Rapides gazette. (Alexandria, La.) 1869-187?, 1873-03-08
SPRINGlNG A MINE.

NIX. mERD0CK was solicitor of SOUND
rePute, enjoying an excellent practice: =
tall, lean, elderly man, with good features
worn very sharp by time and hard work
at his calling. His tall, bald forehead had
the look Of old parchment, or of discol.
ored ivory; his sallow face was deenlv
lined and very gaunt.
-, Mr. Merdock sat at his desk-idlv for
the moment-glancing now at the green
enclosure to be seen from his window
now at TN box, one of large pile OF
slInllar tln boxes, ranged against the wall
opposite 10 him, now at the Times news
paper, spread out before him. He paused
10 take nolsily huge pinch of snuff. and
ba tiaen PASSED large scarlet silk pocket
handkerchief across his face.
Poor Delprattr' he said, with a GLANCE
at the tin box. The legend THE Dr.
PRATT TRUST was inscribed unon n in
1lm gold letters. dead 7" He pazed
from The window at the waving grass and
the murky elm of the graveyard without.
four days ago J" He laid his hand upon
the newspaper. 1t contained among its
advertisements of deaths the following
brief notification - WING
..On the Goth of November. at the Man.
or House, Lupton, Hants, EUsTACE WERE
DELPRATT, aged fifty-seven.''
just then one Of his clerks entered and
handed him card. He started as he read
the name it bore. After moments hest
tatlon he said, "You must show him in
Booth" '0" nun iii'
A young man entered, dressed in deep
mourning. - "oop
Mr.. Ernest Delpratt?" Mr.. Mer-
dock was reading aloud the name on the
You have forgotten me. 500 Mr.
Merdock. But it is not surprisin~ w.
have not met for some wears. know
that L am much changed in appearance.
was a mere boy then.n
Pray be seated"
~ ou are aware. of course. of the sad
occurrence that has brought me here ?''
NJ, nave only just read in the Times of
Mr.. Delpratt's 0eath."
II ou knew him intimately ?''
can scarcely say so much as that. L
saw MN frequently at one time. But of
1aoe years we seldom met. l rarely quit
LONDON, he rarely visited it. Still / re-
SaIaeu MIN as friend. / heard from
MN occasionally. He was kind enouph
Always 70 address me in the most cordial
Terms. have learnt of his death with ex-
but You were his professional adviser:
you you H Know w more of his private fairs than
coldly. '"'u MI merdock,
,o He executed a will in your presence,
some ten years ago!'' '
mr.. Merdock made no reply.
should explain" the young man
went wen on, THAT as 6s sole surviving rela. |
Pardon me-" Merdock interrupted
had dsal,y al speaking, the late Mr.. Delpratt
and drerhaps .nap so-but he always regarded
m Gnu E spoke OF me as his cousin. or rather
as MS first cousin once removed I.hIro
Iore deemed it my duty to search for h;s
VIII 10 ascertain If he had exnressaJ =, ;t
auy = Instructions in relation TO his f,1neroi
in that 90 h'ng objectionable
Mr; Merdock merely bowed
"The Will found conta;ncJ |
tlons OF the kind referred to E,rtsu ,1s.r u
lts terms l need not speat inst ',.el % vi
especially as, the document bsv;nx INV NV,
arawn .;as by you You are already acosainted Dd
with its contents" oduai'ioeo
The only will of which | knov
thng about" said MIR. Merdock afsary any
minutes II deliberation, ''was executa ~,
lle testator in my presence some tsy
years ago. The will was engrossed and in
course l am in the habit Of
in such cases-as a matter
" pruuehce and precaution. One copy is
.lom III my non safe. The other. the tes.
! ,a.or ,'n took INTO his own keeping. That is.
PC hua ene document to which You