The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1876-08-03

house as usual. 1 stayed there unit
eleven O'Clock and then took my leave
[ was accustomed to return home by th
garden at the back of the house, as
saved something in distance by so doing
On the night 1 refer to, was about
dozen yards from the back gate whel
two men started up from behind SOM
bushes, and seized hold of me. Befor
| bad time to defend my self, one o
them struck me violent blow on tn
nead which knocked me down senseless
When L recovered it was daylight, and
must have been there ail night. fount
10Y hands and clothes covered will
blood, and my knife which I carried fo
self-defense abstracted from my pocket
L had scarcely risen to my feet when
was seized and accused OF having muir
dered Mr.. Milford"
"But how about the watch ant
purse 2"
" L assure you no one was more sur
prised than myself when they wer,
taken from my pocket"
Chow long time had you parted
with Mr.. Milford when you were assail
ed in the garden2"
"Mr. Milford usually retired at ter
o'clock, lea ing Miss Milford and my
self up together"
After little more conversation witt
the prisoner, withdrew, not very vel
satisfied with the result of my visit. Il
is true it served to confirm me in the
opinion l had formed of Warnings limo
cence, but was no nearer discoverine
the truth than before.
My next proceeding was to make O
strict examination of the premises lately
occupied by Mr.. Milford, and especially y
the spot where MIR. Milford had been as
sailed. The house afforded us no clew,
but the garden convinced me that the
disorder there had been made after the
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 and roots, and
the shrubbery was broken too system
atically not to set this point at rest to
the eye Of the detective.
J. discovered that the most minute
search had been made for Mr.. Milford 8
body, but without any success. After
making these investigations, returned
to New York, and really saw but little
hope OF being able to unravel the mys-
terry.
Three weeks passed away, and 1 had
not discovered one single link in the
chain l was seeking to find. One day
Miss Milford called on mo again. In a
'ew words 1 told hor, that up to the
present time my researches had all been
She looked disappointed.
"Have you heard" she said, "that
ny uncle, MIR. Oliver Milford, is occupy.
ng Linden Manor House9"
Your uncle occupying Linden
Manor House!' !'I exclaimed, in a tone
If great surprise.
eyes, he appeared there two weeks
lgo, and claimed all my fathers prop
srty by virtue of a will which he ex-
libited, and by which he was made sole
leir to all my fathers estates"
care you sure that tho will is gen
line oneP, l asked, ray of hope enter
ng my-mind.
"There can be no doubt that it was
igned by my father" she replied.
"But who is this uncle of yours I
lever heard you mention him before"
had almost forgotten his existence,
or the fact is, my father and he were not
N good terms together, and his name
vas scarcely ever mentioned.
" Are you left nothing in this will"
Nothing"
I" Is it not very strange, Miss Milford,
hat your father should have left your
lncle all his property" ?"
1t is, indeed, very strange" replied
he young LADY, "They have never
poken to each other for years. Ny
ather could never bear to hear the name
1 his brother Oliver mentioned, and
7henever he did speak of him, which
have before said was seldom, he al
'ays spoke OF him as bad hearted
IAN.
And yet you say the signature to the
'ill was in your fathers handwritinga"
Ie7, sir, am perfectly satisfied of
:; SO much so, that when some of my
lends advised me TO contest the validity
the will, being firmly convinced that
~ father really did sign it, refused
lost positively. l care nothing about
" fathers wealth, and it is not to re-
ain this that l ask your assistance, sir
y simple wish is to obtain Mr.. Henry
Taring's release.
HAS the will been proved :" 1 asked.
"Oh, yes, she replied, "my uncle
as taken full possession"
"And what have you been doing
nee 7" l asked. more out of curiosity
ian anything else.
81 have obtained some music pupils,
I'd am doing very we'll, as 1 before
id. l have no concern about myself"
" Have you any letter or document
ith your fathers signature attached to
" L have a number at home" she re.
led "by-the bye, 1 think 1 have a
tier of his with me now, written to me
me six years ago, when he was in AL
my"
SO saying she took from her reticule
% letter in question, and handed it to
"Will you allow me to retain posses
on of this 2" l asked.
Certainly" she replied "but !
n assure you that if you suppose the
i'll to be forgery you are mistaken.
he will is undoubtedly genuine"
" Well, my dear young lady," I re-
rned, &C. do not doubt your word, but |
'u may be mistaken. At all events 1 |
lould like to judge for myself"
l then bade her good morning, and |
,pressed wish to see her again that
" week. When she had gone, 1 i'm
ediately put on my hat and coat, and
rected my steps to the recorders Of
,e, for the purpose of examining the
i'll. Aided by the index 1 found it |
adily, and commenced to read every |
ord of IT,