Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1876-11-28

"lIes the will been proved?' | asked.
"Oh, yes" she replied, "my uncle
has taken full possession"
"And what have you been doing
sinc,?" ! asked, more ont of curiosity
than anything else.
II have obtained some music pupils,
and am doing very well, as | before
said. | have no concern about ms self.
"Have you any letter or document
with your fathers signature attached TO
u?"
IL have quite a number at home,' she
replied; "by-the by. | think have a
letter of his with me now, written to me
some six years ago. when he was in
Albahy."
So saying she took from her rclicule
he letter in question. and handed it to
me.
"Wili you allow me TO retain posses
sion of ths?"
"Certaialy," she replied; but | can
assure you that il you suppose the will
TO be forgery you are mistaken. The
will is undoubtedly genuine"
well my dear young lady," | re-
turned, al do not want to doubt your
word, but you may be mistaken. At all
events | should like toJudge that for my
self"
then babe her good morning. and eX-
pressed wish to see her again that day
week. When she had gone. immedi
a,ely put oa my hat aud coat, and direc.-
ed my steps to the recorders cllicc, for
he purpose of examining the will. Aided
by the index. lound it readily. and
commenced to rad every word of it.
a, last came to the signature. !
took from my pocket lhe letter Miss
Milford had given me. Tor the purpose
OF comparing the signatures. There
could be no doubt whatever but the sig
nature was genuine; lh> letters were
iounl exactly the same. and were evil
deutly written By the same hand. Still
there was marked difference between
the two. Tia. attached 10 the letter was
bold and firm, while that attached to the
will was weak and tremulous. The will
was witnessed by John ID rsey.
The tact of the difference in the sig
natures Immediately aroused my sus
picions. a persons signature rarely
differs except when tho mind is iDnu-
enced. Bat then again | reelected that
tino might impair persons writing,
and compared the date OF the will with
that OF the letter. What was my aston
ishmenl to find that they were both
dated on the same day, namely, January
/, 1910. next held up the document TO
toe light. for the purpose OF seeiag ii
there was a water mark on the paper. /
found such was the case, aud the Cor
neclicut Mills, 1873" could be made out
most distinctly.
Here was will purporting TO have
been signed in New York on the first
day OF January, 1910, by man who was
ia Albany on that day, and on that paper
that was made three years aiterward
And yet there could be no disputing the
fac. that the signature was a genuine
one. The whole truth in a moment
dashed across my mind, and immed.-
ately set about unrayelling the web. /
went to work with good heart ior | had
but little doubt OF success.
Ny first proceeding was TO make in
quiries as TO the exact date OF MIR. Mil
ford's disappearance. 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
first. also made Inquiries as TO the
past lite Of the heir OF the property, and
found ihst in Boston, from which city he
came, he bore disreputable character,
aud that no one would trust or believe
him. then returned to L.. and putting
up at the country tavern, called the
landlord on one side.
MIR. Adams" said |. "do you know
any one OF the name OF Dorsey living in
this neighborhood ?"
"Yes. sir; there's Mr.. John Dorsey
who lives over the river"
What kind Of man is he?" asked.
"He's a very tall. strong man." he re-
piled.
Il mean what kind of character
does he bear2"
"Well, can't say much in his favor,
so would rather not say anything"
~ suppose he is not very much liked
by his neighbors ?"
"You may well say that. Ever since
he attacked poor Mr.. Milford so savagely
nobody speaks to him."
"He attacked the late Mr.. Milford, did
be-?
Yes, sir; a most unprovoked assault.
1t 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 assault was
committed"
"Was Dorsey prosecuted for ils"
"Yes, he was imprisoned for year,
nnL hnI 70 ,,au q haauu fna