, 1873-02-23

l. IIlSIe JAR 80, 1910.
zz@-@-@ -
safe. The other, tho .esteto7 took into his oH7
keeping. That il, I presume the document t
which you have been referring"
:: NJ doubt"
still with his air Of del:be-a.ion. lie left tn
room. Presently no returned. Tho will Dor
date the 18th OF uarch, 1850"
=, aThet T. the Nil 4 in question. It was foun
codicii :"
''No, though I made careful search. Som
rough memoranda as to the disposal OF his prop
czty did ind, but these we're uusgned-mer
notes Of an informal character. Nothing i,
TUG :, nature ot viii. You know Of none" .
There W. pause. Mr. Nordock took a pincl
| OF srun.
"Mr. DeIpraatt died rather sudden1y-that il
to Eay, he had been suffering. a
all luis household well know, from
| none looked for his Illness terminating fatally
at so early date. His medical attendant Wis.
| tied him frequently Of late. He was not present
however, When the sad event occurred. He il
fully satisfied however, as to the causo Of death
He attributes it to aneurismal hypertrophy oi
the heart, am not doctor enough to under,
stand precisely his meaning"
The young man dabbed his white face with his
handkerchief. he. vas muck moved, and his
voice trembled rs Le continued:
I need hardly say my cousin 8 death has been
heavy blow to me. As you know, Slr. Merdock,
in times past there wero many differences be-
tween us-due to my folly, to my misconduct, /
am now prepared to fully admit. But We had
been reconciied. WeWere On intimate aud aHec-
tlonate terms. regarded him as my benefactor,
aud was deeply grateful for oil he had done for
me. Most unfortunately was absent from tho
house at the time of his death"
Mr. 1erdoca was silent, but he now seemed
from under his beetling brows to eye his visitor
porhapa By tho restleasness that marked the
young mans manner. He moved uneasi1y in his
chair, shifting his position constantly and twist
iuy lis handkerchief into @ string by the un-
conscious contortionB OF his handH.
IT had left the house early in tho morning to
attend the meet at some lew miles distance from
Iupton. It was lato whom I returned. Ny
cousin had then been dead some hours. Coming
up TO London, to transact come business that
could not be postponed, resolved to call upon
you, A1r. Merdock. In the first place, have to
request that you will attend the funeral, which
ls fixed for the 27tb, 81 noon. and in the next
place to beg that you will act on my behalf as
my loyal ndviser, iu the new position that de-
,t;s Tol,ss n2on @ l. me under the terms Of Ar. Del
II shall attend tho funeral, Of course" eaid
the lawyer. - I have sincere respect for tho
memory OF my late friend. I shall attend, it
you please, in my character as professional ad-
many ot ot ha the sax
town At Anto7er-tle nearest station to Lupton
Manor"
Any business arrangements in regard to your
own future position it may be well, perhaps, to
defer until nfter the funeral"
" As you think best. Good morning, Mr..
Aerdock+ will only add hope that you will
dismiss any prejudice you may have formed
against me In relation to my life III the past.
do assure you that am different man.
am not now as you once knew mo. Good morn
ing"
They shook hands and parted. Mr. Meraock
resumed lis desk, after carefully rubbing his
fingers with his silk handkerchief. They had
been loft so cold and c1ammy By his VISITORS
grasp.
Apparently Mr. Nerdock was not industriously
inclined that day, or hc was pseoccupicd !; his
attention was absorbed by the news Of the death
Of lis friend and client, Eustace We're Delpratt.
He found 4 difficulty in doyoting himself to other
matters. He sat idly in his chair, glancing nov
at the tin box, now At the first column Of the
Times newspaper, now ct the graveyard outside
his window And at intervals he studied the card
Of Mr. Ernest Delpratt.
Later in the day the lawyers room was abrupt
ly entered by Mr.: Pixloy, the Secretary Of the
Albatross Insurance Company, of which institu-
ton Mr. Nerdock had been for many years tho
solicitor.
II was passing, Merdock, go thought I'd
look in," said lir. Pix{ey, an active. bustling
gentleman, who nlways declined chair. finding
That he could talk with greater II permitted
m erect posture, with space for free movement
The mattcr's not ripe for discussion, but it's
worth mentioning. 7 don't Say that it's suspi- !
.:ous yeti but it's odd, and eooner or later, !
take it, you'll have to look into it for us. Yet !
ways are, notice. in cases ct an unpleasant
And it's odd, us said. THO life /
,nly dropped four days ago. Yet already it's |
oeen thought Advisable to notify tho fact to ua,
md the party most interested has called in per-
ION at Tho Office. Now consider that rather !
harp work. What can be the season OF it?
t'a policy OF long standing-a heavy risk-we
llvided it Of COURSE with other offices, but still
70 stand to lose largo amount. Tho sum in
ured, With accumulated bonuses, makes heavy
otal. Ii it I'll fair? That's tho question"
That's the nauae of the gentleman who t
allied upon you," said Mr.. Merdock, aad he
,auded the Secretary 1tr. Ernes. Delnratss
ard.
"The very man You've soen him also
'pon my word: no doesn't let the grass grow
Lnder his feet"
j" He didn't come here about tho insurance
ut happen to know good deal about the case.
he late Mr. Delpratt was client Of mine. It
'as through mo the insurance was effected. He
'as tho natural son of old Joshua Delpratt who
cqucathed to him absolutely the Lupton Manor
statc-a property Of considerable value in
hampshire. Joshua DeEpratt was never mar
led. Hin presump!iTo lelr was his nephew,
'eamefe Delpratt, the father OF Ernest. You
allow ne =
"Iou're getting complicated But at present
understand"
:: Dclamero Dclpsatt WAS . ecounlce and
os1lua proclaimed his intention to leave ill lie I
assessed to Eustace, rather than to his nephew,
olamere, who had brought disgrace upon tie
tmiiy. To assist Dclamcre Eustaco borrowed q |
rye sum Of money. This WAS in Joshua's life
mo, mind. Eustace could not, OF course,
,Arge the estates, which he WAS only to acquire
uder the will OF man who was still living, and
llo might at any time change his mind as to the
spose! of his property. Tho only security
ustace could offer was his re7orsionary inter- !
IT in sum in tho funds invested for the ben I
it OF his mother, and the subject indeed of tho
elpratt Trust, tho deeds and papers of which
q in that tin box beside yon. Fur
Ter, he could, as ho did, insure his !
fe heavily, lodge the policies, and
nd himself to Pay the premiums regularly. OF
le money advanced, Eustacs never touched t
,lf-penny. AL was absorbed by Delnnerc. On I
ming into possession Of the estates, Eustace
lid or the loan, but thought it worth while to
sep up tue policies. He had especially in riev 1