Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1885-08-12
BY ALFRED CRAYON.

At the time of the incident | am
about to relate [ was q young solicit
or, with no very considerable practice,
and therefore not always SO discreet
as | might have been had | been able
to pick and choose my clients. My
business hours were ostensibly from 10
to 5; but the fact OF my house stGioin-
ing the office made me SubotrVlenC to
the wishes of the public beyond the
time stated on the brass plate at my
Office door. In fact it was generally
after business hours that my most
profitable clients came; and although
[ can say | refused many times the
agency OF some shady business, still [
must confess with regret that once or
twice | found myself unwittingly in
volved in transactions which would
have much rather left alone. One of
these have occasion to remember too
well, and | can never think Of it but
thank Providence for saving me from
becoming an accomplice unWittingly
IN most audacious piece of impos-
ture.
I was interrupted one night at tea
by the servant entering and saying
that a lady wished to see me. Hast
lily finishing the meal [ hurried into
my business room. As [ entered and
bowed a lady rose, made a slight cour
tesy and remained standing [ begged
her to be seated and asked of what
service [ could be to her. 1t was
little time before she answered and
then it was in a nervous, frightened
way, glancing round the room as if she
were afraid somebody else were pres
ent. I saw that, although she was
dressed in good style, she had not the
air of II lady; but as she wore a thick
veil, [ could not distinguish her feat
ures, though [ made out a gray hair
he1e and there.
"Isuppose [ had better explain who
| am and what l want" she began.
81 am Miss Howard, of Graham
Square, and Iwant you to make out
my will
I started extraordinarily, for this elder
" person, though I had never seen
her before, had been the subject of
many q surmise and many a gossip
with the neighbors She was reported
to be very wealthy; but had apparent
~ abandoned the world, for, during
the last five years, she had shut her
self up in her house, seeing no one but
her servants. My curiosity was,
therefore, piqued at the idea OF max
ing out the old eccentric's will. TAX
ing up a pen, asked her to give
me the particulars Of how she wished
her property disposed Of.
"That is very simple" she said. IT
wish my whole property to 60 to Mr..
David Simpson, of Stafford Street,
here. / have never been married; and
| want the will framed so as to cut off
any Eeir who might claim relationship
to me. | also wish you to act as my
executor in seeing my will carried into
effect"
[ made a note of the instructions,
and asked when it would be conven-
lent for her to call and sign the deed.
III you could have it written out
by tomorrow night, could call then
and sign it. would keifyou could ar
range to have a doctor present to be
a witness to my signing young doc
tor, if possible"
Certainly, madam. Tomorrow
night at this time will suit, and [ will
arrange about a doctor being present.
as (DCIS HULL SISO JOu W1S1
toned in the will ?"
''No; nothing she said, rising.
''But be sure you make it so as to cut
of all relations"
I assured her everything would be as
she desired; and after assisting her in
to the cab which was waiting, noticing
the while that she had a slight limp in
her walk, retired to my study to
frame the will in accordance with my
Instructions Next night, punctual to
a minute, she called; and as [ had a
doctor present, the ceremony of sign
ing was soon over, the doctor signing
as a witness along with my clerk, and
appending a certificate Of sanity, as
desired by my client;and the deed was
consigned to my safe.
The affair had almost completely
passed from my mind, when | was
startled one morning by receiving a
note from Mr. Simpson, the legatee IN
the will, informing me that Miss How
ard was dead. | Immediately pro
ceeded to the house, performed the
usual duties devolving upon a solici-
tor IN such circumstances, and made
what arrangements were necessary.
After the funeral | had a meeting with
Mr.. Simpson, and explained to him
the position of affairs-that he was
sole legatee and that I was executor.
He seemed to take the matter very
coolly, thought, but was anxious
that everything should be realized as
soon as possible. Our interview was
very short; and came away with a
strong feeling of dislike for the man,