The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1879-06-06
Select Story.
AN UNEXPECTED WITNESS.

l nau never seen my little client. lie was
off to boarding school when his mother died
and they buried her the next day without
sending for little Charley, who was too
young, perhaps they thought, to appreciate
his loss.
This was the way little Charley came to
be my client After his mothers DEATH
will was produced, leaving all ber handsome
fortune to Mr.. Bryson, her second "beloved
husband little Charley's stepfather.
When the will was offered for probate, it
became necessary to appoint some one to
protect the rights of little Charley, and to
this post-that of guardian ad Item, the
lawyers call it-too often regarded as one of
mere form, was duly assigned
1t would have afforded me great pleasure
to break that will, for I had much less con-
fidence in the austere Mr.. Bryson than his
confding little wife had, who had trusted
him with everything, her little boys future
included. For myself, l thought there was
far too much goodness in his face to leave
any for his heart.
But what could l do? The will was in
legal form. DR.. Dolus, who had attended
the lady on her deathbed, had drawn i. up
and witnessed it, and was ready to swear to
everything necessary to make it valid. The
other witness, Sandy Mcbride, an old Scotch
domestic, staunchly loyal to his mistress,
died and was buried the very day before the
case was to come on. The weather was
warm, and DR.. Dolus advised a speedy in.
terment.
With Sandy died all my hopes. He was
a truthful honest fellow, and whatever facts
| he knew | was certain he would tell. But
now his voice was silenced, and all the other
side had to do was to prove his death and
handwriting"
That night before the proofs were taken |
sat up late and went to bed troubled. | fell
asleep at last, and was dreaming OF Mr..
Murdstone and David Copperfield, when a
loud rappng awoke me. Itwas Dick Seton,
ent, who had a habit of calling all sorts of
hours.
'Beg pardon" said Dick, "but I've some
thing strange to tell you"
thought it might have kept till morning
but bade him proceed
"My friend, Mol Pellet, and /, )" he went
on, "have long wanted subject to dissect.
So we hired Paddy Burke for ten dollars and
a jug of whisky, with another jug couting-
ent, to dig up and bring to us to.night the
body of Sandy Mcbride, who was buried to-
day."
"YOu'll all get into scrape," said |.
Chats point on which promised Pat
to consult you," Dick replied; "but my
story first"
"Nol and | were sitting, by turns whet
ting our scalpels and looking over the pic
lures in Gray's Anatomy, when we heard
Pats signal
"Nol let him in His face was deathy
pale. Quickly dumping a heavy sack from
his shoulder
"'Bedad olive got him ? he exclaimed
but wudnt do the job again for twoice tn,
pay =
go What's the matter I? Mol asked,
"Aither tuck him up, yes see, said Pa
he was civil enough for whole; bu
I'm blissed if the spslpeen hasn't beel
kickin' me in the back for the last hal
moile.'
"'Nonsense IA mere fancy-a prejudic
of race said l, as we turned the body on
of the sack, laid it on the table and took u
our instruments.
"Great heavenl-what's this p exclaime
Mol, starting back. The mans alive p
"And sure enough Poor Sandy, after
few conyulsiye movements, rose to a sittin
J posture, and rubbing his eyes looked con
fusedly about.
"'Oh, murdher murdher screamed Pa
Sure the rogue II turn states evidence o
us, an play the mischief wild us all for di.
turbin' his atarnal rest And by the way
that's the point on which promised to COL
, suit you.
It "In short, and to be serious" Dick cor
. tinued. "Sandy Mcbride the want of whol
as witness heard you so greatly regre
ting to-day, is now alive and at your seryic
He tells queer story about old Dolus gi
ing him something to cure the headach
? and his knowing nothing afterwards.
more than half suspect the old quack
foul play, To poison outright wou