American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1873-03-08

I
weeks ago; so, you know, he cOuldn't
have seen poor Delpratt during his last
fortnight of life
but what does he suspect"
Suspicious, mind, amount to nothing,
unless you can support them with evil
dence of facts, and that We can't do at
present. But he suspects that the medi-
cines were tempered with, and that death
resulted from the administration Of-pOi-
Son-probably arsenic, in small but fire
quent doses. That could only have been
done by some one in constant attendance
upon the deceased ~
And we know that Ernest Delpnatt
had opportunities of that kind"
"Ies; that we know. He sat up some
nights with the deceased, was with him.
indeed. continually, 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 go to the meet.
run with a young fox, and a kill in Oar
rington Plantations, only few miles
from Lupton. He might have been home
by two o'clock. But he stayed drinking
in little pu0lic-hOuse on the Purham
road. So, you see, he lied. That doesn't
surprise me; he was always a liar, as his
father was before him. 1t looks like ad-
ministering the last fatal dose, and then
keeping out of the way of the closing
scene, TO avoid suspicion"
ssHe was on good terms with the de-
ceased:"
'Yes. Not so good as he'd make out,
but still ON good terms. He'd been for
given, and made welcome to the Manor
house. Poor Delpratt, l take it, was try
ing to like him. and, on the whole, the
young man had behaved pretty well of
late. 1t had been different formerly. In
truth, Ernest was as bad as Delamerc had
been. Dismissed from the army before
he was twenty for disgraceful conduct
cheating at cards-then guilty of what's
called in plain terms, at the Old Bailey,
forgery. But the thing was hnshed up,
and the young man was packed off to Aus
tralia."
Who was with him at the time of his
death 20
s.No one. There we're weak. He had
certainly heart disease of considerable
neutrality-suspicious.. perhaps, to account
for his death. There's only this to add !:
He is known to have complained of the
strong taste of his medicines, and of the
great internal pain and burning thirst
they provoked"
''After all, as you said yourself, Mer-
dock, Just now, it's but poor case"
repeat it-a poor CASE"
81 don't see that we've any grounds for
resisting payment of the policy"
perhaps not, as yet. But never rush
at conclusions, Pixley. We've time be-
fore us, and many things may happen.
And mind, in any case, l mean to spring
mine upon that young man such as he
little dreams of. Eustace Delpratt was
my friend. l don't forget that. Hush !!
We've arrived. Remember you're my
clerk
The funeral was of simple kind. 1t
was chiefly remarkable, perhaps, for
its paucity of mourn RS. But, as MIR.
Merdock had explained, the late Mr.. Del
pratt had, legally speaking, no relatives.
No "inheritable blood" to use the con-
veyancerS' term, had flowed in his veins,
an he had died childless.
| Ernest Delpratt was the chief mourner.
Keep close to me, Pixley,'' Mr.. Mer-
dock whispered to his friend, after the flu
neral ceremony was concluded, and the
mourners had returned to the manor
house. Then he added aloud, g wish it
to be fully known that l have attended
here to-day as the friend of many years
and the professional adviser, of the late
Eustace We're Delpratt."
THAT is quite UNDERSTOOD said Err
nest Delpratt, rather impatiently. - 1t is
now proposed that in that character you
should read the will of the deceased. He
placed upon the table a small packet the
seals of which had been broken.
You wish me to do sO?''
Certainly. L wish all the usual forms
| to be observed on this melancholy Occa-
sicn.''
Be it so, then. And you produce this
document as the last will of the late Mr..
Eustace We're Delpratt 20
| Mr.. McrdOck took his seat at the head
of the table. He placed beside him a
small black leather bag.
| 1.-THE will you produce" he said, with
a grave. business-like air, turning toward
| Ernest Delpratt, ''bears date the 18th of
March, 1853. 1t was drawn by me, and
my name appears as that of one Of the
! witnesses, attesting the due execution of
will the whole of Eustace Delpratt's es-
tate, both re i and personal. is bequeathed
to you, and you are appointed his sole ex-
ecutor. You produce this as his last will
and testament? You know of no other
will or cOdicil executed by the deceased?''
''He executed no other will or cOdicil, -
said Ernest, in low, faint voice.
1.-The deceased had, however, it seems,
some little time since. contemplated max
ing a new disposition of his property.
He had drawn UP few notes and men,
oranda. He designed to make hand
some provision for Mr.. Ernest Delpratt,
but the residue of his estate he proposed
to apply in a different way. But L need
not go into that. Mr.. Eustace We're Del
pratt did not survive to make a new will,
ard these brief writings Of his are with
out legal value.''
Mr.. Merdock paused, and took pinch
of snuff.
raising his voice somewhat, g that practi-
cally, this document Notwithstanding, the
late Eustace We're Delpratt died intes-
tate"
There was murmur of surprise. Ern.
est Delpratt rose from his seat, and raised
his hand. He tried to speak, but his voice
appeared to fail him.
"Three years after its execution, this
will was revOked.o
by deed?" some one asked.
mo. By the adoption of another
course, not less decisive. In fact, by mar
riage.''
'It's lie.'' Ernest Delpratt screamed
hoarscly.
''The late Mr.. Delpratt,'' the lawyer
proceeded, calmly, "was married in Jan
uary, 1862. at the chapel of the embassy
actress. Legal proof of that marriage
have with me. Into the details OF the
matter l need hardly enter. l may state
however, that in carly life Mr.. Delpratl
had met with severe disappointment. Hi
had contemplated an alliance with
young lady, a member of one of the mos
distinguished families of this country
To that union the stain upon his birth wa:
deemed by the lady's friends an insupcra
Bile objection. The engagement, if sucf
it may be called. was therefore abruptly
terminated. Mr.. Delpratt was deeply at
flicted. He determined never to marry
. Some time afterwards he made this will
bequeathing his entire property to tn.
only surviving legitimate member of hi.
family-Mr. Ernest Delpratt. But he hat
reason at a later date to be much offended
at the conduct of the man his generosity
would have enriched. To the peculiar cir
cumstances OF the case will not further