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

CHAPTER *.
THE ATTORNEY MEETS AN Old AcouArNT-
When the attorney, rendered desperate
ty the movements of the man who was
following him, turned about to let him
come up, he had not long to wait.
"You did well to wait, Lawyer Gray"
rnid the man gruhy, as he stopped at the
attorney side, "I want to sec YOU
."rhcn you should have called at my
office, during business hours" was the
reply.
ii don know about that Office O yourn,"
said the man with a laugh, "folks fall
down stairs there sometimes"
"Wcli, sir, what then ?" demanded the
attorney, drawing q step nearer, to get q
good view of the mans face.
"Nothin'." was the reply, only seen
that man fall to-nght.'
"And made no effort to save him z"
alt wouldn't a. done him no good IL
had"
"What do you nean?"
The terrible suspicion that his secret
was in the possession Of this man, was
working in the attorneys brain, and he re-
tanned his composure only with great
effort.
"I mcan," said the fellow, "that I
could ~ saved that mans life, only by
bein' ut the head O them stairs, and on
the tother side O. that door!'
"Your object, probably, is to frighten me
into giving you money, with this remark
l. ho
are mistaken in your man! It is unfor-
innate that the accident occurred at my
tHice, but that is all; / am not to blame"
you can't dose me with such chat as
that" said the other, insultingly. /
watched the young chap when he went to
your Office. I was in the hall when you
yrappled him, an if you had opened the
door second sooner, when you set him up
like n mummy in tho hall, you'd a. seen
this chicken"
"What right, what business have you to
sneak and listen around my door?" de-
manded the attorney, and place your own
construction on what you cannot under
stand ?"
"Ikuowed that chap, Lawyer Gray, and
I knowed why he came to this here vii
lage," was the reply. "I hated him
because he sent me to prison once, and
was dogging him, thut's ALL
"You knew him, then 20
"Ever since he WIS q baby"
"Where was he born2"
"See here, mister" said the fellow,
shrewdly, if tell you what you want ter
know about that man, and keep my clapper
mum, how much will YOU give me"
"You can do me no harm by telling any.
thing you choose, although it would be un.
pleasant to have such rumors started"
said the attorney, +" but will give you two
hundred dollars for certain information
about that man."
"More." said the stranger.
During this conversation, the attorney
had been examining the features Of the
man before him, and mentally, comparing
them with description in his note book,
which the reader will remember. When
he spoke again. he was satisfied that his
suspicious were correct.
"Well, Mr.. Jacob Ames," he said, "how
much mo.or'
The man started.
"You know mo then," he replied. "Well,
want Just cool thousand.'
care you in your right senses ?"
"More so than you, when you killed"
"Hush!" Enid Gray. "For heavens
sake don't speak so loud. Will you take
FIVE hundred dollars2"
"No."
"You are obstinate, but the information
you have, may be worth the sum you de-
mand. will give you half now, and the
balance in the morning, but you ore never
to approach me on this subject again. You
understand"
Ames consented to the proposition.
"Now, tell me where this man was
born" said Gray, after handing him roll
of bills.
"In this village"
"Whcn p
"Twenty-four years ago, come Decem.
Ler''
"In what house ?"
"Mr. Wallin.ford's."
ellis name, then was"
"Roland Z. Wallingford."
"The mill-owner's son 2'
"No; his nephew"
"But George Wallingford never mar
ricd!"
"His marriage WAS never made public"
care you certain that you have made
no mistaken"
"Yes"
al want you to 60 back to my Office, and
look at the body with me. Will you goP"
eyes"
"Tell ME what you know about this
mans lmother," said Gray as they walked
along together.
"She is dead
elbow long since ?"
"About q year."
"Well, 60 on"
Il knew them both in Boston. They
lived near me, and when I learned who
they were, I made it my business to keep
track Of them. Mr.. Wallingford supplied
them with money until little while ago."
CATER all,' thought Gray, "the blow
was q lucky one. The fellow would have
made trouble. Now, the way is clear for
the man who will divide with me. But he
must never know how near he came to los
ing the fortune"
"You have been mistaken all the way
through" said the ready attorney, address.
ing his companion. "The child born in
Wallingford House, twenty-four years ago,
still lives, and in this village. Mr. WALL
ingford knew the child would be his heir,
and he wanted him under his eye. A wo-
man of the same name-the wife OF the
assistant superintendent in the mills-gave
birth to male child the Same night, and