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

the papers lying t'!erc. uo sdW WluQ
slrisiaction that they had not been molest-
ed. The time, in fact, had been too short
for any such interference on the young
luln's part, but the attorney was doubly
cautious, OH account OF tho great impor-
tancc uf the documents,
Tie iuIll hand was of medium height.
His face WIS ut once handsome and attrac-
tive, and III ease and refinement was
marked upon it which told Of far better
associations than those O. his present life.
He was attired in Il neat tress suit, which
set his muscular figure OF to good advant-
age, and looked every incn O. gentleman,
as lie sat coolly in his chalr, and waited for
the attorney to coInnc.Icc business.
"Iou have chosen IL strange hour and a
strange place for an interview; young
man." said the attorney, nouing the'hour.
by his watch, and glancing round his
My h,isipessris too important to be
: delayed, - replied the young man, Z" and
followed the boy; here, not knowing that it
was yourliving room"
8 "lndeed," said Gray, retaining his COM
posure with q great effort, What may
90 that business be 2"
"Yeu rece' we'd my card, presume
Il received a card, yes; but presumed
the boy had made a mistake"
"Thcre was no mistake about it. If you
have lost the card, will give you another"
and he placed q second one before the at
torncy.
Gray looked at it scornfully without
touching it.
"And you come here, with your mill
manners anl your holiday clothes, expect
ing to pocket this fortune, through tho
agency of dirty bit of cardboard like
thAt!'
As he spoke, the attorney brushed the
carl contrmptroUsly to the floor.
If, however, he h.:d expected TO ovcrawe
and brow-belt his visitor by such conduct,
he WIS mistaken.
He sat, rs calm as before, in his chair,
and looked the eXcit,l man square in the
face.
"Of course, have proofs to back my
clIim," he said.
"Thcp take them to another market. I
refuse to examine them
"Don't tlatter yourself, sir" said the
the mill hand, never intended to submit
them to you. 4 court Of law must decide
what they are worth.
Then why do you come TO me with this
story and that name p demanded the
attorney, growing uneasy under his visitors
steady look.
81 simply desire to see the will, which
should have been read in the house TO-
lay"
TIC attorney sprang cxcitedly to hia
feet
"l1;c will" he calculated, "no will has
been f"iuIi.'
"Mr. Ci:ly," said The other coolly, we
may ~ well understand each other now.
You took Mr W.ll!inyforls will from the
secret aperture il! the paneed leaf Of his
sccrctary.ycstrrd:y ", md you have it hidden
in this room. demand to see it or at
least to know its provisions
You lie - almost shouted the attorney,
the mysterious solnds he had heard in the
room rccurri' {; 10 his mind. 81 did take some
papers from that place, but there was no
will. You probably saw ME take them,
sir, which You mig have done from
more honorable place than secret passage,
had you carel to enter the room in the
ordinary way
You had 10 secret work to do in that
room, then?'
"Nonc whatever"
"And still, You drugged tho housckeep-
er, your only companion!"
That is false 1 gave her soothing
powder"
"Knowng that it would put her into
deep sleep" said the young man
This is foolish talk" said the attorney,
struggling with his passion. elf you have
only to remind me Of my goings out and
comings in for the last day or two, we may
as well bring this interview to IL Close
"I am willing" said the other. "I
simply came here to put you right regard
ing the question Of succession, and to tell
you that hereafter, I, ROLAND E. WALL
1NGroRD, will take charge Of the Walling-
ford estate, through my attorney, whom 1
shall telegraph for in the morning. If, as
you 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-
CHS nephew - gasped Gray.
"His nephew repeated the young mrn,
"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 unguardedly added aloud
If you are Roland E. Wallingford,
son Of George and Margaret Walling-
ford, born here twenty-four years ago,
come December, who is"
He checked himself suddenly, but too
late, for his visitor saw at once what he
would have said, had he completed the
sentence.
"Ah p he said, evincing more excite
ment 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 ?"
81 have nothing further to communicate
to you, sir" said Gray, "and expect that
you will retire at once"
Which l decline to do" replied the
young man. "Anothcr man is claiming
this property under my name," he added,
fercely, "and / won't leave this room until
I 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"
"I insist that You leave my apartment"
"And refuse
"Thcn will call an officer and have you
dragged out. Don't think that you Gun
force yourself upon me without my con-
sent. and the attorney moved toward the
door leading into the main office, tho WIN
dow Of which overlooked the street
As he lid so the young mans eyo caught
s:rht Of folded paprr lying on the table
h"forc him rnd he stepped forward to
take IT,
4 second later, the two men were strug-
Cling for the possession Of the document.
Gray would have He'd for help but his
opponents hand grlsped him tightly by
the throat. Ic seized n paper weight
living on the table, and aimed blow at
the Young mans head. Tho hand fell
heavily. hut the weapon did not reach its
mark, forthe young nan had sprung ni,nbly