Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1876-06-21
/" Let him begin"

Brewer. The remainder of his proper
ty was to be held in trust by his wife
for their only son, Edward Curtis Brow
er.
Mr.. Brewer expressed his satisfaction
with the document. The necessary
witnesses were called ina grim, dark
looking man, whom the lady called
brother" and the servant. Her broth
er took the paper to the bedside for the
invalid's signature, and brought It buck
after he had added his own.
This done was courteously allowed
to depart.
I went back to my office and thought
over the whole matter. It interested
me greatly. A vague apprehension
seized me. I feared It was not all right.
What underhand man@uvering sus-
pected / hardly know. Probably my
suspicious did not go beyond the belief
that undue influence had been used
upon Judge Brewer.
There was something doubtful about
that beautiful woman-something SIN
lister about her grim brother. The re-
membrance of those pale, cadaverous
hands almost made me snudder.
[ could not keep the subject out of
my mind the rest Of the day. I went
to bed early, trying to convince myself
that I was nervous. But, in shutting
my eyes, could not shut out those
white, awful hands, those skeleton fin
gers. 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, la
conically. 5sivf ats..s.e
| Whose?'
Judge Brewers"
My exclamation of surprise made
him start.
"How was it?''
"Well, he's been ailing long"
eyes, yes," l said impa tiently.
"They thought he might live for
weeks yet; but last night he died while
his wife sat at his bedside"
went out on the piazza after break
fast, where one or two bOarders were
still discussing the subject. ges
"Ha Here's King Solomon now p
exclaimed one of the gentlemen.
"What happened up to your house last
night ?"
"For shame, Draper" said one; the
creature has some feeling"
The figure indicated shuff1ed up the
steps. S.
A strange, uncouth being, with mat
ted hair and beard, and face like a
tombstone. A crowd gathered for sport.
"What's the news, sire?" said one,
laughing
He stared about vacantly, and then
burst into childish laugh. A transit
DRY CLEAN of intelligence came into the
| strange face isi""
"Man in black-he write-write-
write-much p
Catching my eye, he uttered series
of chuckling laughs, between which he
interposed the WRITE" looking me
steadily in the eye continually.
Suddenly be raised his hand-it was
white and CHASTITY looking, and recalled
the spectre of my dreams, sand waved
it.
At this moment an individual made
his way through the crowd and laid his
hand on King Solomon's shoulder.
Beg your pardon, gentlemen" he
said, and walked the King quietly
away.
'Who is that poor fellow7" 4 inquir-
ed of a gentleman, as the knot of idlers
dispersed.
" A half crazy creature relative
of the Brewers. He studied law in the
same Office with the Judge, and it was
thought be had ability which would
make him distinguished But between
rum and opium, be lostshls reason"
Is he always SO incapable
&c, no; aslittle coffee will make him
quite man again for q while. ~
The gentleman walked away, and I
went to my Office in deep thought; but
having no callers, walked over to
Squire Buckrum's Office. He was in,
and received me benignly.
g A sad thing, this sudden death ?" /
said. }lt&sAs I 5Aks " Al~f5flcal
Every, indeed 1t seems as only
yesterday 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" 8 aa-sqa.i .7si a
"You made his will ?" I echoed. :
" Certainly T. and the squire stared
in surprise.
:" How do you know there is not an
other Of later date?" 49,
How do I know ?" repeated the old
gentleman, testify. " Because, early in
his sickness he told me he had not
made another; and I have the docu-
ment safe In my desk here, and shall
produce it at the proper time"
Now, [ had no idea of making my de-
but 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 this the handwriting of the sigma
ture to the docum ent which you drew
up just the same as that?v s
examined it a moment. ~ -,
It resembles it" - 4t98l gu
Squire Buckrum went with to my
office and We compared the two pa pers
together. There was great similarity ]
between the two signatures, but there
We're obvious differences. W.
It's a perplexing business" said
Squire Buckrura. "Tell me YOUR