Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1893-02-11

For several minutes nc one spoke. AT
last, the lawyer said:
"Gold is worse than an enchanter; it
is demon. AS you said, judge, men
will sell their very souls for its posses
sion. If any oae of us could be given
the power of seeing all the passions and
motives of men laid bare, it would drive
him crazy in a day. If what men con-
ceal could he opened to the light, how
men would recoil from their own doings !!
1t is only by concealment that the petty,
the mean, the dishonest can be satisfied
with themselves.
Every true" said the Judge, still in.
clined to be silent.
Another spell OF musing, which was
broken by the lawyer. II onc1 hal u
queer experience in my own practice, in
fact as odd a case as ever knew. Ole
Of ms frs; clients III New York was a
veaithy, retired merchant, named Ber-
trand. He lived very simply, alone OK.
cept for his housekeeper, IN Il retired,
but very respectable part of the city. He
had a nephew, Frank Bertrand. 4 broth
er's son, whom he regarded AZ a scape
grace, and with whom he was rot at all
on good termy.
Crank seemed to me to be modest,
sensible sort of fellow, ami wondered
at the old mans feeling towards him,
when he vas the ouIv relative he had in
the world Nv unosity aroused, pon
dered the matter somewhat, and came to
the conclusion that the fault was the old
mans, not Franks He was rather high
spirited and wlllul about making his
own way in the world and doing as he
pleased with himself, instead Of allowing
his rich uncle 20 dictate what he shonid
DO. This seemed to be the extent OF
his offence, 50 far as ! could learn. The
old man was testy and choleric, and
childish about having his own way {,
family trait, | guess aud not only for
bade the nephew the house, but required
az to rake his will, cutting Frank off
with only a very insignificant sum. All
the rest of his large property he gave to
his housekeeper, because, as he said, she
had been kind to him, and would take
care of him as long as he lived. talked
with Frank about this disposition OF the
property aud advised him not to throw
away such chance but to attempt Il
reconciliation with his uncle, so he might
change has will. The young fellow was
obduratc and would promise nothing.
He was an artist and his whole soul was
in his work. This his uncle detested
more than all else as a species of yaga-
bondism he could never tolerate. No
reconciliation was possible while this re-
n,ained, ana | could Uot help admiring
the boys energy and spirit when he de-
clared he would not give up his profes
SIGN for all the fortunes in New York
He said he had no i'll will against hi,
uncle, his property was his own TO dc
with rs he pleased; he spoke pleasantly
of his uncle's peculiar notions, his TEN
per and his weaknesses, and mentioned
the housekeepcr kindly as one who had
treated him well. As he left my office
SAID tic myself, We'll, Frank Bertrand
you deserve fortune il you don't get
one. A msq tas reason to be proud of
such nephew As you
"Not a month after that interview
word was brought me that Mr.. Bertrand
had been found murdered in his library.
| summoned the best detective | knew
Of and fastened TO the spot. An en-
trance had been made through the Of
binary passages of the house, as there
was no breaking. The victim had been
struck from behind as he sat in his chair.
The instrument used was a heavy one
the skull had been crushed aud death
was instantaneous. at first we thought no.
a thing in the room had been touched
but the housekeeper called my attention
TO the fact that nugget Of gold which
remained attached to piece of its quar-.
matrix, the single geological specimen
and curio which adorned the library
was missing, as well as the little velye
lined box in which it had rested Every
thing else was in its usual place as il
nothing had happened there. This wa:
our only clue, and to my establishment
and iismay it speedily led to the arres
OF Frank Bertrand as the murderer.
al had formed so good an opinion o
the boy, and his manliness seemed 81 Ger
tain, that found it hard to believe tha
he WIS even accused of numbering hi
uncle. That he was guilty was to m,
mind beyond the bounds of probability