The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1873-03-22

~. Iatn In v,o. NOT ,,r,.nnt however when
tLo Sad event nrcurr,a ne j. fulIv satisfied
however ne ia ,hn ro,,so of his drnth He nj.
trihntr. If ,o ,nnnrism,I hvnrrtronhy of the
Lcnrt I mn NOT docror ,nni,rh IA understand
nroci.oI,. Iii. meaning"
The v1nno mann dnbbrl III, white face with
his h,ndknrrhirr lie wns much moved, and
his voice tyrmblr,l rs br continued.
~ need hardly saw that nv cousins death
has been heavy blow to me. As YOU know,
Mr. Ncrdnck in times PAST there were many
differences between usLdue to NV folly, to
nv misconduct, am now prepared to admit
We were on intimate and aiicCtionatc terms.
I recorded him NJ my brnrlnctor. and was
drcnlv grateful for Mi he had done for me
Most unfortunately | was absent from the
house nj the time Of his death
Mr. Mrrlock was silent, but he now seem.
ed from under hi, bcclling brows TO view his
visitor with a new curiosity His attention
was attracted pcrhaps. bv the rcstlcssncss
that marked the Young mans manner He
moved uncasily in his chair shifting his po-
sition constantly, and twisting his handkcr.
chief into "A string by the unconscious con
tortions of his hands.
II had left the house carly in the morning,
to attend the meeting some few miles from
LuptOn. 1t was late when | returned. My
cousin had then been dead some hours Com
ing up TO London, to transact some business
that could not be postponed resolved 10 can
upon you, Mr., Mcrdock. In the trSt place, l
have to request that You Will attend to Inc
funeral, which is fixed Tor the nth AT noon
and in the next place to beg that you WilI act
on my behalf, as my legal adviser, in the new
position that dcvolves upon me under the
terms OF Mr. Delpratt's will -,
81 shall attend the funeral, OF COURSE said
the lawyer. Il h4!c sincere respect Tor thc
memory Of my late friend. | shall attend, II
you please, in my character as professional
adviser, during many years, OF the late de
ceased
"A carriage shall meet the early train from
town at AndOvcr-thc nearest station to Lup-
ton Manor
ANY business arrangements in regard to
your own future position it may be well, per
haps, to defer until after the funeral
AS you think best Good morning, Mr.
Mcrdock. | will only add Il hope That you
will dismiss any prejudice you may have
formed against me in relation to my life in
the past. do assure you that am differ
cnt man. am not now rs you once knew
me, Good morning"
They shook hands and parted Mr.. Mcr
dock resumed his desk, after carefully rub.
hing his fingers with his silk handkerchief
They had been lett 50 cold and clammv bv
his Visitors grasp.
Apparcutly Mr.. Mrr,lock WIS not indus
triolisly ipclincdth that day. .or he was pre.occu.
MED his attention was absorbed by the news
of the death of his friend and client, Eustacc
We're Delpratt. He found difficulty in dcvot
ing himself to other matters. He sat idIy in
his chair. rlancinr now at the tin box. now
AT the first column of the Times newspaper,
now at the graveyard outside his window.
And at intervals he studied the card ct Mr..
Ernest Depratt.
Later in the day the LAWYERS room was alb
ruptly entered by Mr.. Pixley, the Secretary
IF the Albatross Insurance Compapy oil
which institution Mr. Mcrdock had been for
many years the solicitor
II was passing, Merdock, SO | thought I'd
ook in" said Mr.. Pixlcy, an active, busting
gentleman, who always declined "A chair, find
ing that he could talk with greater ease i'll
permitted an erect posture, with space for free
movement and gestiCulatiOn. Were in for
a heavy claim The matters not ripe for dis
cussion, but it's worth mentioning | don't
say that it's suspicious as vet; but it's odd,
md sooner or later, take it, you'll have to
look into it for us. Yet the parties arc off
great responsibility; they always arc | no
ice in cases of an unpleasant complexion.
And IFS odd. as | said The life only dron.
ped four days ago. Yet already it's been
hought advisable to notify the fact 70 us. and |
he party most interested has called in person
It the office. Now, | consider that rather
harp work. What can be the reason of ity
It's a policy of long standing-a heavy risk
we divide il of course with other Offices
mt still we stand 10 lose n LARGE amount
Ihe sum insured with occumnloted hnnuses
makes n heavy total l. il MI fairg TIT
he question ~
oI'hots thc nomc or fine gcntIomon who
allied unon vo,I :" said Mr. Hordnni, nrG ho
,andnd thn sccro,or,, M En-, noi I,,,n
crd
"rLo vor,, mint you,,o soor Lin, o1,oy
-nnn NV n,rJ ~" oc.mt Iot thn ir',' ",,o
,nrInr III, ro " ~ Nv W '''' grass S''"
"JIc didn,t came l,orc ,I,ort ,I,o ir.rr,oco.
NJ, hanmn ~ i,,,n,, "oL Ia,, I,,, ~,
o.o Thr ioto A. n"l;-r"t, ,'' 'o Ii"n, ' ~,
nina 7, r. tlr,i,i ,,i ~, y"
Gan,o, H.. ,to n,u Wv ny ""s
,J,,t, , o. i,,Ii a, 'Ti VI ot' 'us,"u