Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-12-27
A PROFESSIONAL OBLIGATION.

| perceiving the agitation of his visitor, be-
came, after his sort, gracious.
Certainly" he replied. Everyone in
Aberdeen knows Oscar @. Battin. 1 think
had the pleasure of cross-examining you
! once in Griffin versus The City," Here
Abel smiled grimly, while spasm shook
his auditor. "Ahi a famous case. What a
rascal that old-oh, beg pardon, of course.
yourself; meanwhile I'll go on with my
work." and he swung about in his chair,
and in an instant was absorbed with colonial
proceedings thousands of miles away.
"Ahem" at last coughed the client.
'Now then?" said the attorney, briskly.
"Where shall begin?"
"At the beginning"
'It was five years ago that I made my
will 1t was the last piece of work tnat
Robert Marston-Marstop & Wilson, you
know, of the metropolis-did for me, and
only few months before he died. He was
one of the witnesses, and his partner, who
died last summer, was the other. This will
was the result of the carefully-considered
plans of my later years. Ny son Oscar has
been q constant course of sorrow to me. In
every way he has disappointed my hopes;
In every way be has dlsgraced me.
"Sooner than have him inherit my
wealth would make bonfire of it. Since
he arrived at manhood have given him an
ample allowance, ample for any one whose
hours were not all idleness Well, in this
will bequeathed an annuity Of like amount
to him and nothing more. The scoundrell
I should have left him shilling to buy q
rope! All my estate, both real and per-
sonal, 1 divided between NV deceased
daughters child and at least score of char
liable institutions As we'll you know, a
will of such nature was very bulky docu-
ment." Here Mr.. Battin paused, wiped
his brow, and groaned
''Well?"
ct wrapped it in heavy parchment, tied
it with red tape, and placed it in box at
the Asbestos Safety Deposit Company. I
have also a large compartment there in
which keep my securities; bat in this one
have kept few papers of private ma
ture."
"Where did you keep its key?"
ION this chain ring with the others. See,
here it is"
sand left them occasionally on your desk
or hanging from q lock, 1 suppose? Go
on"
''The day before yesterday opened this
box to consult memorandum. In moving
the contents notlceo something strange
about the package containing my will. It
was very light. 1 examined it narrowly;
it seemed the same as had left it. I un-
tied the string, and then noticed another
strange thing, which belongs to the second
part of my business here. l removed the
wrapper and what do you think? Oh,
dear! Oh, dearl There was the same kind
of paper, the same Endorsement, the same
signatures-I would swear to them all, nv
own especially-but the instrument con-
sisted only of two pages and apparently in
the hand of old Mr.. Marston. Here 1t is.
'It gives everything to my son Oscar,
revoking all other wills and constituting
him as sole executor. It's cheat, a fraud,
forgery am not crazyl I never made
such will / would cut of my hand first.
I am poor old man, and they are plotting
my death" Here Mr.. Battin groaned and
sobbed feebly.
"What did you do9"
T-I was stunned, and SO frightened. 1
went to the manager and told him every
thing. 1 asked him whether anyone had
been at my box He said, No one except
your son Oscar Oh. dear.
Exactly. Who had taken an impress
sion Of your key, of course. WE'LL what
next?''
II sat in the front office in more of a
tremble than am now, and sent the mes
senger to bring Oscar"
''That was foolish"
Eyes, but was so scared, and wanted