The Weston Democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1875-current, 1876-08-14

are tho simple facts OF the case On the
night in question I visited Miliord's
house as usual. I stayed there until
eleven o'clock and then took my leave.
l was accustomed to return home by the
garden at the back OF tho house, rs |
saved something in distance by so doing.
On the night I refer to, I was about o
dozen yards from the back gate when
two men started up from behind some
hushcs, and seized bold Of me. Before
l hal time TO defend myself, ono o.
them struck me- n violent blow on the
head which knocked me down seaseless.
When recovered it was daylight, and
must have been there all night. found
my hands and clothes covered with
blood, and my knife which carried for
sel..defonse abstractcd from my pocket.
l had scarcely risen to my feet when
was seized and accused OF having mur-
dered Mr.. Milford"
"But how about the watch aud
pursei"
Il assure you no one was more sur
prised than myself when they were
taken from my pocket"
"How long q time had you parted
with Mr.. Milford when you were assail-
ed in the gardenl"
"Mr. Milford usually retired at ten
o'clock, lea ing Miss Milford and my
selt'hp together"
After little moro conversation with
the prisoner, withdrew, not very we'll
satisfied with the result OF my visit. II
is true it served to confirm me in the
opinion l had formed Of Warnings inno-
cence, but was no nearer discovering
the truth than before.
My next proceeding was to make a
strict examination Of the premises lately
occupied by Mr.. Milford, and especially
the spot where Mr.. Milford had been as
sailed. The house afforded us no clew,
but the garden convinced me that the
disorder there had been made after tho
young man had been struck, and that il
was not occasioned by any real struggle
That had taken place, bat to induce the
belief that such struggle had occurred.
There was too much regularity in the
uprooting OF the flowers aud roots, and
tho shru6bery was broken too System
atically not to set this point at rest to
the eyo Of the detective.
1 discovered that the most minute
search had been made for Mr.. Miltord's
body, but without any success. After
making these Investigations, l returned
to New York, and really saw but little
hope Of being able to unravel the mys-
terry.
Three weeks passed away, and I had
not discovered one single link in the
chain l was seeking to find. One day
Miss Milford called Oh me again. In u
few words l told her, that up to the
present time my researches Ind all been
lruiilcss. She looked disappointed.
"Hnve you heard" "she said, "that
my uncle, Mr.. Oliver Milford, is occupy
ing Linden Manor HOusel"
"Your uncle occupying Linden
Manor House!"1 I exclaimed, in tone
OF great surprise.
"Yes, he appeared there two weeks
ago, and claimed all my fathers prop
erty by virtue Of q will which he eI.
hiGited, aud by which he was made sole
heir to all my fathers estates"
"Are you sure TINT the will is q gen
nine onei" asked, ray OF hope cnter-
ing my mind.
"There can be no doubt that it was
signed by my father" she replied.
"But who is this uncle Of yours7 I
never heard you mention him before"
az Ind almost forgotten his existence,
iorthe fact is, my father and he were not
on good terms together, and his name
was scarcely ever mentioned"
"Are ycu lef. nothing in this willT
Nothing"
"Is it uot very strange, Miss Milford.
that your father should have left your
uncle oil his propertyi"
"lt is, indeed, very strange" replied
the young lady. "They have never
spoken to each other for years. Ny
father could never bear to hear the name
of his brother Oliver mentioned, and
whenever lie did speak OF him, which
I haYc bef,rs sail WAS seldom, he al.
ways spoke OF him MS bad hearted
man"
"Aud yet you say the signature to the
will was in your fathers handwritingl"
"Yes, sir, atn perfectly satisfied Of
It; 80 much SO, that When som0 OF ny
friends advised me to contest the vulidity
Of the will, bcirg firmly convinced that
my father really did sigr it, | refused
most positively. I care nothing nbout
my fathers wealth, md it is not to re.
gain this tllnt nSk your assistance, fir ;
my simple wish is to sbtuiu Mr.. Henry
Warnings release.
"IIas the will been provcdl" I asked.
"Oh, yes she replied, "my uncle
has taken full possession"
"And what have you been doing
since /" asked. moro out Of curiosity
than anything else.
81 have obtained some music pupils,
AID mi doing very well rs before
suil. have no concern about myself. "
"lIpve you any letter or document
with your lOther's signature attached to
itl"
AZ have rumbcr at home," she re-
piled "hy.thebyc, I think l have q
letter OF his with me now, written to me
some six years ago, wheu he was i'll AL
hany."
s. saying she took ircm her reticule
tho letter in question, and handed it to
mU.
evil you allow mo to retain posses
sion Of this I" l asked.
CERTAINLY" she replied; "but !
can assure you that il you suppose the
will to be n forgery you are mistaken
The will is undoubtedly genuine"
"Well, my dear young lady" l re,
snrnCl, IL DO not doubt your word, bu!
YOU may bo mistaken. At all events ]
shonld like to indigo for myself" "