The Dickinson press., 1894-08-04

wilson MentlOTcu Wclucntslily tnlt, us
he had been abroad several years for
the benefit Of his health. his name
was not in that years List" Also,
that the trust money which his clients
had agreed to advance was lying In
some bank. Would 1t be in order, he
asked, il the amount were RENTED in
the shape of Il crossed bank draft, to
the order Of the vendors solicitors, or
of Mr.. Harlow? Fifteen thousand
pound was rather Il large sum to bring
up from DOrsetshire in banknotes. and
his clients did not like to run the risk.
l referred this question to MIR. Har-
low, who just then came in.
Certainly" was the answer. "A
bank draft is just as good as cs.sh.
dare say Sorrel and Secdyt0c would
rather have it than notes. l know l
should"
The chief was 50 favorably impressed
ell he asked him to dinner at his club
for the following evening. Wilson ac-
ccpted the invitation with obvious
pleasure.
Mr.. Harlow found his guest good
company and a fine whist player, and
was altogether SO pleased with him
that he made him free Of the club for
Il month. | heard Subsequently that
Wilson esteemed the privilege so highly
that he visited the club nearly every
night, and, being an adept both ut bill
iards and whist, he generally went
away richer than he came.
Meanwhile, the business which had
brought him to town hung fire. Though
invariably courteous, he was always
..nN9-. ..-.. al, ,nfSs,,c rh,tiRynlffnS
1t seemed to ~. his object to delay a
settlement Indefinitely. and, as the ven
!, da3r's' solicitors began to talk about
bringing an action against Holroyd Tor
specific performance of contract. !
deemed it my duly. IN his interest after
consulting my 1rincipaD. to write to
the trustees iIutii:ing whether there
was any reason why the money should
not Ike paid, AMI the matter ended.
The day after ! dispatched this let
ter. ! a call from Wilson. who. when
I demonstrated With him on his dilatory
tactics, had made the usual plausible ex-
cuscs. but finished by undertaking that
we should have the money by the end
of the week without fail.
AS we went out another client, whom
shall call "Robinson." came in and,
as he passed Wilson, eyed him curl
OuSly.
.Who is that?" he asked, when the
other was out Of hearing.
"a solicitor from Poole OF the name
Of Wilson,"
"William?"
"NO. Thomas"
"Wcll, it used to be William"
you know him, then"
"Hc is Il good deal altered. but l
never forget il face, AND that Is either
William Wilson or his double"
assuming that it is, what do you
know about him!'
mo, thank on. l once got into
trouble for answering an inqtiry Of the
same sort. 1t was called defamation
Of character. though spoke tho truth
and nothing but tie truth. Eut Ill tell
you what. If you call OH Refer. Forbes
and WinslOw-you know them, OF
cOurSe:"
Eyes, the big firm Of solicitors In
Cornhill."
well. if you call on them and ask
Forbes who William Wilson is l dare
say lie will tell you"
But this gentleman's Christian name
Is Thomas"
Will IS ciSlSl tAun I " SAiuASS yoUA
Christian Nance"
II don't think I should find it easy to
change mine. However, we shall see,
and l am obliged to you for TIE hint"
At the time l did not attach much
inuendoes, and I had no intention Of
seeing Refer, Forbes and Winslow.
Notwithstanding his memory for faces,
/ 7 Fo1< ~,,o%<, e,,,vn ,,,xy f,fnn1 yyy0a UySsOn0
in identifying William Wilson (Who-
ever that Individual might beg with
Thomas Wilson. Robinson had only
passed each other ut the door, and he
admitted that the face, which he
thought he recognized, was greatly al
taken identity.
But when, three days later, the let
tiers l had addressed to the supposed
trustees came back through the dead
letter Office with an intimation that
no such persons were known in the
town or neighborhood of Poole my
opinion underwent a decided change.
Mr.. Harlow was thGpicrctruck.
Good God! I hope there Is nothing
shaky about the fellows a1tecedents,'
he exclaimed. "ln introducing hin to
the Hyperion I vouched for his re
spectability. And yet, when I come
to think of 1t, he has never said much
about himself; and, though generally
well informed, his mind seems to be
almost a blank as to the events Of the
last six or seven years. He had moi
even heard of the Tichborne case
and though he accounted for his ignor
ance by saying he was abroad, how
could he help hearing Of the most sen
%sational trial Of our time? The worlt
rang with it."
Very queer. 1t looks like a case o.
fraud"
$50 it strikes Inc. But where doe!
the fraud come in? He has undertaken
to find this money, and unless he doe
find it lie cannot get his mortgage"
"He talked about a bank draft. d.
you think"
HE means to give us a bogus draft
No. How would that serve him? Th,
vendor has contracted to sell the estate
for money. A bogus draft. being mel
thcr money nor its equivalent, would
not fill the bill, and though Wilson go
possession Of the papers le could maxi
no use of them. The fraud would b.
detected Wltnlu u lew jlOufS-OF VI
the following day Mt the latest. No
That is not it, and I'll be hanged If
know what it Is. We must find a clue
Go and see Refer at once. Take I.
hansOlD."
CHAPTER Nv.
put on my hat and set off; but a
I reached the door l had an idea, and
returning to my desk, / put two O.
three OF Wilson's letters my poc'i.!
Afr Hoofor an oldish .nonflulnnn u.:ti