The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1885-09-09
MY YELLED CLIENT.

MY YELLED CLIENT.
At the time Of the incident am abou
to relate l was young solicitor, with nc
very considerable practice, and there
fore not always so discreet as | might
have been had l been able to pick and
choose my clients. My business hours
were ostcnsibly from ten TO FIVE; but the
fact Of my house adjoining the office
made me subscrvient to the wishes oi
the public beyond the time stated on the
brass plate of my Office door. In fact,
it was generally after business hours that
nv most profitable clients came; and
though l can say l refused many time
the agency of some shady business, still
must confess with regret that once OF
twice I found myself unwittingly In
volved in transactions which l would
have much rather left alone. One OF
these l have occasion to remember toe
well, and can never think of it but
thank Providence for saving me from be
coming IN accomplice unwittingly in a
most audacious piece of imposture.
I was Interrupted one night at tea by
the servant entering and saying that a
lady wished to see me. Hastily finishing
the meal, l hurried into my business
room. AS entered and bowed, lady
rose, made slight courtesy, and re-
maincd standing. begged her to be
seated, and asked of what service could
be to her. 1t wns little time before
she answered, and then it was in a nerv-
Gus, frightened way. glancing round the
room as if she were afraid somebody else
was present. l saw that, although she
was dressed in good style, she had not
the air of lady; but as she wore q
thick vel, could not distinguish hel
" features, though I made out gray hail
3: here ana there.
81 suppose l had better explain who
am and what l want" she began. 81
am Miss Howard, of Graham square, and
I want you to make out my will"
started voluntarily, for this elderly
person, though had never seen her be-
fore, had been the subject of many sur.
mise and many a gossip with the neigh
bors. She was reported to be very
wealthy; but had apparently abandoned
the world, for, during the last FIVE years.
she had shut herself up in her house,
seeing no one but her servants. My curl.
osity was therefore piqued at the idea OF
making out this old eccentric's will.
Taking up pen. asked her to give me
the particulars of how she wished the
property disposed of.
"That is very simple" she said. 81
wish my whole property to go to Mr..
David Simpson, of Stafford street. here.
I have never been married; and want
the will framed so as to cut off any heir
who might claim relationship to me.
also wish you to act as my executor in
seeing my will carried into effect"
made q note of the instructions, and
asked when it would bc convenient for
her to call and sign the deed.
eff you could have it written out by
tomorrow night l could call then and
sign it. | would like if you could arrange
to have doctor present to be a witness
to my signing-a young doctor, if pos
sible."
;'Certainly, madam. To morrow nigh,
at this time will suit, and | will arrange
about doctor being present. Is there
nothing else you wish mentioned in the
will?"
mo; nothing" she said, rising. "But
be sure you make it so as to cut of al
relations"
Iassured her everything would be a:
she desired; and after assisting her into
the cab which was waiting, noticing the
while that she had slight limp in hel
walk, I retired to my study to frame the
will in accordance with my instructions
Next night, punc'ual to a minute, sht
called; and as l had a doctor present
the ceremony of signing was soon over
the doctor signing rs a witness along
with my clerk, and appending a certii
cate 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 l wa
startled one morning by receiving mote
from Mr.. Simpson, the legatee in th(
will, informing me that Miss Howard
was dead. l Immediately proceeded t.
the house, performed the usual duties
devo,vino upon a solicitor in such cir
cums ances. and made what arrange
ments were necessary. After the funcra
l had a meeting with Mr.. Simpson, an(
explained to him the position of affair
that lie was sole legatce, and that
was executor. lie seemed to take th'
matter very cooliy. | thought, but wa
anxious that everything should te real
lied rs soon as possible. Our interview
was very short; and came away with /
strong feeling Of dislike for the man
) who, l found. had acted Us sort of facto
for the deceased lady.
Acting within the duties of my execu
torship, and also with desire to fint
out if pos sible the relations the old lad.
had been so anxious to cut of, inserted
anoticc of her death in mos. OF the lead
ing newspapers in the kingdom. Thi
had the desired effect; f,r in the cours
of a few days was waited upon by
young gentleman, Edward Howard, wh'
informed me he was nephew of tn
late Miss Howard, and had called upol
me, having got my name and addrcs
from the Office of one Of the newspaper!
to which had sent the advertisement
During my interview with MIR. Howard
l was much impressed with his bear
ing on my telling him the position o
affairs, as he was much more concerned
at his aunt's death than at the purpos'
of her will. lie told me that five year
ago he had married against his aunt!
wishes; she had refused to recognize nj
wife: and though he had written he
several letters, he had never heard iron
her in reply. lie thanked me for my in
formation, and said he would likely se
NE again. as he was coming into lowl
to q situation he had just been offered
Some weeks after this, as / was re
turning home in the evening from con
sultation, my attention was arrested D.
the figure of Il woman in front OF me. Sh
was hurrying along as trying to escap
observation; bat there was something Il
her style and the limp which she hat
tbats,ruck me rs fam liar, though coult
not remember where | lad seen her
Just as she was passing lighted par
of the street she happened 10 loo
round, and the face saw Il
once explained to me the familiarity Q
her tisure-Loth face and figure being a
exact counterpart of my late clients
Miss Howard! Somehow or other sus
picion flashed across my mini; my IN
stinct told me something was wrong. an
determined to follow her and sec whcr
she went to. Pushing my nat we'll owe
my brow and pulling the collar of nj
coat well up, followed throug h two Q
three streets, and was almost at her heel
when she suddenly turned into publ
house, when, SO close had followed he
tn n