Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1890-09-12
cnArm LvI-rHE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

A Board Meeting of the Royal Unicorn
Life Insurance. Company had been special
II submit, Mr.. Chairman" said one
and he was 9 bsIrister-"that the Com;
Hairy Norland. We have had to deal
with the firm Of Erskine. Mansfield, Den
ham & Co., of Lincoln's Inn Fields. and O
most respectable nrm, too. On their rep
reservations we paid the money. If it can
be ascertained that We have been defraud-
ed we must look to them. II we have to
prosecute any body. it must be that respect
able firm"
GOOD, !" said the Chairman.
| At this moment a card was brought in.
| It was that of Mr.. Erskine himself, senior
partner in the very firm.
He came in. old. eminently respectable,
but shaken. He was greatly shaken.
| "Gentlemen," he said, nervOusly, Il
most extraordinary communication. which
| have Just received. 1t is nothing less
| than q CONFESSIONS full Confession
| from Q person whom had every reason to
believe was dead. 1t is from Lord Harry
! Norland."
Pray read it." the chairman said.
..Gentlemen," the lawyer read, "You
will DO surprised and panied to learn that
| I am not-as you were given to understand
dead: but. on the other hand, living and
| In the enjoyment OF rude health. see no
reason why my life should not be prolong-
ed to three score years and ten.
The claim. therefore. which you sent IN
| to the Royal Unicorn Life Insurance Com
pany was fraudulent. 1t was the result
OF deep-laid conspiracy. You have been
made the innocent accomplish Of great
crime.
Ny wife, who now knows the whole
truth. Is most anxious for restitution to
| be made. She is about to restore that por-
| ton of the money which lies in her name.
The rest win be sent back by myself, on
certain conditions.
In communicating the fact of my being
still alive to the head OF my family you
will please also to inform him that l au-
| thorfze the discontinuanceo of the premium.
| This will save the family E300 year.
| that his brother still lives to disgrace the
name. II should die before the next
premium Is due order my heirs not to
claim the money. ! remain, gentlemen,
HARRY NoRLAND."
THE premium, which should have been
p aid under ordinary circumstances" said
the secretary, twas due six week aga The
policy has therefore expired"
He will not be caught" observed the
Chairman. "The letter is from too cool q
hand. He has prepared a retreat l dare
say by this time he is in some safe and
convenient disguise. We are only con-
cerned-are we not?-for the moment with
the lady. She has received the money
from you. We paid it to you on your rep
"Observe." said the lawyer, .'that tho
moment she learns the truth she hastens
to make restitution
'Humphr' said the Director. turning
over Lord Harry's letter sottar the lawyer
should not be able to read the contents.
Have You seen her?"
II have not. Iexpect to do 90 before
long. She will certainly call upon me-"
''She will be ill-advised. said the Chair
man, IF she calls upon anybody just at
present. Well, sir, | confess that l am
sorry-every member of this board would
be sorry-to see that lady placed in the
dock beside her husband"
I'm the interests Of the noble family cou-
cerned. hope that neither of them will be
placed in the dock"
I'VE are much obliged to you. sir, FOR
your prompt action. 1t is. of course, onl y
what we should have expected OF your
firm. Meantime, remember that the claim
was made by you. that you received the
with you in few days.
The Secretary wrote such letter as was
suggested. By return of post check was
sent, signed BY one William Linville. for
the sum of eight thousand pounds. The
Company had. therefore, recovered thir-
teen out of fifteen thousand pounds. Tbs
Secretary had another interview with Mr..
Erskine, the result Of which was that the
Company recovered the remaining tive
Thousand pounds.
Every firm of solicitors contains its own
secrets and keeps them. Therefore. we
need not inquire whether It was intended
that this money should be paid by the fir,
or by the noble family to which Lori Har
~ Norland belonged. 1t is. however, GER
tain that q few days afterwards Mr..
Hugh Mountjoy called at the office and
had long conversation with the senior
partner, and that he left behind him
very big check.