Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1876-05-26

A feeble, inarticulate moan was the onl
reply.
"The lawyer is here,' repeated Mrs
Brewer, loudly, but still gently.
"Oh, ah--well. have little time left.
The voice was peculiar, and it affected
me singularly. It seemed to come iron
an automaton.
Let him begin"
took my pen and wrote as the voic
| dictated. The terms were brief and com
prehensive. 1t bequeathed handsom
legacy to his daughter, Agnes Brow er
The remainder of his property was to b.
held in trust by his wife for their onl.
living son, Edward Curtis Brewer.
Mr.. Brewer expressed his satisfaction
The necessary witnesses were called in;
grim, darl1-loolzing man, whom the lady
called BROTHER" and the servant. He
brother took the paper to the bedside fol
the invalid's signature, and brought il
back after he had added his own.
This done, was courteously allowed tt
depart.
went back to my Office and thought
over the whole matter. 1t interested me
greatly. A vague apprehension seized me-
feared it was not all right. What un.
derhand maneuvering suspected hardly
know. Probably my suspicious did not &c
beyond the belief that undue influence had
been used upon Judge Brewer.
There was something doubtful about
that beautiful mountaineering sinister
about her grim brother. The remem-
brance of those pale, cadaverous hands
almost made me shudder.
I could not keep the subject out of my
mind for the rest of the day. 1 went to
bed early, trying to convince myself that
L was nervous. But, in shutting my eyes
1 could not shut out those white, awful
hands, those skeleton fingers. They were
with me all night in my fevered dreams
and restless waking moments and they
only disappeared with the pleasant light of
morning.
"Sudden DEATH" said the clerk, lacon-
ically.
"Whose?"
"Judge Brower's."
My exclamation of surprise made him
start.
elbow was it?''
"Well, he's been ailing long"
eyes, yes !" [ said.impatiently.
"They thought he might live for weeks
yet, but last night he died, while bis wife
sat at his bedside"
I went out on the piazza after breakfast,
where one or two boarders were still dis
cussing the subject:
cha !! Here's King Solomon now p ex-
claimed one of the gentlemen. "What
happened up to your house last night?'
''For shame, Draper said one, 'the
creature has some feeling"
Thefgure indicated shuffled up the steps,
A strange, uncouth being. with matted
hair and beard, and face like tomb
stone. A crowd gathered for sport.
whats the news, sire?" said one,
laughing.
He stared about vacantly, and then
burst into childish laugh. A transitory
CLEAN of intelligence came into the strange
face.
s'Man in black-he -write-write
much"
Catching my eye he uttered series of
chuckling laughs, between which he inter
posed the ''write,'' looking me steadily in
the eye continually.
Suddenly he raised his hand; it was white
and Obact1v 1ookinr and rooalJod III, c,>oo
tres of my dreams, and waved it.
At this moment an individual made his
way through the crowd, and laid his hand
Oh King Solomon's shoulder.
"Beg your pardon, gentlemen" and
walked the King quietly away.
"Who is that poor fellow?" [ inquired
of a gentleman, as the knot of idlers dis
persed.
ga half crazy creature, relative Of the
Brewers. He studied law in the same
office with the Judge, and it was thought
he had ability that would make him distin-
guished; but, between rum and opium, he
lost his reason"
Us he always so incapable?"
"Oh, no; a little coffee will make him
quite man again for while.''
The gentleman walked away, and I went
to my Office in deep thought; but having
no callers, walked oversto Squire Buck
runs office. He was in, and received me
benignly.
GA sad thing, this sudden death ~ I
said.
Every, indeed! It'seems as only yester-
day when he sat in the very chair where
you are now sitting, and read over his will
to me and left it in my care"
''You made his will?'' [ echoed.
Certainly !" and the squire stared in
surprise.
"How do you know there is not another
of later date?"
elbow do [ know?" repeated the old
gentleman, testify. because, early in his
sickness he told me had not made another,
and have the document safe in my desk
here, and shall produce it at the proper
time"
Now I had no idea of making my debut
in the profession as the upholder Of a
fraud. So related the particulars of my
visit to the Brewer residence After my
story, he went to his desk, and took will
from secret drawer.
'Is the handwriting of the signature to
the document which you drew up just the
same as that?"
[ examined it a moment.
cit resembles it.''
Squire Buckrum went with me into my
office, and we compared the two papers to-
gether. There was great similarity be-
tween the two signatures, but there were
obvious differences.
''lt's perplexing business, said Squire
Buckrum. "Tell me your story again