The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1889-11-27
FOILED BY HIMSELF.
: who is that letter from. jenkins

L don knOWSIr. The man VINO brought
is waiting in the 'front.' Office for an
answer. He looks like a working man
dressed up in his Sunday clothes"
Mr.. John Barnett. solicitor, cut open the
envelope carefully, as was his habit, took
out the inclosure and read:
MoREDUN HOUSE, ELDERGATE. Friday, 6
A. M.-Dedr SIR: | am in great trouble. MIR.
Monktou was found dead in the library last
night about 6 o'clock. The cause OF death was
heart disease. Could you come down here to-
day and remain until alter the funeral and ad-
wise me with regard to the funeral arrange
ments and other thingss Ii is a great deal 10
ask know; but you see have right to in
terfere in these matters as | am no relative OF
Mr.. MOnkton's, and do not know what to do.
You were always his chief friend as well as
egal adviser | am afraid of his brother COM
ng here when he hears of his DEATH inelOse
Offices which / viii thank you TO get inserted
in the various newspapers. L send this letter
by our gardener, who will bring back a reply.
Yours truly, KATHERINE ASHLEY.
Mr.. Barnett appeared very much affected
on reading this letter: "Mr. MonktOn is
dead. jenkins" he said. "Found dead in
his library last night How very sudden
He was here only two days ago looking as
we'll as ever l saw him. This letter is from
Miss Ashley. She wishes me 10 90 to E.
dergate to-day but Mr.. Morgan is coming
here in short time, and have to 20 out
with him relative 10 some business which
will detain me, ! expect. till late in the
afternoon. l viii not be able to get to FL
dergate till the q o'clock train. | have
nothing particularly pressing for the next
few DAYS have 1 %
"No, sir; don't think so"
''Then l will be able to wait over at FL
dergate till after the funeral, as Miss Ash
lev wishes. ! will give YOU note to the
man. don't know when l got such
shock"
The note dispatched. Mr. Barnett sat
down to think over matters. Mr.. Monk
ton and he had been friends of many
years duration, and having been often at
Moredun house, Mr.. Barnett was we'll
acquainted with Miss Ashley, who was
orphan niece of his friends late wife. Mr..
Monkton had no family OF his own, and
Miss Ashley had lived at Moredun house
for the past ten years. Her aunt, Mrs.
Monkton, had died a few years before. BY
the terms of Mr. Monkton's will, which
Mr.. Barnett himself had drawn, the latter
knew that he, along with Sir Andrew
Dawson. wealthy neighbor OF Mr.. Monk
tons, was appointed an executor and
Joint guardian of Miss Ashley until she
could attain the age of twenty-one. This
she would not reach for nearly three years
yet, and in the interval some arrangement
must be come to with reference 20 her.
Il hope that brother OF AIonkton's
doesn't come upon the scene, for he is a
thorough scOundrel if eyerthere was one"
he said to himself. ale will give US some
trouble If he can. However, he need not
try to dispute the will, although l believe
he would do il in a minute il he thought
he had the ghost of a chance"
Here Mr.. Barnett's meditations were in
terTupted by the entrance of his client, Mr..
Morgan, who had come TO keep his APP
pointment, and in a short time both left
the Office together. 1t was after 3 in the
afternoon when Mr. Barnett returned
''Confound Morgan!" be said to Jenkins,
who was his head clerk, and who had
waited behind the others in case Of any,
thing being required. al could not get
away earlier. II will be after 10 O'Clock
before get to Mr. MonktOn's house, for
will have TO wait till the O'Clock train
now. | must 60 home first. | shall not
be back at the Office till Wednesday; but
if there should be anything particularly
pressing might take a run up. You can
let me know how things 20 on, Jenkins"
"All right. sir, answered Jenkins; and
then Mr.. Barnett departed.
He LETT Euston station at O'Clock en-
route for Eldergate, which was distant
journey bv rail. Mr.. MOnktOn's carriage
was in waiting at the station, and he was
soon being driven up the avenue to the
house.
A footman, who appeared to be the only
one awake in the house, opened the door
TO him. But as he entered an old lady,
whom Mr.. Barnett recognized as a distant
cousin of Mr.. Monkton, met him in the
hall. She was a sturdy old Scotch woman,
hale and hearty, though upward of sixty
years OF age.
''Ye'ree very late. 1 was thinl+-g We
mizhtna be here the night now. ad-
vised Miss Ashley to gang ava to ..-. bed
and would look after We if We came.
Yen be after some supper, Pm thinking.
Come this way into the dining-room."
Mr.. Barnett followed the lOquacious old
lady into the room, where the supper was
Immediately brought in. Il am sur
prised 10 see you, Mrs. Crawford" he
said. 81 did not know you were here.
Miss Ashley did not mention you in her
letter this morning"
Because she didna ken / was coming
I'm staying in London wi me son Peter
now. and came down here this morning
on visit by chance. / found everything
at skies and sevens, and that puir lasse
greeting like TO break her heart; so Just
staid on till We would come"
you were quite right. | would have
been here earlier. as / told Miss Ashley in
my letter, but j was detained But need
not keep you out of your bed, Mrs. Craw.
ford; can attend to myself I know the
way to my room. / have been often here
before, YOU know"
''Oh, I'm in no hurry" said Mrs Craw-
ford. She had dismissed the servant and
had herself waited to attend to Mr.. Bar
nett's wants He had scarcely begun TO do
justice TO the supper, however. when she
suddenly bent forward and whispered al
most into his ear. Hes here"
who is here? Whom do you mean p
asked the solicitor, almost dropping bis
knife and fork in his surprise.
Whom should / mean but Henry
Monkton, OF course? Came here in the
middle OF the afternoon and intends wait
ing till after the funeral, he says. But he
may spare himself the trouble for ony-
thing he'll get, hope"
\ "But how did he come to hear of his
brothers death so speedily? It will not
be in the newspapers till tomorrow Miss
ashley surely did not send him notice ?"
."So she dinna. She's over frichted for
rim to do the like o. that She's kept
her room ever since he came, or else she
would haze been waiting here TO see We
But yell see her in the morning right
enough. He met Blake, the gardner by