The Brookhaven ledger. (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1881-04-28
seated next 10 tie column" he whis

ted, and saw . Face whose striking
resemblance Yhone l had seen be
fore caused me to start with sur
lprisc.
oWho is itSn | asked.
"Etheridge Parsons was the
reply,
'The nephewY
Yes"
"Does he resemble his uncle?"
was ON point Of lnquiring, but when
the stranger drew the glove from the
right hand and / saw the first joint
Of the middle finger was gone, o
circumstance which for a sufficient
reason absorbed my attention.
"Do you know the exact date O
Mr. Parsons death?' / asked, when
we had gained the street at the
close Of the performance.
"yeg saS s(sc0rge, 1T was the
22nd oVaagJecep1bef. His ,faugStei
received a telegram from her cousin
announcing the fact the same day
But why do you ask?"
81 have a reason which may OF
may not prove good one" | had
business engagements the next day.
| parted with my friend, promising
to meet him on the following even
ing
Next afternoon found me at the
house of Mr.. Parsons.
"Mr. Parsons, ] presumey' were
the words with which / accosted the
gentleman | had seen at the theatre
eyes, Sir
You may not remember me, but
we have met before"
Il bee your pardon for not rccol-
lectlng the OCCASION"
"You were in Southampton last
winter, were YOU noty'
Il was" he replied somewhat en-
barrassed.
IL am the solicitor on whom you
called to make draft of the will"
He turned pale and made no re-
ply.
81 saw n record of that will at
DR.. Cammon's this morning." | re
sumcd, ''and-"
"You speak Of my uncle's will"
he hastily interrupted.
"And yet it was yours when you
applied to have it written. You
represented yourself desirous of ex-
ecuting such q document, prepara-
tory to embarking on voyage
The paper was drawn in accordance
with your instructions, leaving the
date to be filled in at the time of
signing, Your locks were gray then,
you certainly looked old enough to
have 4 marriageabIe daughter; but
your disguise was not perfect, ant
| pointed to the mutllatcd finger.
"What do you mean?' he shouted.
"Simply that your uncle's sigma
turc to that will is forgery |
answered, rising. "Iour own tele-
gram to that effect is in existence.
1t was the day before Christmas
that you called on me TO prepare the
document now on record as his will.
The inference is plain, you under
took to manufacture this document
after your uncle's death, and wish
ing to clothe your yillainy in legal
form, you procured from me the
draft. You, or one at your instlg
nation, simulated the signature of
the deceased. The witnesses, who
have perjured themselves in their
depositions, were procured in some
manner best known to yourself
Enough, sir" he calculated,
placing his back against the door,
'you have shown yourself to be in
possession of secrets, the custody of
which proves dangerous"
Il am not unprepared for your
threats" l replied. 'In the first
place | did not come here unarmed; !;
in the next, | have prepared full
written statement of the facts to
which l have alluded, with informa
ton, besides, of my present visit to
yourself. This paper will be de
liyered to the friends to whom it is
directed, unless, within an hour, |
reclaim it from the messenger"
His face grew livid. His frame
trembled with mingled fear and
rage, and his eye cleaned like that
of q wild beast at bay.
"What is your purpose?" he said,
in a voice hoarse with suppressed
passion.
"To keep the secret while you
live" ! answered, ''on one condi-
tion."
"Name 1T"
"That You will write instantly to
Julia Parsons, renouncing all pre-
tensions to her hand, and absolutely
Withdrawing your proposal of mar
riage."
After q moments pause he penned
brief note. which he submitted
',y inspection.
-, SO good as to seal and ad-
''Be said,
ress it,
He did so. hat it is delivered, II
81 will see ~elf out.
lid, bowling my, gorge the next
When ! met = '>et, look had
gening his old coll>. news to
ome back. He had gre :. take