San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1890-11-29

life and the dislike TO WORK, the evil com
panions, the craving for amusements, and
then the occasional quarrels and final rupt-
ure with that good father who wished
only for the welfare of his child. All, yes;
Richard knew only too well what bad
son he had been. He had, indeed, brought
down those gray hairs in sorrow to the
grave. His repentance had come too late.
They bore Charles Hammond to his last
resting place in Ormsby church yard.
When the mOurners returned to the house
the lawyer informed the family that no
will had been discovered as yet, and that
it was feared none would be found.
After the lapse of two or three months
without the finding of will, Richard
Hammond and Paul Hammond took out
letters of administration OF their fathers
estate. Certain property had been settled
upon the children of the respective mar
riages under the marriage settlements
There was small real estate called
"Greenhill" at the fathers disposal, which
now passed to Richard as eldest son and
heir -at-law. The remainder of the estate
was distributed among the children in ac-
cordance with the legal rule in the case of
an intestacy.
Between the two half brothers, Richard
and Paul, there had never been much affec-
ton or sympathy, and now Paul, who for
the last three years, since Richards rupt-
ure with his father, had considered him.
self the old mans heir, could not endure,
without much chagrin and jealousy, Rich
ard thus stepping into his shoes and tax
ing possession of the freehold property
which he (PauD had long regarded as his
rightful inheritance. That Mr. Hammond
had made will in his favor, leaving him
the property, Paul was convinced for his
father had told him so in so many words
not many weeks before he died. What,
then, had become of this missing will? To
solve this problem Paul felt that he must
in the first place get on the track of the
burglars who had broken into the Grange
on the night when his father died, and who
had stolen everything from the study safe,
including, no doubt, the precious docu-
ment which was lost Immediately after
the discovery of the burglary Paul had
caused a detective to be sent down from
London, who had been occupied for some
days in conducting Investigations on the
spot. Some fragments of circumstantial
| evidence were obtained, but not sufficient
to direct suspicion to any known individ
ual, and the police professed to come to the
| conclusion that the robbery was the work
of thieves from London.
And so time went on, but six months
after the burglary gold watch chain, sub
sequently identified as having belonged to
the second Mrs Hammond, was offered in
pledge at London pawnbroker's The
person who had offered it was afterward
traced and arrested. He proved to be the
young man, James Tierce by name, well
known at Ormsby Grange as the nephew
of the housekeeper there. He had been a
great favorite with Mr. Hammond, as had
also been his sister, girl year or two
older than himself, and the pair had been
frequent visitors at the house during the
deceased gentemans lifetime; in fact,
James Tierce was the last individual who
had been with Mr.. Hammond before his
paralytic seizure. On the young mans be-
longings being searched after his arrest
certain other small valuables, which had
undoubtedly belonged to the dead man,
were found. The prisoner accounted for
the possession of all the articles by stating
that they had been given by Mr. Ham
mond either to his sister or himself The
evidence, however, of a housemaid, who
had seen Tierce crossing the hall to the
study with bunch of keys in his hand on
the morning of that fatal 9th of Deem
Der, tended to connect him with the burg
larry, and this evidence being offered on
the hearing of the charge before the mag
istrates, and not satisfactorily refuted the
young man was in the end committed for
trial.
In the interval that elapsed before the
asszes Paul Hammond visited the prisoner
in his cell He found the poor fellow dread
fully depressed and low spirited, but not
without hope that he would be able to
clear himself at the trial.
This is indeed kind of YOU Mr.. Paul"
said the prisoner with a grateful look, ito
pay me a visit in this dreadful place 1t
makes me fancy that you, at any rate, do
not believe me guilty of robbing your
father, who was always so good to me"
81 hardly know what to think, James,"
replied his visitor, but am most anxious
to discover the truth Of what happened on
the night my father died. They may not
have told you that my fathers will has
never yet been found. It is believed that
it was stolen along with the valuables in
the safe. Now | care nothing about the
iewelry and such things, nor am eager to
see the poor wretch who robbed us suffer;
but what do want to recover is the miss
ing " i'll. II is q matter of great moment
to me, and also to others"
This is the first word | have heard, sir,
about "A missing will; but-but'- here
the prisoners face frightened considerably
II think can tell you something, Mr.
Paul, which may throw some Light on the
matter. You will remember how, on the
morning of your fathers seizure, he asked
to be left alone for a while when they
hrnnnht him his lettrrS2 Mell rs il HIM