Mexico weekly ledger., 1890-04-17
Mr. HENRY FokpYcE FOUNTAINS,
tiso Z s4th Street.


"My call upon you, Mr.. Holbrook, ]
apprehend is almost futile, but as / am
engaged upon an enterprise somewha,
,clouded and intricate, I feel as if I ought
leave no effort unmade, however improb.
able"
Holbrook bowed.
eff l have not been misinformed," con.
tinued Fountain, "you were in partner.
ship with the late Judge Harkner?'
"Until the day of his DEATH" replied
Holbrook.
"And for several years previous?"
"Yes, from the day I was admitted tc
practice. The partnership lasted five
years. The judge has been dead nearly
four"
"My information was correct, then.
The judge had for a client one Charles
Person.
"Not during my connection with him.
"Indeedi supposed the relation be.
tween Mr.. Pierson and Judge Harkner,
as counsel and client, continued until the
death of the judge"
"No. You are misinformed. When ]
entered the Office of Judge Harkner te
| read law, all relations between them had
ceased and the affairs were being closed
up"
"The affairs of Mr.. Pierson were ex.
tensive?"
81 have SO heard from Judge Harkner
They had had a difference In respect oil
| some matter, / never heard what, and
auarreled bitterly-the relations were
abruptly terminated. The judge would
never speak Of the reason"
"Ah, then there is no hope that any
papers belonging to Mr.. Pierson may
nave remained in the hands of the judge
u his successor"
"No, I recollect that the judge was
scrupulous in returning every scrap oil
paper and even memoranda to MI. Pier
son."
"You are aware that Mr.. Pierson dice
without leaving a will"
Eyes. and was not surprised to neal it
I had heard Judge Harkner say more
than once that that was what Mr.. Pier
son would do, as he had an unconquera-
BILE aversion to making one, although
freqently urged to do so. He would
promise, but could not be brought to the
point"
GAS I apprehended, my visit is futile
but I have satisfied myself on the point.
1t only remains for me to beg your par
don for having taken so much of you,
valuable time"
He passed out. Tom came from hi:
concealment.
There is another point made" said
Tom.
81 don't see it."
1--WE want to know something rs to hi
connections, don't we?'
"Yes."
"Well, here is one. We can worl
along the Pierson line to a result posi-
bly,. But I must 60"
mot before I tell you of little matter
which occurred last night after I left
you"
He recited his experience of the nigh
previous after he had left Tom.
sit is nothing" replied Tom. "Hs
mistook you for some one else
THAT is the conclusion I came TO-"
Tom went to the door and partially
opened it. He drew back quickly.
81 say, Holbrook, there is Messing
outside inquiring for you-the fellow
| who saw the murder"
"We are in for surprises todayi.
"Tn get behind the scenes again" ant
he disappeared.
Messing was soon shown in. Aftel
some Insignificant conversation touching
the murder and the failure to discover
the perpetrator, Messing opened hi
business.
"You r~ecollect, Mr.. Holbrook, that a
the time / was detained as a witness
declined to give my business in New
| York;
Perfectly WELL"
"Well, 1 did give it subsequently wher
I found the concealment was ~subiectine
me to suspicion. Briefly it was this
My mother had reason to believe tina
she was closely related to a gentleman
who had died in this city some time
previously, leaving a large property ani
no heirs or will. She imagined she wa.
an heir, If not the sole heir. have nov
been closely following the matter, anl
while I did not take much stock in tn,
idea at first, l have come to regard i
more f~avorably. The mans name wa.
| Charles Person"
Holbrook started violently, knockins
| a book from his desk and thus COVERING
up q noise behind the screen which
might otherwise have been heard.
"Bless my SOUL" said Holbrook, ethat
is strange"
"What is stranger
Holbrook controlled himself.
"Why, Mr.. Pierson used to be a ellen
Of this Office"
Precisely, and that is the reason VIII,
l am here. I want to inquire if you car
| shed any light upon certain subjects
and whether any papers relating to MI
Pierson or his business are in you
| hands,"
81 shall have to disappoint you," re
piled Holbrook. ssMr. Persons rela
tons with this Office as q client cease.
before / became connected with it
Judge Harkner and he quarreled yer,
bitterly; over what ! never knew. 81
was careful to send everything to Pier
son, and / don't know who was his law
yer subsequently. The great amount o
business he brought into the office was
tradition when ! came in. However
there is an old man who was a clerk il
this office for many years-confidentia
| clerk, and who is now retired because o
age. He lives on Long Island, a shor
distance back Of Brooklyn. I advis
you to call upon him; I win give you
line to him.
Acting upon the impulse Of the mo
ment he wrote an introduction.
Messing took the note and went away
after promising TO cali upon Holbrool
again.
As soon as he was out of the door Ton
came forth.
"You internal asst" cried Tom, "wha
under the heavens did you shove hin
out IN that way for?s'
Hoibrook's face fell.
.See here, Bran, there Is q limit &
the things you may say to me-.
81 beg your pardon, Holbrook; I IL
my feelings master me. But what pos
seased you 10 shut him Of that way. 81
w.s4iepoeed % talk