Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1885-08-22
M YELLED CLIENT.

considerable practice, and therefore not al
ways SO discreet as I might have been had
] been able 20 pick and choose my clients
Ny business hours were ostensibly from 10
to 3; but the fact of my house adjoining
the Office made me subseryient 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 I can say refused many times
the agency Of some shady business, still
must confess with regret that once or twice
1 found myself unwillingiy involved in
transactions which l would have mach
rather left alone. One Of these l have oc-
casion to remember too well. and I can
never think of il but ! thank Providence
for saving me from becoming an accom-
plice unwitiingiy in the most audacious
piece of imposture.
/ was interrupted one night at tea by the
servant entering and saying that a lady
wished to see me. Hastily finishing the
meal | hurried into my business room. AS
| entered and bowed lady rose made
slight courtesy and remained standing. l
begged her to be seated and asked of what
service | could be to her. 1t was a little
time before she answered, and then it was
in a nervous, frightened way, CHANGING
round the room rs if she were afraid some
body else were present. / saw that, although
she was dressed in good style, she had not
the air. OF a lady; but as she wore thick
vail, could not distinguish her features,
though | made out gray hair here and
there
l suppose I had better explain who
am and what | want" she began. - / am
Miss Howard, of Graham Square, and l
want you to make out my will"
1 started involuntarily, tor this elderly
person, though | had never seen her be-
fore, had been the subject of many a sur
mise and many 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 III her house, seeing no one but
her servants. Ny curiosity was, therefore,
piqued at the idea Of making out the old
eeeentrics viii. Taking up pen asked
ner to give me the particulars of how she
wished the property disposed of
That is very simple she said.
wish my whole property to go to Mr.. David
Simpson, of Stafford street, here. | have
never been married; and l want the will
framed so as 10 cut off any heir who might
claim relationship to me. l also wish you
to act as my executor in seeing my will
carried into efiect.'N
l made a note of the instructions, and
asked when il would be convenient for her
to call and sign the deed.
'If you could have it written out by to-
morrow night, | 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 possible"
Certainly, madam. Tomorrow night
ct this time will suit, and l will arrange
ABOUT a doctor being present. Is there
nothing else you wish mentioned in the
will?"
''No; nothing" she said. rising. "But
be sure you make it so as TO cut off all rela-
tions."
assured her everything would be as she
desired; and after assisting her into the cab
which was waiting, noticing the while that
she had slight limp in her walk, retired
to my study to frame the will in accordance
with my instructions. Next night, punct-
ual to minute, she called, and as i had a
doctor present the ceremony of signing was
soon over, the doctor signing rs a witness
along with my clerk, and appending GER
tiifioste OF sanity, as desired ny my client;
and the deed was consigned to my safe.
The affair had almost completely passed
from my mind, wheu l was startled one
morning by receiving note from Mr..
EOtulISOll, tslt lt1altt inc Will,
me that Miss Howard was dead. | imme-
diately proceeded to the house performed
the usual duties devolving upon q solicitor
in such circumstances, and made what ar
rangementS were necessary. After the
funeral l had a meeting with Mr. Simpson,
and explained to him the position of affairs
that he was the sole legatee and that |
was executor. He seemed to take the
matter very coolly, | thought, but was
ny,yinnS hot 81, H.
r. as soon as possible Our interview was
very short, and | came away with a strong
feeling of dislike for the man, who. /
found had acted as sort of factor for the
deceased lady.
Acting within the duties of my executor
ship, and also with desire TO find out if
possible the relations the old lady had
been so anxious to cut Off, | inserted no
tice of her death in most of the leading
newspapers of the Kingdom. This had the
desired effect; for in the course of a few
days ! was waited upon by young gentle
man, Edward Howard, who informed me
he was nephew of the late Miss Howard,
and had called upon me, having got nv
name and address from, the office of one of
the newspapers to which had sent the ad-
vertisement. During my interview with
Mr.. Howard l was much impressed with
his bearing on my telling him the position
of affairs, as he was much more concerned
at his aunts death than at the purpose of
her will. He told me that five wears ago he
had married against his aunt's wishes 1 she
had refused to recognize his wife and.
though he had written her several letters.
he had never heard from her in reply. He
thanked me for my information, and said
he would likely see me again, rs heiwas
coming into town to situation he hao,
been offered.
Some weeks after this, as | was returning
home in the evening from consultation,
my attention was arrested by the figure of
Z woman in front of me. She was hurry
ing along as if trying to escape observation:
but there was something in her style and
the limp which she had that struck ME as
familiar, though I could not remember
where | had seen her. But as she was
passing lighted part of the street, she
happened to look around. and the face |
saw at once explained to me the familiarity
of her figure-both face and figure being
an exact counterpart of my late clients,
Miss Howard Somehow or other suspi-
cion flashed across my mind my instinct
told me something was wrong and deter
mined to follow her and see where she
went to. Pushing my hat well over my
brow and pulling the collar of my coat
well up followed through two or three
streets and was almost at her heels when
she suddenly turned into a public house,
when, so close had ! followed her, | heard
the attendant say, in answer to an inquiry
by her, No. ID, ma'am;' and | saw her
disappear into the back premises l imme-
diate followed heard the door of No. 10
shut, and, glancing at the numbers, quietly
opened No. II, and after giving an order
for some slight refreshments to the attend
ant, who had followed me, 1 took hasty
look around the ROOM
found it was divided from the next one
only by a wooden partition, which did not
reach the ceiling, and that, by remaining
perfectly quiet, could hear that whis-
pered conversation was being carried on in