
undertook to mauufaciurc this spurious
testament after y,ur uurle's death, and
wishing to clo,he your viliai"y in legal
form, you procured from Tue the re-
| uurcd draft. You, or some one at your
instiyatiou; simulated .hc signature Of
the deceased. The witnesses, who have
since pcrjured themselves in their dc
positions, were procured in some manner
best known t" yourself"
Enough, sir ~ he cjacultated, placing
his back against the door; "y"u having
shown yourself in possession Of a secret
the custody Of which may prove da"-
yerous. -
Il am not unprepared for your threat y
I replied. lin The first place, did not
come here unarmcd /; in the next, have
prepa,ed full written statement OF the
facts to WHICH I have alluded with in
formation, besides, Of my present visit
to yourself. This paper will be delivered
to the friend to whom it is directed,
unless within on hour reclaim it from
the messenger, who has been instructed
for that length of time to retain it,"
r His face grew livid. His frame quIv'
cred with. mingled fear and rage, and
his eye cleaned like that Of wild beast
at bay. .... -, a.l< p.
L . !. L. ~