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

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Something has been gathered that may be of
importance. A hint OF physic bottles DESTROYED
immt diately after the death OF Mr.. DeIpratt
But it's AotkiBg like clear enough az present..
and there may be nothing in it,
But IL the funeral"-
THE funeral doesn't matter. II we've any
evidence to 60 upon, We can Obtain from the
Home olice an order for disiutermsnt Never
n mind about the funeral Get that over quietly;
But the other doctor, who gave hint to the
I've seen him, and II only comes to this-he
suspects. He was dismissed from attendance
upon the deceased three weeks ago: so. ys,,
know, he couldn't have seen poor Delpra{t iu-
ring his last fortnight of life. StilI. he men
uoned some facts that were worth noting At
with being actuated by professional jealousy-a
doctor dismissed for Incompetence; that's how
1t W9nid De put to jury"
but what does he suspert?''
suspicious, mind, amount to nothing, unless
yon can support them with evidence OF facts
ahu that we can't do at present. But he sus-
Pects-bend yonr b. adj Mr. Merdock clutched
ms companion by the forearm and whispered
into his ear-''he suspects that the medicines
were tempered with, and that death resulted
from the aiministr alton of-poison-probably
arsenic, in small but frequent doses. That
could only have been done by some one constant
lbattendance upon the deceased
ana we know that Ernest Depratt had OPP
portunities of that kind"
Yes; that we know. He sat up some nights
WIN the deceased, was with him, indeed, con-
tihually, except on the day of his death; then he
Was absent, out all day-hunting, he told me.
He lied. I've ascertained that He did 90 to
the meet. But there was but poor DAYS sport,
short run with young fox, and kin in bar
rington Plantations, only a few miles from
O'clock But he stayed drinking in little pub
nc-house on the Purham road. So, YOU See he
lied. That doesn't surprise me; he was always a
administering the last fatal dose, and then
keeping ont of the way of the closing scene TO
avoid suspicion: On the other hand, an inno-
afterwards, being ashamed of himself. have
gwen false account of his conduct for the
sake Of decency"
He was on good terms with the deeeased?o
"Yes. Not so good as he'd make ont. Int
still on good terms. He'd been forgiven. and
made welcome to the manor house. Poor Del
f FRA take 1t, was trying to like him, and, on
wen OF late. 1t had been different formerly. In
run, Einest was as bad as Delamere had
t Seen, Dismissed , from the army before he was
cards-then guilty of what's called, in plain
terms, at the Old Bailey, forgery. But the
thlng was hushed up, and the young man was
feeling acutely HIS own position, and doing his
best to serve the legitimate members OF the
family, gave him up then as a bad job. But he
pI1oapty soffened towards him of late years.
Dsnexed IN his reform, and viewed him even
mo was with him at the time of his dea th?v
tainly heart disease of considerable standine-
ammc1ent, perhaps, to account for his death.
Iheres only this to add. He is known to have
c4mPiained OF the strange taste of his medi-
elnes, and Of the great internal pain and burn
ing thirst they provoked"
just now, it's but poor case"
81 repeat tia poor case"
80 don,t see that we've any grounds for re-
slsung payment Of the policy :"
conc,, rrihaps not, as yet; But never rush at
many things may happen. And mind, In any
case, mean to spring miEe upon that youn
man such as he little dreams of. Eustace Del
R PIlI was my friend. don't forget that
clerk "" ~ my
The funeral vas of simple kind. 1t was
mourners. But, as Mr. Merdoc K had exnIai9ed.
the late Mr.. Delpratt had legally speaking .no
relatives. No ''inheritable blood, ;" to use the
s snd e hS term had flowed in his veins,
Ernest Delpratt was the chief mourner He
was accompanied by certain members of mis-
mother family, thus indirectly connected with
boring parishes, who had been on Friendly terms
with Mr. Delpratt, and whose focks lad re-
celved AID from his benevolence: the doctor.
ana, OF course, Mr.. Merdock, were i'm attend
ahce The gentry of the district sent their
carriages, and round the grave were grouped
numerous tenants, farm-labOrers and poor folk
to pay last tribute of respect to its departed
proprietor. He had been to them inyariablv
Alnd and generous-had never been known to
sre my OF to speak urgently. They
especially that they seemed to view with some
distrust the gentleman who was recognized on
az az iiues as the future squire of LuptOn Manor.
VI Ernest Delpratts position none entertained
any doubt. 1t was thoroughly understood that
TO MIN the late Eustace Delpratt had be.
sueathf bis entire possessions absolutely.
tn ixrIx
whispered to his friend, after the funeral cere-
mony was concluded, and the mOurners had re-
turned 60 the manor-house. Then he added
aloud, %! wish it to be fully known that have
attended here to-day as the friend for manv
years, and the professional adviser of the late
Eustaee We're Delpratt.o 'N
Pratt, rather impatiently. 1t is now proposed
that In that character you should read the will
OF the deceased" He placed upon the table a
broken. '"' ooe"
"YOu wish me to do sop,
"Certatnly. wish all the usual forms to he
Observed on this melancholy occasion
8 Be II so, then. And YOU produce this doom
We're Delpratt?" -'o
clS 0n'y ,sr small party was assembled in the
pratt moved anxi0usly from one to the other.
ne was very pale, he spoke i'm low, agita ted
tones and his hands trembled exceedingly.
leather bag. O'"e"
The viii you produce, - he said. with grave
buslness-hke air, turning towards Ernest Del
pratt clears date the 18th of March, 1889. II
was drawn by me, and my name appears as that
OF one OF the witnesses, attesting the due exeeu-
ton OF the document by the testatOr. Bv this
will the whole Of Mr.. Eustace Delpratt q estate
DOTH real and personal, is bequeafhed to Won.
and you are appointed his sole executor. You
produce this Is his last will and testamenfP Won
deceased?' W 'uo
" He executed no other will or codicil. - sail
Ernest, in low faint voice.
,,..,I ne deceased had, however, it seems, some
iittle time since, contemplated making a new
disposition OF his property. He had drawn M a
lew notes and memoranda. He designed to
make handsome provision for Mr. Ernest Del
pfatt, put the residue Of his estate he pr0pOsed
TO apply In different way. But need not 90
into that. MIR: Eustace We're Delpratt did not
survive to make a new will, and these brief
writings OF his are without legal yalue.n
MT: Merdock paused, and took a pinch of
snuff An intense quiet prevailed in the room.
The quick breathingOf Ernest was plainly aud
lble He brushed his hair from his olistenino
deadly-white face. Then, as though perceiv,
ing how much his hand trembled, ne witbdrew
hurriedly, and thrust it out of sight under the
table. The other persons present, though vet
well aware that they were fikeIy to benefit in no
way by the deceased's disposition of his estate.
seemed yet, in spite of themselves curionsly
Il Ah<.