The DeLamar nugget. [volume] (DeLamar, Idaho) 1891-1900, 1893-04-08
once to his critical review of the forged

LII OliC nIGG Rlt1CCs llC OCkdD, 1OOhlf1
at her so steadily and keenly, with sue
strange effectiveness, that her eyes fell
she scarcely knew why, this documen
purporting to be the last viii and tesla
ment of Mrs. Jane DunlSirk was repre-
scented to be, and in truth did appear t,
be, in the handwriting of James Ker
nan, Esq, now deceased, but formerly
a prominent New York lawyer. 1t wa
inevidence, and not disputed at all, thai
the late Mr.. Herman was for severa
years-a period embracing the date o.
this will-Mrs. Dunkirk' attorney, and
naturally, the person to whom she
would intrust the drawing of this docu
ment So far, very good. There is g
fair degree of plausibility for us, just
ION the surface. But unfortunately
competent evidence was produced by
Hunter and Ketchum. showing that on
or about the 10Th of July, which is the
date of our will, you know, and for a
certain time previous and subsequent to
that date, the late Mr.. Herman was in
Europe, and therefore he could not have
/ had any active personal share in this or
any, other transaction of like nature
that may have occurred in New York
during that time. In short, they proved,
that the late Mr.. Herman did not draw
that will. all our representations to that
effect Notwithstanding There, you
perceive, is their first point, as clear as
MONDAY; it is something that we can
not possibly controvert.'
s'Can it be possiblel' exclaimed Mrs.
Maynard, looking up at him with the
words 'sThey proved, did you say, Mr.
North, proved that Mr.. Herman was in
Europe as early as the 10Th of July?'
"They proved it, Mrs. Maynard, in
black and white; proved it by his own
unconscious testimony; proved it, re-
greet to add, beyond peradventure or a
shadow of doubt
sob, she cried impulsively, with a
quick disdainful little gesture, 'sto
think, Mr.. North, that we should have
failed to detect so fatal discrepancy
as thatln
''It is amazing assented North dry
ly. ''Nor is this all. You see, the fault
lies primarily in that date, In the sec
md place, one of the witnesses-let me
,ae what was his name?'' He threw
his head back rehectively, and the sharp,
gray eyes swept the frescoed ceiling for
an instant
''Was it Norristown?H suggested Mrs.
Maynard. family, as she twined the
slender glittering links of her watch
chain around her finger, in a preoccu-
pied way.
1T was Norristown, thank you'll" The |
sharp gray eyes returned with the words
to Mrs. Maynard's face. well, then.
it was shown conelusively that Norris
town died exactly ten days previous to
the date of the will ian unquestionable
abb, by the wayD which important
fact, in the Judgment of the court, rem
5ered all his subsequent proceedings
invalid, at least within that jurisdic-
iion."
''Norristown is dead?" echoed Mrs.
Maynard, with quick change Of color.
Then she added, in tone of tragical
despair:
81 perceive that you are right, Mr..
North; shred by shred the unsnbstan-
lal fabric is going to tatters! What
leSt2"
Next - pursued North, with a rather
smile, I'VE come to the dis
losnres made by the experts. The |
Whole AFFAIR, you see, has been merci-
essly sifted. Hunter and Ketchum are
nrelenting.'
"Unprincipled Mercenaryl' cried
lrs. Maynard, with a sudden little flash
f resentment. ''All that they wish is
} secure for themselves handsome fees
-om the estater
s'Oh, possibly returned North, with
ldolent amusement. Nevertheless, Z
y dear Mrs. Maynard, whatever their 4
otive, the fact remains-they are re
'ntless. Up to this point the only evil .
snce offered has been the ordinary
srbal and documentary sort; but now
Inch the previous testimony the tx
erts are introduced"
'Experts?n repeated Mrs. Maynard {,
| a tone of vague speculation. q
s'Yes; chirographical experts, you =
now, to decide as to the genuiueness q
the signatures. Submitting the al
'cument to the usual tests, in connec- q
on with Enthusiastically genuine speci- g
ems of the handwriting of the attor- u
y, the testatrix and the witnesses, the y
.perts unhesitatingly swore that the ~
i'll was a forgery from beginning to .
ID. Thus you see, Mrs. Maynard ai
ID here North leaned back in his chair d
ID folded his arms composedly, half it
,sing his eyes to complete the effect eli
a specifically Indifferent manner, yc
hey have made affairs extremely
Inward for US. Who knows, nov, ay
: instance, who may be suspected Of
wing had a hand in this business? pa
by, they may even honor me with be
ne such suspicion; there's no doubt TO
the possibilitylp te,
Mr.. Northl;' he
Yrs. Maynard had risen excitedly, gr
4 she was now pacing restlessly to
1 fro, her trailing dress sweeping Nh
a. the carpet III creamy folds. Her III