The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1875-08-04

his keen eye looking over client. ne
looked every incra man whom it would b"
profitable to interest, for you, when any
cunning work was obe done:
For some time, the scratching Of the
attorneys pen alone broke the stiffness Of
tho room. Then he put aside the paper
on which he had been engaged. and leaned
back in his easy chair, SO that he could
watch every expression Of his visitors
face, while his own vas in the shade. 1t
seemed to be q characteristic of the man,
that he eEdcavourel to have everyone ut a
disadvantage, even in so trivial matter
rs this,
"You have thought the matter over. Mr..
Wallingford," he said, after short survey
of the face before him.
"I have thought of nothing else since
the hour I received your note,' WAS the
reply.
And you are ready for the detnls-anx.
ions, 1 should have said, for plans to pnt
money into young mems, pockets, never
want hearers" So 49, =,
"Allow me to say before you begin. Mr..
Gray said Eugene, "that [ want only the
facts of the ease, and the truth I intend
to have my own of course. if Gun get it,
but believe that every brick and stone Of
that property would press with twice its
weight upon my heart il he'll it when
it was not rightfully mine"
"You must remember, Mr.. WallinGforl,'
said the attorney, "that couli have no
object in putting this property into any
mans hands, unless he WAS the right
man,
Without noticing how clcvcrly the at
torney had taken his cue from his own
talk, Eugene said:
But the details; you promised to put
them in my possession Tonight"
"Truc." said the attorney, but there
is not much to say ] have studied the
case carefully to. day, and there can he no
doubt that was right ut first. There can
be no mistake in the name, for it is wT:ttrn
in bold hand and uulcrsc":cl. have
searched among the papers, in vain. foT
new facts regarding George Wallingford,
the mill-owner's brother, who died yca?s,
ago, but can find nothing. There eau but
one conclusion be reached. You arc heir
to the Wallinqord Mills, TO the immense
bank account in Ne,r York, and to onc-haNo Of
the property you see around you IN this
ril7age.
Eugene gave n littlestort. The attorneys
was unprepared for SO sweeping an asser-
tion-
His surprise Mt the strange manner in
which Mr.. Wallingforl had disposed Of his
property, however. was still stronger thln
any exultation he might have felt over his
own good fortune.
"Can You rive any reason why Mr..
Wallingford should have favored me in
this matter ?" he asked. care you certain
after all, that am the person named III
that will ?"
my dead client probably had Il reason
1t is probable that h" desired the property
should be kept together here, and he
didn't care to have the mills change their
name. He was greatly attached to your
father, and you were az good as another,
when there were no reativcs to lie provided
for. AS to your last questions, havr only
this to say: Iou are Roland L. Walliny-
ford, are you not ard the son Of George
and Margaret Wallingford and you was
born in this place, twcnty-four years ago,
come December. Do ycu think there is
another man with that name III this State,
or on this continent ?"
"It is very improbaL1c."
att is more than imlncbable-it is in.
possib!"."
"Bu: this strange woman and her child,
with whom rlmour is busy just now?
The attorney frownel.
BE reasonable" he said, "and look Mt
that matter in IL practical way. Do you
think II MIN like Mr.. Wa!lingford would
have deserted wife MS that woman whs
deserted, and, having founl her again, and
young child with her, would have spirit
ed both away, us they were spirited
away?"
"What do you make of it them"
"Why, Mr.. Walhngford might have been
rash and Aild in his younger days, before
he came hcre-aud he probably WIS. That
accounts for it al"
But about this property-what must
do-what steps must take to obttin pos
session Of it.?
"You have only to sign this paper and
tho one lying on the table. The last gives
ME one hundred thousand dollars, ii. mo-
ment you take possession
Eugene looked up in "stonishment.
He was thinking fast. Here was indeed,
a motive for the attorney.
"But, after ALL" he thought. "Mr.
Gray is right, and am misjudsiug him.
He simply Secs chance for u large fee,
and l don't blame hin, for taking adj
vantage Of it. Besides, ] will have enough
without it,.
eff you think that a large fee" said the
attorney, blan ", "You have only to re-
member that but for me, you would never
have possessed Il single dollar Ut this
property. Will you sign now? -
Eugenc took the prolftrcd pen in his
hand and drew nearer to the papers on the
table,
AS he did so, door leading to the main
Office iu front, opened, and tho office boy
entered, bearing IL printed card in his hand.
The attorney grew white as death, US he
read the hume on the card. He turned to
Eugene, almost iiercely ard caught hold Of
his arm.
Never mind that now" he said speak
ing very rapidly, "You Gun sign those papers
tomorrow; OF stny, will call at your
house tonight I want the office cleared
now. Don't come here again, and don't
pay word in relation to this matter until
| SEE you at your own house. Go now"
In his excitement, the attorney had
dropped the card OH the table, and Eugene
carcessiy put his hand out to take it.
Gray snatched it rudeIy away, and put
it into niG pocket.
"Never ,oach a thing You see On that
table Or in this rooh" he said, angrlly,
md then, seeing that the young man was
.,.lcnIcd he put out his ilnl to- him, still
III II terrible haste, and lntde smiling
oiogy, as he oi'cIcd the door for him
/" so oat.
AS he stepped on the landing, and be-
fore the dor closed behind him, he saw q
nIan Of his own age, walk through the
middle door and seat himself in the very
chair he had lately occupied
81 wonder who that man is, and why
Gray kept him there so secretly until
[ WAS outi Eurcnc thourht, as he