Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1892-01-07
preets me with a silent handclasp.

tam was Lne fanny SOlIcltOt, anu oHo
or two others who, from their display
of grief, took to be some distant rel
atiyes who have expectations. Squire
Compton who had come to see the
last of his old friend and neighbor.
follows in his carriage. Reaching the
house Tommy, after few whispered
words with the legal man of business,
draws me- aside into an unoccupied
room.
Frank" he says. as soon as the
door is closed. Il feel in an awful
funk; do you know" he goes on be-
fore [ can put in a word, 1.-THE poor old
boy found out all about my going to
the money lenders just before he was
taken i'll; in fact, believe the knowl-
edge hastened his end"
What nonsense | reply, but Tom
nv goes on. Yes" he says, the
night before he was taken i'll he said
he wanted to have long talk with me
about business matters. and then and
there asked me if it was true. l
acknowledged it. of course, when he
inquired why did not come to him if
| was in want of funds. To this |
could make no adequate reply. where
upon he desired me to leave him. as
he wished to be alone. I'm afraid he's
| altered his will for the next day he
complained of not feeling we'll, aud
telegraphed for old Pounceby. the
! solicitor to come down, and they
| were closeted together the best part of
the afternoon, and | noticed Pounceby
| looking very curiously at me to-day
htTt ~, In
came to the door.
well, | will remain here" | say; Il
| have no right to be present on an occa-
! sion of this sort"
Il wish you would come with me-"
says Tommy, plaintively, but | am
resolute and remain where | am.
| have not long TO wait. In less
| than a quarter of an hour Tommy re-
turns. exhibiting an expression of
| countenance that is ut once puzzled
and crestfallen.
| ''Of all the extraordinary wilsi' he
bursts forth; 1.-The old chap has cut me
off with Il beggarly thousand pounds,
and after lot left to different chart
ties the balance, nearly twenty thou
sand pounds, is to go to some fellow
! who once picked him out of the gutter
in town. or some thing of that sort"
But the estate what about thatp"
interpose, gently.
| "Oh, that is vested in trustees-old
Pounceby and the squire. the income
to go to paying off my debts and l
am not to touch a penny until every
claim is discharged-w whenever that
will be-" he adds, ruefully.
| "Oh, we'll it's not so bad, after all. :"
l say. when he bursts forth again.
| The worst of it all is a pot of money
going to an entire stranger whose
name is not even mentioned. and
whose only claim on his sympathy APP
pears to be that he once helped him
over crossing"
| An uncomfortable agitation seized
me. Tommy" say al length, ''haye
you--is there-any portrait or photo
graph of your uncle?"
Yes, yes. there is portrait IN the
library and photograph somewhere,
but why?"
Let me see the photo" answered
| huskilv.
He leaves me for few minutes dur
ing which | endeavored to regain my
composure. Presently he returns aud
hands me cabinet photo, faded, it is
true, but an exact likeness of the old
man | conducted over the crossing
eight years before!
Tommy" l say, after a pause, 81
believe am the individual alluded to
in your uncle's will"
| Nonsense, man; YOU must be TAX
| ing leave of your senses"
''Be that as it NAV, the fact remains
that on the 1st of October, eight years
ago, | distinctly rccollact assisting an
old gentleman over the crossing at
! Hyde Park corner who rescmbled this
| likeness in a most remarkable degree"
"OA, that settles it, then; | know
it's the LIST Of October" Tommy re-
spends. You had better come into
the library"
follow him. aud lind the various
| individuals before mentioned seated in
silence round the table Mr. Pounce-
! by, the solicitor. raises his eyes from
| the documents he is now porting over
as we enter. Tommy is the first to
speak.
My friend here. Frank H1bson.
seems to think he is the individual
referred to in the will Mr.. Pouncebv, ="
and so saying he drops iui~ ne near
| est chair.
Take a seat, Mr. Hobson," SAYS the
man of law. In Mr.. Jenkins en-
cited state he must have given YOU,
| fear, but very imperfect outline of
| the teStators intentions. As You are
not one Of the family it is unnecessary
| that | should do more than read that
| portion Of the will to which Mr. Jen-
| kins has alluded. Hmi ha! here it is:
| And all the residue Of MY funded
| property | give and beYueath to the
| person who on the first day of Olfober.
| 1880. assisted me over the crossing at
| Hyde Park corner, if he can he found.
| and have placed in the hands If INV
| solicitor. Jorum Pouncebv. ESQ. Ill
| Lincolns'- inn-iields, a sealed envelope
| the contents of which will, I believe.
| he sufficient to lead to his idcntifca-
sion if living, aaA in case the said ill.,
dividual. after due inquiry made shall
| not he discovered or be found to be
dead. then | give and bequcath such
! residue to the aforementioned chart
| ties, to be divided among them in like
| manner ard in the same proportion as
! the other moneys hereinhefore men
| toned | NAV ado" continued Mr..
Pc" cc,hr !ccl-;"- 80 f"N.,, ~" '''h"""-
! ment, that the testator framed that
| clause himself and would hear of no
alteration. Now, Mr.. Hobson. what
| have YOU to say?"
Only that on that very date | did