Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1876-08-30

turned, !" do not doubt your word,
but you may be mistaken. At all
events I should like to Judge for N.Y.
SELF
[ then bade her good morning, and
expressed wish to see her again that
day week. When she had gone, I inn
mediately put on my. hat and coat, and
directed my steps to the recorders Of
fee, for the purpose of examining the
will. Aided by the index I found it
readily, and commenced to read every
word of it. r.
At last / came to the signature.
took from my pocket the letter Miss
Milford had given me for the purpose
of comparing the signatures. There
could be no doubt whatever but the
signature was genuine; the letters were
found the same and were evidently
written by the same hand. Still there
was a marked difference between the
two. That attached to the letter was
bold and firm, while that attached to
the will was weak and tremulous. The
will was witnessed by john Dorsey.
The fact of the difference in the sig
nature Immediately aroused my sus-
picions. A persons signature rarely
differs except when the mind is in
fluenced. But then again I reflected
that time might impair a PERSONS
writing, and / compared the date of
the will with that of the letter. What
was my establishment to find that they
were both dated on the same day,
namely, January 1, 1910. I next held
up the document to the light, for the
purpose of seeing if there was water
mark on the paper. / found such was
the case, and the Connecticut Mills,
| 1S43," could be made out most dis
tinctly.
Here was will purporting to have
been signed in New York on the first
day of january, 1910, by a man who
was IL Albany on that day, and on
paper that was made three years after
ward. And yet there could be no dis
putting the tact that the signature was
genuine one. The whole truth in a
moment flashed across my mind, and |
Immediately set about unraveling the
web. went to work with good heart
| for had but little doubt Of success.
My first proceeding was to make in
quiries as to the exact date of Mr.. Mil
ford's disappearance. l discovered that
it was on the tenth day of January, and
that Oliver Milford had come to take
possession of the property on the
twenty-frst. I also made inquiries as
to the past life Of the heir of the prop
erty, aud found that in Boston, from
which city he came, he bore very
disreputable character, and that no one
would trust or believe him. I then re-
turned to l. and putting up at the
country tavern, called the landlord to
one SIDE
Mr.. Adams" said I, edo you know
any one of the name of Dorsey living
in this neighborhood %
Yes, sir; there's a Mr.. John Dor
sey who lives over the river"
What kind of man is he?"
asked. 4 s.,.....
Hes very tall, strong man." he
replied.
81 mean what kind of a character
does he bear ?"
Well, l can't say much in his favor,
SO [ would rather not say anything"
"I suppose he is not very much liked
by his neighoors ?"
" You may we'll say that. Ever since
he attacked poor Mr.. Milford so savage
ly, nobody speaks to him."
'He attacked the late Mr.. Milford,
did he?" a sag
Eyes, sir; most unprovoked assault.
It seems that Mr.. Milford offended this
man in some way, and one day there
was sale in town, and Mr.. Milford and
Dorsey both bid for the same article.
1t was knocked down to the former.
and it was after the sale that the as
sault was committed"
"Was Dorsey prosecuted for it?"
- Yes; he was imprisoned for year,
and had to pay heavy fine.
[ learned all [ wanted to know, and
changed the conversation.
I made inquiries as to the exact spot
where the witness of the will lived. I
learned that it was across the river on a
small island, the whole of which he
owned. I procured boat and rowed
across-the river was not very broad. I
then skirted along the shore till : came
to landing place. After I had pro-
ceeded a quarter Of a mile, I reached a
spot where the marks of horses hoofs
were plainly to be traced on the snow.
1t was evident that horses had embark
ed at this point on a boat or raft; and
had been conveyed to the other side at
the point from which / started.
g I made my boat fast and looked about
me- I found that the island was small
and SO thickly studded with green trees
that could see but very little in ad-
vance of me. Taking, no vever, the
horses hoofs for my guide, I came up-
on an old, dilapidated stone building
which had evidently been built long
anterior to the Revolution. It seemed
to be entirely unoccupied, for the shut
tiers were closed, and grass and weeds
grew in profusion.
I walked all around tue house, but 7
could not find living soul visible; but
I was rewarded with sight that made
the blood tingle in my veins, for it serv-
ed to substantiate my theory in respect
to clearing up the mystery; and this
sight was nothing less than the impress
sion of club foot many times repeat
ed near the front entrance of the house
thus showing conclusively that Oliver
M1lford uoo froouo,,+ x,;o:4or - N6