The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1880-12-02

Norval was forbidden the house. About a
month after this occurrence business took
me to southern city, where was detain.
| ed week. The very night I retarned
to New York, received a visit from Mr..
M, the famous attorney"
"Brampton, " said he, as he entered the
| room. 81 have been here TO SEQ you q
| dozen times to-day. Thank God, you
have como home at last!''
'Why, what IL the matter, Mr.. -"
II am In great trouble, and want you
to help me out. You know Mr.. Norval, I
| believe9'
Certainly, l know him well-he is a
particular friend Of mine; out why do you
| use the past tense7"
care you aware that he Ia dead2"
"Deadl Is 1t possiblc2"
~ cs, he died yesterday"
us there any Suspicion connected with
his deathf'
"None at all, he has been aillng for some
time. He died of disease of the heart. A
post-mortem examination has settled that
question satisfactorily. You are aware,
perhaps, that l was his lawyer, and you
| also know the terms on which he lived
| with his son. About three months ago
| Mr. Norval sent for me to make his will
In health for some time past, and did not
know how soon he might be called away
from this earthly scene.
II drow up his will as he requested; by
Its provisions Mary was made an hciress,
small pension payable at certain intervals
being only left to his son. THIS will was
properly signed and attested."
"Excuse me for interrupting you," said
l.. stbut was Mr.. Charles Norval cognizant
of the provisions of his fathers will2'
''Not that am aware of, but now you
come to mention it., distinctly remember
at the time of witnessing it, 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
otice was taken of the circumstances at
the time"
''Exastly, that must have been the
young man who was listening, for l Gave
reason to know that he was aware of the
contents of his fathers will"
And l 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 had drawn up was confided to my
care. placed it in Oh en-
velope and locked 1t up in my
private desk. The moment l heard of
his death, l opened my desk and took out
the envelope In which had placed the
will. Judge Of my surprise aud horror
when l found it only contained blank
sheet of papcr!"
ga blank sheet of paper The will had
been distracted, then2'
"Exactly. When made the discovery
| was completely thundcrstruck. I could
neither speak nor act. l sank down into q
seat utterly Frustrated bpth in body and
mind. After little time I 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 anyonoY"
~ don't know whom to suspect. But
from the conversation you have related to
me, 1t Is very probable that Charles Norval
has something to do with 1t. But still 1t
is utterly impossible that he could have Oh.
tanned access to my private Office and
desk"
IL 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 mo many
years, and [ cannot entertain the slight
est suspicion against them. Long
intercourse with the world has taught
me, however, to be cautious. and l deter
miued to keep my own counsel, 80 ! have
not mentioned the fact to them at all. I
closed and locked my desk again, and went
about my business as usual
''Iou did quite right. Did the desk
show any evidence of having been looked
into2"
. tNot tho least in the world. Whoever
entered it, must have possessed duplicate
key"
your clerks since2"
''No--when they entered l watched
them narrowly, but could not detect any
evidence of guilt In their manner. I then
determined that l would apply to you,
Brampton. l assure you l have eaten
nothing since the fatal discovery. The
thought that Mary Norval will be reduced
to penury Is horrible to me-"
'Leave the matter in my hands, I will
do what can. If the will is not already
destroyed, l trust shall be able to restore
1t to YOU"
M--- took his leave, l then threw
myself back in my easy chair and tortured
my mind for some means to discover the
missing will. l formed half dozen diff.
ferent plans. but was at loss to know
which to adopt, for the case was in nvolve,i
in much difficulty. While was thus en-
gagged, my eye fell upon copy of the
New York Herald which lay on my desk.
l mechanically took it up, without, how
ever, intending to read It. My eyes rested
on column of advertisements. Suddenly
they were arrested by the following, under
the head of "Pcrsonal"-
"a strong will can overcome every Oh.
stacle. Eight o'clock tonight. Lovo and
Joy await you'll"
started from my chair like ono bereft
OF his senses. A sentiment which I can
never explain told me that l had found a
clue. The mysterious advertisement SEEM
ed to me as plain as daylight. "a strong
avtN can overcome every obstacle" evil
dently referred to the missing document.