Richland beacon. [volume] (Rayville, La.) 1869-1890, 1873-03-08

. ~. ms nousehoiu well knew, from disease
,he heart of long standing. Still nor
looked Tor his illness terminating fatal
at so early date. His medical attenda,
visited him frequently of late. He wa
hot present, however, when the sad ever
occurred. He is fully satisfied, howevel
as to the cause of death. He attribute
Il 10 aneurismal hypertrophy Ofthe hear,
precisely his meaning"
Inc young man dibbed his white fac
with his handkerchief. He was mmc
moved, and his voice trembled as he con
tinued. Wi
81 need hardly saw tba
my Cousins death has heon wa
heavy blow to me. AS YOU know. Mr.
Merdock, In times past there were man,
dlflerences between us-due to nv follv
10 my misconduct, | am now preraret
iuiiy 10 admit. But we had been recon
ciled. We were ON intimate and affac
,iohate terms. l regarded him as my
oHhelactor, and was deeply grateful fo
All ne had done for me. Most unfortun
ately was absent from the house Mt IN,
time of his death.''
MIR. MerdOck was Silent, but he now
seemed from under his beetling brows tc
eye his visitor with new curiosity. Hi.
attention was attracted perhaps bv the
resuessness that marked the Young mans
manner. lie moved uneasilv i'm his chair
shif!ing his position constantly, and twist.
ing his handkerchief into a string by the
unconscious contortions Of his hands.
| mad left the house early I'm the morn
| ing to attend the meet at some few miles
distance from LuptOn. 1t was late when
l returned. My cousin had then been
dead SOME hours. Coming up to London,
10 transact some business that could uot
De postponed, resolved to call upon YOU.
Mr. Merdock. In the first place. have
to request that you will attend the funeral
which is fixed for the 27th. at noon. an,
in the next place to beg that YOU will act
on my behalf, rs my legal adviser. i'm the
new position that devOlves upon me nm.
der the terms of MIR. Delpratt's will"
-" shall attend the funeral. of COURSE"
said the lawyer. 81 have sincere respect
for the memory Of my late friend. shall
attend, If you please, In my character as
professional adviser, during many wears.
of the deceased"
" A carriage shall meet the early train
from town at AndOver-the nearest STA
ton to LuptOn Manor"
Amy business arrangements i'm regard
to your own future position it NAV be
well, perhaps, to defer until after the fu-
neral"
''As you think best. Good morning.
Mr.. MerdOck. l will only add hone
that you will dismiss any prejudice YOU
may have formed against Inc in relation
to my life in the past. | do assure YOU
that l am different man. am not now
as yOu once knew me. Good morning."
Later in the day the lawyers room was
abruptly entered by Mr.. Pixley, the sec
retary Of the Albatross Insurance Com |
pany, of which institution Mr.. Merdock |
had been for many years the solicitor.
~ was passing, MerdOck, so | thought !
I'D look in," said Mr.. Pixley, an active,
bustling gentleman, who always declined |
a chair, finding that he could talk with |
greater ease If permitted an erect posture.
with space for free movement and gesticu-
atiOn. "We're in for heavy claim. The
matters not ripe for discussion, but it's
worth mentioning. don't say that it's
suspicious as yet but it's odd. and soon
,r or later, take it, you'll have to look
ntO it for US. Yet the parties are of great
they always are. l notice,
n cases of an unpleasant complexion.
And it's odd, as l said. The life only
lrOpped four days ago. Yet already it's
,een thought advisable to notify the fact
% US, and the party most interested has
allied in person at the office. Now con-
ider that rather sharp work. What can
Ne the reason oft? It's policy of long
heavy risk-we divided it, of
course, with other offices, but still we
stand to lose a large amount. The sum
insured, with accumulated bonuses.
makes heavy total. Is it all fair? That's
he question:"
"That's the name of the gentleman
who called upon yOu," said Mr.. Merdock,
and he handed the secretary Mr. Ernest
Delpratt's card.
1.-THE very man! You've seen him
also? Upon my word he doesn't let the
grass gro under his feet"
"He didn't come here about the insur-
ance: but happen to know good deal
about the case. The late Mr.. Delpratt
was client of mine. 1t was through me
the insurance was effected. He was the
natural son Of old Joshua Delpratt, who
bequeathed to him absolutely the Lupton
Manor estate-a property of considerable
value in Hampshire. Joshua Delprait
was never married. His presumptive
heir was his nephew, Delamere Delpratt,
the father of Ernest. Delamere Delpratt
was scOundrel, and Joshua proclaimed
his nephew, Delamere, who had brought
disgrace upon the family. To assist Del
amere Eustace borrowed large sum of
money. This was in JOshua's lifetime.
mind. Eustace could not of course |
charge the estates, which he was only to |
acquire under the will of a man who |
was still living. and who might at any
time change his mind as to the dispO-
sal of his property. The only security |
Eustace could offer was his reversionary |
interest in a sum in the funds invested for |
the benefit of his mother, and the subject |
indeed OF the Delpratt Trust, the deeds |
and papers of which are in that tin box !
beside yOtl. Further, he could, as he did, |
insure his life heavily, lodge the policies,
and bind himself to pay the premiums |
Of the money advanced Eus- |
tace never touched a half-penny. All |
was absorbed by Delamere. On coming |
into possession of the estates, Eustace |
paid of the loan, but thought it worth |
while to keep up the policies. He had |
in view the benefit Of the legit-
innate members Of the family. OF these,
Ernest Delpratt is now the sole repre- |
for Delamere, his father, died |
of drink, many years ago, leaving no !
other issue. Eustace, my old friend and |
client, left no children. Here you have,
briefly told. the story of the Delpratts."
"Then this Ernest is the last of the |
raceP'
"The last of the race"
His father, you say, was scoundrel
and he?"
"Well, I'd rather defer my opinion. We
mustn't be in hurry. BE is, clearly-and
there he's wrong"
''In suspicious cases.
"A.ind, don't say that this is suspi-
cious as yet" interrupted Mr.. Merdock.
Let me continue. In suspicious cases !
what We have to inquire is, who is the |
person who benefits by the death of the !
If wrongs been done. there |
must be an inducement, u motive for it. |
Find out that, and"-
~ Nv daar Pi PiYlax, HADN'T rro,, ho&&o.