The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-09-28
PRIZE DETECTIVE STORIES. No. 35.

a smile. "By the way, Mr.. Corvin, you
have possession OF great ueal or farm
land hereabout, think; would you De
inclined TO dispose of III"
"No, sir--not a foot OF it," said Cor
win, curtly.
81 was iold that you hold some OF il
on rather uncertain tenure" the
other continued; THAT you are liable 10
be dispossessed OF IT,, in certain contin-
gencies, in fact. IL that Is so. II might be
worth your while TO find purchaser,
even If he were to ask you TO make an
abatement in the price, in consideration
of the risk he would assume.
"You've been misiniormed, sir; what's
mine is mine, and i don't intend to
part with IT, +"
straight,N remarked Morford. 81 was
told YOU held this land because some
paper showing that II really belonged TO
another had been lost
''if you choose TO go about picking up
fools gossip, it's no affair OF mine" re-
torted Corvin angrily.
Perhaps, since you have no son or
other legal heir, your idea is TO leave this
property 20 the heirs OF the persons 20
whom II justly belongs? In this case,
shouldn't press you 10 sell. though"
"Wiil you mind your OWE business?"
shouted the old man, quite losing con-
troll of his temper. "Who are you, I'D
liht W hhONS lou ehinC " Uic TIC ONHtf
day to work off some OF your stock on
me. I'm glad put of closing with you
till now; don't believe your stock is
worth the paper IT'S printed on; / believe
your invention is a swindle. AS to my
having no heir TO leave my property 10,
Wen see about thstl I'm not dead yet,
to begin with, nor like TO be; and I've
got a son, though your informant seems
TO have forgotten TO tell you so. Folks
may think I've cut him off with a dollar;
may be did; but can take him back
again when | choose; and l choose now
l shall write to him by this days post TO
come back here at once, and when he
comes, l shall settle everything I've got
on him. / see your camel You think you
can get some pickings by working up
some idiotic conspiracy or other with that
fool OF woman, TO cheat me or frighten
me out of my property; but you've got
hold OF the wrong man. IL you don't
want to get-into trouble, and bad trouble,
let me aloneip
"Do you know your sons address, Mr..
Corvin?" asked Morford, very quietly.
"If not, 1 have reason TO think you may
find il in that letter.
"We'll see how much you know" said
the lawyer, with sneer; and he tore
open the envelope and ran his eyes over
the enclosure Then his arms fell heavily
to his sides, and his face turned dingy
white.
sis he worse?'' asked Morford, quickly.
The old man fixed dull stare upon him.
"Who are your he demanded after a
pause, in heavy tone. "This letter says
my boy, Peter, is dead. But may be it's
o part of the swindle--n
But Morford made gesture with his
hand. "No, no, Mr.. Corvin," he said,
not unkindly. ~ Knew your son; / met
him in New York. He fell i'll. and as he
was destitute, 1 had him taken to the
hospital from which that letter came,
where he could get good nursing. But
he was not expected TO live. am sorry
for you. -
keep your sorrowl' said Corvin, set
the boys dead, he's dead, and that's the
end OF him! You ana your partner, here,
won't got the land any more for that.
III make will and leave Ii to the first
beggar / find in the street, sooner than
Nancy Billop, or any one she's plotting
with, sahll have as much of II as would
do to bury 'em!''
Morford eyed him rather sternIy for a
moment, and then turned to Nancy.
"What is your news, Miss Billop?' he
said.
But Nancy had hidden her face upon her
arms on the tat bic, and was crying silently.
She did not look up, but pushed the
paper towards Morford, with her hand.
" Read 1t to him-poor soull" she said,
with sob between the words.
Morford took II up, and faced the law
yer again. "This paper, MIR. Corvin,"
he said, sis in your handwriting, and
bears date about 10 years back. 1t is
signed by you, in presence of two wit
nesses. 1t states that in consideration OF