The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1881-03-23

~ : r. - - ~t
promising to meet him on the fellow
ing evening.
Next-afternoon found me at the
house of Mr.. Parsons, the nephew.
"Mr. Parsons, ] presumed" were the
words with which / accosted the
gentleman | had seen at the theater.
ayes, sir"
"You may not remember me, Mr..
Parsons, but | believe we have met
before"
II beg your pardon for not recol-
Letting the occasion"
"You we're in Southampton last
winter, were you not?"
81 was" he replied, with some EN-.
barassment.
II am the solicitor to whom you
called to make draft Of a will"
He turned pale but made no reply.
81 saw record of that will at Doc
tors Commons this morning" | re-
Esumed, "and-"
-@You speak of my uncle's will"
he hastily interrupted.
"And yet" l continued, "you said
it was yours when you applied to
have it written. You represented
yourself DESTROYS Of executing such a
document, preparatory to embarking
on a voyage. The paper was drawn
in accordance with your instructions,
leaving the date to be filled in at the
date of signing. Your locks were
gray then, and you certainly looked
old enough to have a manageable
daughter; but your disguise was not
perfect" and pointed to the mutt.
lated finger.
"What do you mean?" he shouted
in desperate tone.
Simply that your uncle's sigma
ture to that will is forgeryw l an.
swered, rising and confronting him.
"He died on the 23d of December
Your own telegram to that effect is
/
in existence. 1t was the day before
Christmas that you called on me t.
prepare the document now on record
as his will. The inference is plain;
you undertook to manufacture this
spurious testament, after your uncle's
death, and wishing to clothe your
yilliany in legal form, you procured
from me the required draft. You, or
some one at your instigation, simu-
lated the signature of the deceased.
The witnesses, who have since per-
jured themselves in their dispositions,
were procured in some manner best
known TO yourself"
Enough, sir" he calculated, plac-
ing his back against the door; "you
have shown yourself to be in posses
sion of secrets the custody of which
prove dangerous"
81 am not unprepared for your
threats" replied. "In the first
place, l did not come here unarmed;
in the next I have prepared a full
written statement of the facts to
which | have alluded, with informa.
ton, besides, of my present visit to
yourself. This paper will be deliv-
cred to the friend to whom it is d.
rected, unless, within an hour, l re-
claim it from the messenger who has
been instructed to retain it for tina,
length of time"
His face grew livid. His frame
quivered with mingled fear and rage,
and his eye cleaned like that of a
wild beast at bay.
"What is your purpose?" he said,
in voice hoarse with suppressed
passion.
ITO keep your secret while you
live" ANSWERED, ''on' one condition"
"Name it,"
"That you write Instantly to Julia
Parsons, renouncing all pretentions
to her hand, and absolutely with.
drawing your proposal of marriage"
"After moments pause he pen
ned brief note, which he submitted
to my inspection, 1t was quite salts.
factory.
"Be SO good as to seal and address
it," said.
| He did SO.
II will see that it is delivered" |
said, taking it up and bowling nv.
self out.
When | met George Dickson next
evening, his old college look hod