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

SPRlNGlNG A NINE.
1t was curious and pleasant, 50 certain of Mr..
Merd0ek's clients held, to discern thrOu ia his
once windows-heavily barred to defeat the
aesigns or the burglaTisus-a small patch of
enclosed land, rich In rank grass and shaded
little a. il needed shade, for the neiehborine
houses hemmed it in on all sides, by an old,
s,u.ted, murky eim-tree. The land had origi-
vanished: Sometimes, after ghostiy-looking,
Seltary sheep. coming none knew from whence,
or ~ whose authority, had been turned intp
the enclosure, ami had cropped and nunehed
away lhe long grass, faint outlines of reeum-
bent toinbstOnes co1tl be traced whitening here
and there the vegetation. Within living mem
ofy no llaterment had taken place there; and
the inhabitants of the adjoining buildings took
niue need of n now, except now and then 70
Turn 1t 10 account dIIst-bin a recautaelt.
Tor broken glass and cr0ekery, cinders, litter,
refuse AMI rubbish o. all kinds.
MI MerdOek's Offices were on the ground
ttoor ora rambling OLD house iii one 81 tn. tor
tr'us, conhned thorou shfares of walbrook.
MS private room Has at the back OF the build
lag. an. thus obtained IT'S feeble sort of rural
outlook He was a solicitor of sound repute .
enjoying an eycellent practice; a tail, lean,
etrFTIy man. with good features. worn very
sharp by time AMI hart work at hiS calling
His tall. bald forehead had the look of oil
parchment, or OF discolored ivory; his sailew
face was deeply Tined and very CaTnt Yet his
aspect BETRAYED no trace of III health or of pre-
mature decay He was alert Of movement: the
fringe of hair AZ the lack of his bald head was
threads
SILVER IN the sharPly-trimmed, crescent shaped
wniSkers he wore on his hi gh cheek bones; al
though liz lips were cOlorless. has teeth were
scnnd and white. and his gray eyes twinkled
IaicTeingly beneath his heavy penthouse brows.
he was, plainly, wiry, spare man, who could
sun endure much wear and tear, and make a
gcod fight with time.
Mr.. Merdock sat at his desk--idly Tor the mo-
Notwithstanding now at the green enclosure to
he seen from his window. now at a tin box, one
ct large pile Of similar tin boxes, ranged
N all rn.it tn hfrt1 he
Times newspaper, spread ont before him. With
ameditative air he was rubbing the palm OF his
large, yellow, bOny hand against his very blue
chm, for his strong black beard opposed a stout
resistance to the razor. let him ply il as per-
s'stently as he might. He paused TO take
nolsily huge pinch of snuff, aud then passed
Large scarlet and puce silk pocket-handkerehef
Poor Deipratt,- he said. with glance at the
TN box: The legend The Detorpt Trust was in
seribed mon 10 i'm dim gold letters Dead,',
He gazed from the window at the waving grass
ana the nlurky elm of the graveyard without.
-Four days ago!" He laid his hand upon the
newspaper IL contained among its advertise
IDents of deaths the following brief notification:
On the 10th Of November, at the Manor
House, Lupton Hants, Eustace We're Delpratt,
aged hfty-seven."
Mr. Merdoek shook his head mournfully.
signed, and then shrugged his shoulders max
ing an enort, as n seemed, TO dismiss distress
sing subject from his mind. Just then one Of
his clerks entered and handed him card. He
started as he read the name it bore. After a
nome nt,s hesitation he said, 'sYou must show
i'm IN, Booth
A young man entered dressed in deem
mourning.
MI Ernest Delpratt?" Mr.. Merdock was
reading aloud the name on the card.
You have forgotten me, I see, Mr.. Merdock
Buf II Is not surprising. We have not met for
some years know that am much changed
IN appearance. Twas mere boy then"
He was now perhaps about thirty; wearing
thlek, red-orown beard, and rather long hair
failing negligently across his forehead. His
natural pallOr was no doubt increased in effect
by the black clothes he wore. But his com
pleuon was Of that deadly whiteness which
AHcns httie variation, and resists all influence
oI tempefature, refusing TO be bronzed by the
sun, or redeemed by exposure TO the wind In
was late IN the year. but the weather was mn
i mutually sul,ry. stu it had not brought any
eiamminesS on the surface of his skin
You are aware, OF course, of the sad occur
renee that has brought me here?''
have only just read i'm the Times Of Mr.
DelPrattis death" Mr.. Mer,loek's manner was
reserved, even distant.
You knew him intimateiyo''
can scarcely say 80 much a. that. 1 saw
Inn frequently at one time. But OF late years
we seldom met. rarely quit London. he rarely
VISITED II. Still regarded him as friend. i
heard from him occasionally. He was kind
e,oagh ALWAYS 10 address me i'm the most cor
tTeme regret, "- -
Bat You were his professional adviser: YOU
hnor more OF his private affairs than any one:"
That nay De 50. said Mr.. Merdoc r. Gladly
ten years ago. NV oS
Mr.. MerdOck male no reply.
should explain, y the Young man went On
"th az as his sole surviving relaiiye--
Pardon me-, Merdock iuterrnptei ss,s
gsIly speaking, the late Mr.. Dclpratt had no
Tclatiyes.' ~
=" Perhaps so-but he always regarded and
SPOKE Of me a. his cousin, OF rather as his first
cousin once removed. I therefore deemed IL
my duty to search DOR his will to ascertain ii he
Lao expressed in il ANY instructions in relation
20 ms funeral l hope that you see not ain. OBJ
M. Merdoek merely bowed. He avoided any
statement OF opinion on the subject
Ihe Will found contained no instruefions
OF the kint referred 10. FartAer OF its terms
reed Not speak just now; especially as. the
document having been drawn by yor. Won are
already acquainted with its contents
said Mr.. Merslock, after mint g deiiberst;on.
was executed by the testator In my presence
some ten years ago. The will was engrossed in
oupneate--a course I am In the habit Of recOm-
Ahehding In such cases-aS matter Of prudence
ane pfecauti0n. One copy Is now in nv iron
ssle. The other. the testator took into his own
kSep,hg. That Is, 7 presume, the document TO
"a :. 49, 1s have been referring"
mLet us be quite sure said Mr.. Mer,lock.
sui WIN nus ar OF elaboration. He left the
date the 18th Of March, fs5e,, WV
That IL the win In Question. +, wa. eo,,a
In Mr.. Delpratt's desk ""s A"1"u
:. Yon found none OF later date? No will or