Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1895-06-27

ton; but if we can prove the fact,
we'll get such hold on mems minds
regarding the scoundrel that we can
force him to terms outside of his pro-
posed conditions, which man OF any
sort of sensibility never would have
offered. If don't get to Milledgeville
Friday night, before court, will GER
tainly the next day in time for look
In the ordinary's office"
He did not come until Saturday near
noon. After dinner he, with Dabney,
repaired to the courthouse.
He read the will carefully, twice,
occasionally lingering at a word as II
hesitating what it was, or what 1t
meant Calling for the inventory
which Amerson had rendered in, he
looked over that as carefully, then
said, in low voice:
"Dabney, are you at all familiar with
Amerson's handwriting?"
"No; I've seen it sometimes, and l
readily recognize his signature"
1.-THE wri tings seem to have been
made by one hand, yet in the will 1t
appears constrained. Let me compare
them somewhat longer"
After so doing, he took the will to a
window, and lifted it between his eyes
and the sunlight outside. Smiling, he
called to Dabney, and said:
"Look over that thing again, and,
doing as I have done, say il you see
anything strange"
After doing as he bid, Dabney an
swered no.
"There!" he said, almost angrily,
putting his finger on particular spot,
don't you see that word in pencil?"
"Now do" said Dabney.
''Oh, the sun! the glorious, true
beaming sun! We've got him, as sure
as God is in Heaven! Now, my lad you
step down town and get Rainer to come
with you. Your legs are more active
than mine. The old man Flint, trades
with him frequently, doesn't hep"
almost entirely"
"Thatll do. Run, my sou, and bring
him here. Tell HIM tiIat DOtn OF us
think it is important"
The conference of the three was
brief. The merchant smiled after a
brief scrutiny of Mr.. Flints attesta-
tion, and promised to accede to the re-
quest to keep silent what he had dis
covered. Yet later in the afternoon he
said to customer:
"Seaborn Torrance, | see, is in Mil
ledgeville. Between you and me,
believe he's the biggest man in the
whole state of Georgia. You're going
to see some fur fly before he leaves this
town"
"What do you mean?" the others
asked.
Never mind do you come to the
courthouse Monday morning?
When the lawyers had returned to
the tavern, Torrance said:
"Dabney, do you know, sir, that ever
since you told me fully of the admis-
hoping that the case was as we've
found it to be? And did ever villain
more fully betray his own self? AS you
know, I'm not a church member, but
I'm not more sure of my own exist
ence than that this world is governed
by an Intelligence which is as just and
merciful as it is wise, which, in cases
like this of the widow and child of q
good man, uncovers rascality for the
purpose of beginning its pl pishment
here, right here, knowing tha it won't
do to put it off. Yet in all ny prac-
tice / have never known rascality to
be so foolishly exposed by its own per-
petrator. But I'm tired after my long
ride on an uphill and down-hill, rocky
and shamelessly-work road. ! must
have nap, and tonight / must have a
talk with Rachels. Saturday night, /
know, will suit him less than any
other; but, with his interest in the
case, you can manage a conference.
don't care if it can't be had before ten
or eleven o'clock, as, tomorrow being
Sunday, can sleep as long as I please.
See him, and tell him that l wouldn't
object to toddy, either here or in one
of his back rooms. Perhaps we'd as
well go to the old fellows den. Step
over and see, Dabney, that's a good
boy"
Dabney went, and said that Rachels
could not well leave his store, but that
he would be glad to receive both o1
them in his own room at ten o'clock OF
a little after.
"All right, my son." said Torrance
"Come about half-past nine, or sooner
II you like, so we can have some pre-
liminary talk. ! must compliment you
on the way you've worked up this case
Dabney. That you didn't see what
saw this evening IS because of the un
suspecting innocence natural to you
| I'd have been n happier man If I'd had
! the same. This faculty Of unearthing
meanness is an evil one. Do you know
sir, that sometimes I compare myselt
with a bloodhound and feel the ig
nominy of the simile? I've tried my
very best to have confidence in man
| kind, but | can't; never had it when 6
boy. This thing of knowing people Il
the meanest knowledge n man car
have. Go on, now, and let me take my
nap"
In less than five minutes his coat an(
| boots were off and he was snoring.
Dabney paid a visit to his client il
order TO make report OF progress
which thus far seemed reasonably sat
isfactory. She had come to town ant
was staying with friend on Libert.
street. Faithful TO the lead of Tor
| rance, he did not make known to he
their latest discovery, but in n modest
| honorable way endeavored to malt
| himself as entertaining as possible II
| conversation partly relevant to he
case and partly not. He came to tn
tavern in time for a good chat will
| his senior.
"Rachels is person one can tall
freely with, isn't he, Dabney?"
| '"That he is. You may confer will
| him in entire trust in his discretion"
| "All right, then"
The visitors were received at the en-
trance of the alley TO which the prem
ises entered.
"Ah, Gus, my good Big Indian, hov