The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1885-12-31
My YELLED CLIENT.

At the time of the incident 1 am
about to relate was young solicitor,
with no very considerable practice, and
therefore not always so discreet as L
might have been had L been able to
pick and choose my clients. My busi-
ness hours were ostensibly from ten to
five, but the fact of my house adjoin-
ing the office made me subservient to
the wishes of the public beyond the
time stated on the brass plate at my Of
fee door. In fact, it was generally
after business hours that my most Prof
liable clients came; and though L can
say / refused many a time the agency
of some shady business, still l must
confess with regret that once or twice
I found myself unwittingly involved in
transactions which would have much
rather left alone. One of these have
occasion to remember too well, and L
never think of it but 1 thank Provi-
dence for saving me from becoming an
accomplice unwittingly in most auda-
cious piece of imposture.
/ was interrupted one night at tea
by the servant entering and saying that
O lady wished to see me. Hastily finish
ing the meal, hurried into my bust
ness room. AS / entered and bowed, a
lady rose, made slight courtesy, and
remained standing. | begged of 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
q nervous, frightened way, glancing
round the room as if she were afraid
some one else were present. L saw
that, although she was dressed in good
style, she had not the air of lady
but, as she wore thick veil, / could
not distinguish her features, though L
made out gray hair here and there.
Il suppose L had better explain who
/ am and what want" she began. Il
am Miss Howard, of Graham Square,
and 1 want you to make out my will.
Istarted involuntarily, for this elderly
person, though L had never seen her
before, had been the subject of many a
surmise and many gossip with the
neighbors. 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
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 dis
posed of.
~That is very simple" she said Il
wish my whole property to go to Mr..
David Simpson, of Stafford street, here.
/ have never been married, and want
the will framed so as to 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 effect"
/ made a note of the instructions,
and asked when it would be convenient
for her to call and sign the deed.
"If you could have it written out by
tomorrow night, could call then and
sign it. would like if you could ar
range to have doctor TO be q witness
to my signing-a young doctor, if pos
sible."
Certainly, madam. Tomorrow
night ut this time will suit, and / will
arrange about a doctor being present.
Is there nothing else you wish men
toned in the will ?"
mo, nothing" she said, rising. "But
be sure you make it so as to cut off all
relations"
1 assured her everything would be as
she desired; and, after assisting her
into the cab which was waiting, MOTTO
ing 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, punctual to
q minute, she called; and, as 1 had q
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 de-
sired 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
q note from Mr.. Simpson, the lega-
tee in the will, informing me that
Miss Howard was dead. 1 imme-
diately proceeded to the house, per-
formed the usual dnties devolving up
on a solicitor in such circumstances,
and made what arrangements were
necessary. After the funeral L had o
meeting with Mr.. Simpson, and ex-
planned to him the position of affairs
that he was sole legatee. and that L was
executor. Heseemed to take the mat
Ter very coolly, thought, but was anx-
ious that everything should be realized
as soon as ossible. Our interview was
very short; and / came away with a
strong feeling OF dislike for the man,
who, / found. had acted as a sort OF
factor for the deceased lady.
Acting within the duties of my ex-
ecutorshir,, and also with desire TO
find out il possible the relations the old
lady had been so anxious to cut oil, in
serted notice of her death in most of the
leading newspapers in the kingdom.
This had the desired effect; for IN the
courre Of few days was waited upon
by young gentleman, Edws~d Hey