The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1875-08-11

without her knowledge, the children were
changed. The heir to the Wallingford es-
tate is alive and well to-day"
Gray watched the mans face very
closely, while making this explanation, and
was pleased to see that he understood him.
"You can remember all that distinetlys
II it is necessary, suppose" he said, de-
string to have the matter perfectly ar
ranged. -,
eyes, but it's an extra job, and I will
want more pay for it." :,
"You shall have it, my good man, II al
comes out as DESIRE" 50
"But who is this other covey ?" demand
ed Ames. els he o snoozer what will
come DOWN." ssss..
"Never mind him." was the reply, "you
must look to me for your pay"
By this time the plotters had reached! !!
Gray's Office. Z! ~. a.
81 "f want you to be certain that tEiis is,thss
person yaas asR Rastae @ l ssA shsa
might have leaked ontt. you pew and
, some other man taken adgant6ge. or it,
The fact that he came hsyeaEa laborerS
and declined making himself known,s,
strengthens this suspicion. Can you see
without light ?" he askeds as they stood
inside the door. .fsgT4 -,
eyes," was the reply, Fl would know his
cursed face anywhere. I tackled him for
money once, on the score Of old acquaint-
ance, and whenI was little rough. he
turned me over to cop. d-n him u" u.
As the men advanced into the room,
they saw thatthe rough table where the
body had been left, was vacant. .e@
Their exclamations Of surprise and rage
were heard by the listeners below, but the
attorneys nervous examination OF the
papers in the room, Of course, escaped
their attention.
"The body was taken by no ordinary
thieves" he said, "for not thing in the
room was molested by them.
The search at once instituted, availed
nothing, although large number Of people,
aroused by the noises and lights about
the Office, assisted.
Chow was the loss discovered at this
time of nightp'. asked one Of the group,
which assembled about the Office, after the
search had been abandoned,
&C. missed some papers, said the at
torney," and came back to look for them.
This matter has been great Inconvenience
to me-" he added, and although simi.
lar case might never occur again, l shall
secure an Office on the first floor at once"
Glad Of any pretext to abandon the
rooms with which such terrible associations
were now connected, Gray seized upon this
plea with avidity.
II don't blame yon for wanting to
move," said one Of the villagers, nervously.
elf it were me, I should never want to
enter the room again"
cit is foolish, admit" rejoined the at
torney," but partake Of the same feeling,
and shall lose no time in removing.
Among all the theories advanced re-
garding the disappearance Of the body, 1t
would have been strange, indeed, if no one
had guessed Alright, and no sooner was the
idea Of the case presented, than it was &C
cepted by all.
"What doctor in this vicinity is bold
enough to attempt such q thing asked
Ames, anxious to help this theory along,
"There is not one," replied one of the
crowd. cit was without doubt done for
some city college"
"True enough" said another, "and it is
probable that we will never know what be-
came of the body"
"No so,' said the attorney, recalling
the peculiar circumstances attending my
friends death, after leaving the office, l
had fully decided to insist on a post mortern
examination in the morning, and l shall
now use every means in my power to dis
cover the perpetrators Of this outrage, and
have them brought to justice"
The attorney spoke falsely, but ne BE-
lieved that this story would strengthen his
position with the villagers.
1t was very late, and the gathering slowly
dispersed. As the attorney locked his
door, for the second time that night, he re-
,nembered that in the excitement, he
had neglected to keep his appointment
with Eugene.
"I must await his visit here in the
morning." he said, and went to the hotel.
"Let me see where I am" he muttered,
after reaching the room assigned him.
.' Eugene is certain Of gaining the pro-
perty now that his only rival is out of the
way" He shuddered at the thought Ct
how the second claimant had been silenced.
"Even if this mill hand circulated his story,
Ames' testimony will put matters to
rights That estimable wife Of his must be
won over to our side, Of course. I oughtto
have instructed A1nes regarding his course
with her, but ian attend to that after
breakfast. So, at last he continued,
rubbing his hands exultingly, my way Is
clear, but must double up on the fee am
to get from my wesk-minded client"
~ nr coNr,Nrrn