Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1875-09-25

simply came here to put you right regard
Ing the question of succession, and to tell
You that hereafter. I, ROLAND f. WALL
INGFoRD. will take charge of the Walling-
ford estate. through my attorney, whom l
shall telegraph for in the morning. If. rs
yoa say, there is no will, my course is even
palmer than before. As his nephew,
and only living relative. the property
naturally falls to me-
q HIS nephew - gasped Gray.
His nephew repeated the young mn ln,
the son of George and Margaret Wall
ingford. born in this village twenty-four
years ago, come December"
"More mystery - thought the attorney,
Then he unsuarle,lly added aloud
If you are Roland f. Wu!lngiord,
son Of George and Margaret Walling-
ford. born here twcnty-four years ago,
come December. who is"
He checked himself suddenly, but too
late, for his visitor saw ut once what he
would have said, had he completed the
sentence.
All - he said, evincing more excite
mcnt than he had before exhibited, there
is another claimant, then, and you have
seen fit to interest yourself in his behalf.
Pray who may he be p
al have nothing further to communicate
to you. sir" said Gray, "and l expect that
you will retire at once
Which | decline to do" replied the
young man. Another man is claiming
this property under my name" ha added,
tercely. "and won't leave this room until
/ know who he is, and what grounds he
bases his claim upon. You are helping
him in his attempt to rob me. and l hold
You responsible for his acts
al insist that you leave my apartment"
"And | refuse"
"Then | will call an officer and have you
dragged out. Don't think that You can
force yourself upon me without my con.
sent, and the attorney moved toward the
door leading into the main office, the Win
dow of which overlooked the street.
As he did so the young mans eye caught
sight of a folded paper lying on the table
before him and he stepped forward to
take it.
A second later, the two men were strng-
Cling for the possession of the document.
Gray would have called for help but his
opponents hand grasped him tightly by
the throat. He seized Il paper weight
lying on the table. and aimed blow ut
the young mans head. The hand fell
heavily. but the weapoQndid not reach it's
mark, forthe young man Mvksprung.n .nimbly
aside. The lawyer raised 4lis hand again,
for he knew that with that terrible grip on
his throat, he could not hold out much
longer.
Then the struggle began in vest. 1t
was carried on silently but dcsp Dratrly
1t seemed merely an effort on the part of
the attorney to free his throat from q
young mans grasp, and on the part of his
opponent to get possession of the weapon.
Although the attorney was the larger of
the two men, the man he was fighting had
the advantage of youth. endurance and
strength. and, despite the desperate efforts
he put forth, he found himself steadily
giving way before his adversary.
Finally, he recled back against the wall
and gasped, You are numbering me! In
God 6 name release my throat"
The yaung man complied, and as he did
so, he received a terrible blow on the head
from the paper weight which the treachcr
Gus attorney still retained in his hand.
He dropped to the floor like one dead, and
the attorney stood painting over him.
He waited some time for him to rise, but
rs he exhibited no signs of life, he
knelt by his side and felt of his pulse. It
beat but family. and. even rs no held the
wrist in his hand, it stopped entirely
The attorney tremblcd like one with the
ague. as the terrible position his vindctive
rage had placed him in flashed across his
mind
"My God "a ho groaned. cam q mur-
derer--a murderer"
He dashed a glass .of water over the
mans face, and tried with his trembling
hands, to stannch the blood, which was
oozing from the cut i'll his head. and form.
ing red pool on the carpet, But all his
efforts were unavailing.
What WAS to be done?
1t would not do to lot the body lie there.
That would make his arrest for murder
certain. unless he could make Il strong
shv,:ily in his own favor.
After studyin, over the case for mo-
ment, the attorney decided that the bold
est course would be the best, and proceed-
ed to act at oDc,
First he drag se.l the PROSTATE boly to
the door. Then h, turned his lamp down
as low us it would hur.l, in order that no
gleam of light should hetrly the opening
of the door, and haulel the PROSTATE fig
ure to the very head of the st lrs Return
ing, he carried the lamn into the front
office, and turned it up.
Then he crept softly into the hall once
mere, and, when he stood shivcring with
fear i'll his room again. II dull heavy
sound as of something falling on the stairs
ard striking with sckening thud at the
botto revealed what the desperate man
had done.
" Are You hurt ?''
He had opcne the door. and his voice
rang out high enough in the still night air,
to be heard by any chance passer in the