Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1880-11-17

~ es, he died yesterday"
lis there any suspicion connected with
his deathf''
None at all, he has been ailing for some
time. He died of disease of the heart. A
post-mortem examination has settled that
question satisfactorily. You are aware.
perhaps, that was his lawyer, and YOU
also know the terms on which he lived
with his son. About three months ago
MIR. Norval sent for me to make his will.
As have before saId, he had been failing
in health for some time past, and did not
know how soon he might be called away
from this earthly scene.
81 drew up his will as he requested; by
its provisions Mary was made an heiress,
a small pension payable at certain intervals
beng only left to his SON This will was
properly signed and attested.s
Excuse me for interrupting you," said
/. ''but was Mr.. Charles Norval cognizant
of the provisions of his fathers willl''
'.Not that am aware of, but now you
come to mention it, l distinctly remember
at the time of witnessing it, a sudden
rustling was heard at one end of the apart
ment, and door that opened into an ad-
joining room was heard to close, but no
n)tice was taken of the circumstances at
the time
Exactly, that must have been the
young man who was listening, for l cave
reason TO know that he was aware of the
contents of his fathers will"
And then related the conversation had
overheard between Mary and Charles Nor
val.
This may be very important" said
NJ as soon as l had concluded: ''but
let me conclude what have to say. The
will L had drawn up was confded to my
Care. placed it in an en-
velope and locked 1t up in my
private desk. The moment l heard of
his death, / opened my desk and took out
the envelope in which l had placed the
will. Judge of my surprise and horror
when l found it only contained blank
sheet Of paperl"
"a blank sheet of paperl The will had
been distracted, theni'
Exactly. When made the discovery
l was completely thunderstruck- l could
neither speak nor act. l sank down into q
seat utterly prostrated both in body and
mind. After little time | somewhat re-
covered my faculties, and then began to
turn over in my mind the best course for
me to pursue under the circumstances.
Fortunately was alone"
''Do you suspect anyone"
'T don't know whom to suspect. But
from the conversation you have related to
me, it is very probable that Charles Norval
has something to do with it. But still il
is utterly impossible that he could have OBJ
tanned access to my private office and
desk"
81 have three clerks, and they all enjoy
my most implicit confidence. In the first
place none of them knew the will was
there. They have been with me many
years, and 1 cannot entertain the slight
!, est suspicion against them. Long
|, intercourse with the world has taught
me, however. to be cautious, and L deter
mined to keep my own counsel, so L have
,, not mentioned the fact to them at all.
, closed and locked my desk again, and wenI
about my business as usual
you did quite right. Did the desE
show any evidence of hiving been looked
into?"
'sNot the least in the world. Whoevel
!, entered it, must have possessed duplcat'
|, key"
s.And you have no reason to suspec
, your clerks sincef'
"No-when they entered l watched
them narrowly, but could not detect an
/, evidence of guilt in their manner. L thei
> determined that / would apply to you
= Brampton. l assure you l have eatel
: nothing since the fatal discovery. Th
!, thought that Mary Norval will be reduces
!. to penury is horrible to me-"
n leave the matter in my hands, l vii
do what can. If the will is not alread.
!. destroyed, trust shall be able to restor
v \ 70 you"
NJ took his leave, / then threw
: myself back in my easy chair and torture'
my mind for some means to discover tn
II missing will. formed half dozen diff
is ferent plans, but was at loss to know
Il which to adopt, for the case was involve
q in much difficulty. While l was thus en-
gagged, my eye fell upon copy OF tn
q New York Herald which lay on my desk
;s mechanically took it up, without, how
ever, intending to read ii. My eyes reste
~ on column of advertisements. Suddenl
they were arrested by the following, unde
, the head of Personal
"a strong will can overcome every oil
=, sacle. Eight O'Clock tonight. Love an
" Joy await youl
/ started from my chair like one berei
- of his senses. A sentiment which l ca
never explain told me that had found
clue. The mysterious advertisement seen
ed to me as plain as daylight. "a stron
uiU can overcome every obstacle" eV
=, IDENTIFY referred to the missing document
ssEight O'Clock tonight, " was the time al
pointed for rendezvous "Love and 10
~ await you," meant that the place of NEE
e ing was to be Lovejoy's hotel"
A. Twas very mucn pIeaseu with this On
n coyery, for besides my wish to oblige NJ
W. 1 really felt a great esteem for Mary Norva
!. while on the other hand knew her cousi
IN he a worthless young man. L felt pc
% fectly certain that he was at the bottom
~ the conspiracy, and that he had in a
n nrobabilIty bribeo one of Ms clerk
y / almost fancied that / had the will agai
!, in INV possession, and pictured to myse
~ Ms Joy at recovering it again frol
INV hands. My mind was immedlatei
"A made up what to do. determined that
10 10 would visit Lovejoy's hotel, and lie presel
ss at the interview, =, =,
sat and watched the clock until u
:, bour should arrive. How slowly the TN
ii =, nsssedl At last the hour pointed to 10
= / rose up. put on my overcoat, and depaI
- ed on nv Grand 1t was bitter co
I'd I'D winters night. The snow was drif'li
% @ directly in my face, but still l pressed 0
~ 7 SOON reached the hotel and entered ol
Is of the private supper rooms. These Fool
sS as every frequenier of Loveioys know
@sa @ are divided only by thin partition ire
he he each other, so that conversation carr
n on in the adjoining apartments, can
r. attentive listeners, be overheard. 1
u, i dered my supper, and while pretending
M "a, eat cat it / kept my ears open. some III
;n' nassed M and no sound reached me. Al IL
les I hoard the sound of door shutting, a
one nerson entered the room on my rig
,oA few minutes more elapsed, ana ag'
IN, sha door shut. The first person had oe
,ea % 10; ;o;ned by another. crept cautiously
H. 70 the partition and fixed my ear 70 IL. t..
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