Port Royal commercial and Beaufort County Republican. [volume] (Port Royal, S.C.) 1873-1874, 1873-12-11
THE RIVAL CLAIMANTS.

came, and what had been his antece-
dents, were points on which the good
people of Pokebury remained as unen-
ightened after he had dwelt ten years
among them, as they were at his first
coming.
His health had been for some time
failing, and one day was sent to write
his will. The instructions he gave me
were very brief. He wished his entire
estate to be vested in trustees, the an
nual income to be devoted to certain
specified charities; but in case his
brother, of whom he had lost sight for
many years, proved to be alive and
should be. discovered, the above be-
quest was to become thenceforward
null, and the entire property to 60 to
the brother.
"This brother-have you any clew
that may lead TO his discovery" 1
asked.
"None," he answered; "and I great
ly fear, for certain reasons, that even If
he be living he will never, voluntarily,
make himself known"
"Few people purposely keep out OF
the way OF good fortune" remarked.
He made no answer, but seemed to
be rejecting deeply. =.
81 wish to contide secret to you"
he said, at length. "May 1 do so
safely ?"
"a lawyers OATH" answered, "for-
bids him to betray his client. You may
speak with freedom and safety"
Ny words may place my brothers
life in your hands" he said "yet it
may still be possible to clear up hor.
rible suspicion which, for years, has
haunted me. I have read of so many
cases in which it came out that men
were innocent whose guilt seemed prov
ed to demonstration that / blame my
self for not sooner seeking aid in the
solution of dreadful mystery, instead
of helplessly broodipg over it.
he paused, as if still hesitating to
disclose his secret. The indecision,
however, was but momentary.
"My brother Charles and myself" !"
he resumed, "were brought up in
distant city by a wealthy uncle, of
whom was the favorite.
"Charles was younger than I, by
some years. He was a light-hearted,
affectionate boy, a little wild and ex-
travagant, but not vicious-just the per-
SOD, on the whole, not to meet the ap-
probation OF our strict old uncle.
"Wben the latter made his will, he
left the bulk of his fortune to me, ap-
pointing me also trustee of the very
moderate provision made for my
brother.
"Charles expressed no displeasure at
this. He placed too little value on
money, I thought, or had too much con-
fidence in my generosity to care which
of us our uncle left his wealth to.
"Not long after the will was made,
returning home enc night, found the
front door unlocked. paid but little
attention to the circumstance, at
tributipg it to the carelessness of the
servant.
"On reaching my room, I discovered
that had not with me valuable book
which 1 had started with from public
library to which | was a subscriber. l
had stopped to visit friend on the way,
and copjectured that l might have left
the volume at his room. I determined
to act on the surmise, and return to my
friends at once.
GAS l passed out of the door, I met
Charles coming in. / do not know if ]
spoke to him in my haste. / found the
book where supposed it WIS, and had
nearly reached my uncle's door again,
when l saw it open and my brother
rush out excitedly, and walk rapidly
away.
~ met the housekeeper in the hall
way. She seemed to be paralyzed with
fear.
"'I'm afraid something terrible has
happened she said, recovering her
voice with an effort.
"What is the matter| I asked.
"Oh, SIR she answered, 'Mr.
Charles ran out of his uncle's room just
now, looking like ghost, and having
q bloody knife in his hand. He passed
me without speaking, and hurried
uOn INC mousse pe4Ote L coulu cay
word 7
81 went at once to my uncle's apart
ment. A ghastly spectacle met my
sight My uncle lay lifeless in his
blood The gas was burning brightly,
and every detail of the horrid scene was
appallingly distinct.
my uncle had been stabbed through
the heart. His secretary stood open,
and the floor was strewn with papers.
"Like flash of lightning the ques-
tion presented itself, Can my brother
have committed this deed?' His flight,
the housekeeper's statement, his possi-
BILE resentment at our uncle's will
all seemed to point to one conclusion,
much as I strove to close my mind
against it.
81 called for help. The housekeeper
and servants came in answer to the
alarm. The former fell fainting at the
sickening sight, and had to be carried
to her room, where, fortunately, she re.
NAMED for season in condition which
prevented her from relating what she
bad seen.
h 1.-The authorities were notified and
an inquest held but nothing affording
a clew to the murderer was elected. /
WIS the only witness examined. What
the housekeeper could reveal, was
A. L