Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1873-03-01

full circumstances. He1 dress accidentally
eaugAt ire, land she was burnt 70 death upon
the esageof the Lyons Theatre. Mr.. Delpratt's
marriage was kept a strict secret II had been
'eolemnifed privately, and was known 20 very
few. He never alluded to it. 1t was q distress
ing incident in his life, which he desired TO
forget. He placed the proofs on The marriage
in nv hands some wears since, Or its VALIDITY
there can be no one stion v whatever"
Its q Gumped-up story" cried Ernest,
fish the win. It's monstrous to suppose that It
could be revoked by such marriage"
=" will simply refer you to the act of the first
victoria, chapter twehty-six, section eighteen"
proceed as you are advised. Only you win dis
tinetly understand that decline 70 act on your
behalf; that am not, and that never viii ae
tended here, as before stated. solely in nv
character Of solicitor to my late friend, Mr..
Deipratt. Gentiemen, / do not think need
trouble you with any IN, Their observations. This
viii is waste-paper. II was revoked by Mr..
Delrratt's marriage. He was well aware of its
revocation. He intended to revoke il. He had
grave fault % fId with Mr.. Ernest Delpratt's
conduct, and did not design to bequeath him
Lupton Manor and his other possessions. Sub
sequehtly he was disposed, however, to make
some provision for the young man. But his in
DEATH"
Merdock.
q
scene that had become strangely painful.
"AGd the propsrty?'' one asked
"Mr. Delpratt dying intestate, and without
can't seP shsn ss 20 '1 Erpest cried
wildly. IN not be swindled in this shameful
way. IN enforce my rights. IN establish the
shall be mine. The policies are in my posses
sion. They were legally assigned to me. can
prove it. 1t has always been understood that
they were intended for my benefit"
regard hes 4
liberty to state that. acting upon my advice,
the directors of the Albatross Office will refuse
yment of the claim"
The lawyer looked the Young man very
steadily in the face.
What next? What are you going to charge
me win next? Refuse payment? How dare
1--WE know you did" sand Mr.. Merdock,
quickly, in low tone, as he struck his clenched
n nahd sharply upon the table. and handed the
He elutehed it tremblingiy; read II with rag
ing eyes. Then II fell from his shaking fingers,
ana nuttered on to the floor; He gave strange,
them against his head, as though to stifI some
terribly acute pain.
I'm Ill }" he murmured family. Let me get
some fresh air. shall be better presentiyei
sball'.and he staggered from the room.
~, MT; Merdock found himself left alone with
young man." said the lawyer, quietly. al
think I've been as good as my word"
what was that note You handed him?"
Mr. PiSley took the paper from the floor and
read: "E. d: bought arsenic of Gibbons,
Chemist, Catherine street, Salisbury, on the
l'th and 18th October. and the Goth November"
iPs from very careful fellow who's been
helplng me to Investigate this matter. was in
hopes should have heard from him last night.
However, the note came in time. Whether 1
dld rlght to show IL to him Pm not sure. Per-
maps not; But felt longing quite uncon-
tIollable to crush the villain. IT'S wrong to be
1evengefnl; 1t interferes with business arrange
ments. But owed something to the memory
How he wincedr'
He's certainly a villain, if there ever was
one, remarked Mr.. Pixley.
land now can tell YOU something more
about him. You're fond Of dwelling upon the
motives that lead to crime, Pixley. At the same
time may tell you that YOU omit from YOUR
calculations the fact that much wickedness in
lhis world is accomplished at q very cheap
bIlce, so TO say-for very inadequate reasons.
dhere as motive enough in this case, how
eSer-more than enough. Ernest Delpratt had
OF course discovered the will in his favor, never
dreaming that it had been revoked, or of the
n anner OF its revocation. But more than that
ne man Is gambler, and deeply involved
ne owes at least five thousand pounds. He is a
defaulter upon the turf, and he has forged ac-
ceptances insthe deceased's name. have as
certained that. Bills are falling due at the
Branch Bank at AndOvor, which he must meet,
or prepare for exposure, If not arrest. So he
determines upon the murder of his benefaetor.
60 WelI with Lin, he thinks. But he was i'm too
great hurry. If he had only waited little, a
new will, under which he was largely to benefit.
would have been executed. Something his
crime would then have brought him. AS it is,
ne gets nothing; he simply beggars himself
Mur9ering Mr.. Deipratt, as he did, in fact, the
i murderer, to speak plainly, cuts his own
:, strange noise was heard in the hall outside
the library door. The servants, greatly ex-
eited, entered the room. 1t was some moments
ne1Ofc int
they brought.
The body of Ernest Delpratt had been dis
covered lying on the fOer of one of the upper
rooms OF LuptOn Manor House. His one hand
ciutched razor, with which he had inflicted
dead. "' f"''o
1t was the room in which Eustace We're Del
pratt had met his death by poison.-AH he Year