The National tribune., 1884-09-18
\ MEAN REVENGE,
A Raseally Lawyer Gets Even With
His Murderer After Death.

circumstances which have brought me to SO
lamentable a pass. l shall endeayor to write
only that which is in entire accordance with
truth, setting down the facts without prejudice
or favor; and it will then, / think be clear to
all that, whatever nay misdeeds-or, as / should
prefer to call them, my errors of Judgment
have been, / am wholly innocent of the horrl-
bic crime imputed to me.
an, or perhaps | ought to say was, gen.
tleman of independent MEANS with a strong
love for the study of chemistry. The better to
crafty this recently caused to be erected at
the rear of my house, which stands apart from
the road in its own grounds, commodious
laboratory. This had furnished with every
appliance which modern science could require,
and there it has been my custom to pass un-
disturbed, the greater part of each day.
Although of cheerful and gentle disposition,
] have never courted society-a fact which has
earned for me, most unwarrantably, be it said,
the reputation of possessing churlish and
cynical nature. My household comprises only
myself and an old man who acts in the treble
capacity of cook, chambermaid and butler; and
so simple are my habits that it would be hard
TO find, except perhaps in my own sitting and
! sleeping apartments, any article even suggest
| i've Of luxury or ease. I need only add here,
for the proper comprehension of what follows,
| that the laboratory of which have spoken is
connected by short covered passage with the
| library IN which | generally spend my even
! ings either in study or meditating some of
! those deep problems which engage my atten-
/ tion.
! am no man of business and with q view to
/ do a kindly turn to one of my fellow creatures,
! and In less degree to save myself trouble, |
/ placed my affairs few years ago in the hands
of Mr.. Sugg, a solicitor of some standing, de-
posting with him all my shares and stocks
and receiving. as it fell due, the interest ac-
cruing on each. For some time the arrange
ment worked admirably. / am the least sus-
/ picious of mortals and certainly ii would never
have occurred to me TO doubt the probity of
/ Mr.. Sugg, from whom, moreover, had exacted
/ substantial guarantee sufficient to cover the
/ value of the securities intrusted to him. Great,
accordingly, was my regret TO learn that the
confidence | had put in that gentleman was
/ wholly misplaced
The truth reached me from an old acquaint-
ance, Director of a company in which had
a considerable interest. It appeared that in
| the usual course a certificate of transfer had
been presented to him for signature. The cir
| cumstance would probably have passed unno-
ticed but for the fact that these were founders
shares, of which only a limited number ex-
listed. Prompted by curiosity, my friend made
inquiry as TO the original holders name, and
discovered to his surprise that it was mine.
| Without loss of time ne wrote, asking if had
any objection TO state my reasons for parting
with what was really first-class property,
/ replied briefly that my motives were sufii-
cient, and by the same post dispatched a note
to Mr. Sugg begging that be would call and
bring with him the stock In question. At the
moment ! was occupied with experiment
which could best be carried out in daylight.
offered this as an excuse for asking him to come
after Office hours.
Two days later he made his appearance. ]
had dined at five, somewhat earlier than usual
but Joseph, the servant, had requested leave ol
absence for an hour or two in the evening, a
demand which, with my neyer-failing consid-
erateness, had at once granted.
1t was striking seven as Mr.. Sugg knocked
at the door, which / fastened TO open in per.
son. As l preceded him to the study ex-
planned the absence of my only domestic; and
then, throwing myself into chair begged him
to be seated.
Ny solicitor was man of some so years oi
age of slight but wiry build, and in other re-
spects rather ordinary looking. TO this excep
tion must be made in favor of his eyes, which
were small, gray in color, and extraordinarily
sharp. The difficulty one had in following the
quick movements of these organs was increased
by their owners habit of wearing colored spec
tacles: TO which must be added trick of car
rying hand to his eyes as if to adjust these
glasses whenever diseoacerting question wa
put to him. By such means he was able II
conceal the expression of his face and at thu
same time to gain leisure in which to frame
suitable reply. lie had been recommended t,
me as a clever, if not yer-scrupulous lawyer
but in engaging him had reekoned on having
these qualities on my side.
In order to disarm suspicion / offered him
cigar and proceeded to chat upon indiferen
topics. When a quarter of an hour had beel
consumed in this way suddenly asked
BY the bye, Mr.. sugg, did you bring thos
shares with you.
His hand flew to his spectacles, and then
affecting surprise, he exclaimed: Bless m.
soul, how very careless ] must have left then
! on the desk. 1 had them in my hand momen
before leaving the Office"
] think l liked Mr.. Sugg at that momen
; better than / had ever done. OF course M
moral sense was deeply shocked by the false
hood he had just uttered, but his stimulation c
astonishment was so natural as to extort m
! admiration i felt that such excellent foolin
: deserved encouragement, and smiled back re
assuringly.
4The best of us viii make Slip, I sal
graciously. had almost forgotten wha
amount / hold, and was moreover, anxious t
, consult you ON the subject of realizing them.
= = BY dear SIR he rejoined, with the specia
emphasis On the word dear" affected by law
: yers on such occasions, have you seriousl
! considered the step you propose taking? Pai
with an investment that's yielding you 13 pc
! cent, and whose value increases every day !
Yes ! returned, it does seem foolish
= suppose there's not another man in Londo
: would do such thing
Mr.. Sugg let the smoke curl slowly from bs
: tween his lips, and, relapsing into profession;
smile, shook his head: g Positively, / don
think there is another who would act as 70
suggest"
For the moment was almost deceived b
his seeming sincerity. If Mr. Sugg had bee
dealing with harmless but stubborn lunat
= he could not have assumed a more pitiful al
= Even with the knowledge | possessed, I'll
feeling that in opposing this worthy gentlema
- was showing most unreasonable spirit ";
= uppern0st in my mind.
y "Well,P / answered, 81 dare say youl
, right; still, the money is of Importance to Il
just at present"
Dir. Sugg leaned back in his chair with
panied expression. Ny dear Sir" he repeate
may, il you win pardon the liberty, my de;
;, friend, pray do not allude to such thing;
>, it be only question of money shall be hapE
:, to send you check for whatever you requil
;. tomorrow morning"
- The generosity of his proposal, I admi
: touched me; nor was it until ] had reilects
- that in so doing he would merely be payir
- me out of my own capital and doubtless char
ing for the operation that succeeded in stiff
my sense of gratitude No" | replied, " W
must allow me to decline the offer; wou
al not be indebted to even you. But to ayo
ir the chance Of a sacrifice / think it will be pr
III dent in giving the broker instructions to pla
+ a limit upon the shares. Now, what Won
III you say they were worth 2"
or The business instincts Of the man were