Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1896-01-25
B LIND LOVE
WIL.KIE COLLINS.

CHAPTER LvL-THE BOARD OF %rRFCToe
A Board Meeting Of the Royal Unicorn
Life Insurance Company bad been special
ly convened.
II submit, Mr.. Chairman" said one
and he was a barrister-"that the Com
Piany KNOWS nothing ut ali about Lady
Harry Norlsnd. We have had TO deal
with the firm OF Erskine, Mansfield, Dem
ham a. Co., OF 1dncoln's lnn Fields. u a
most respectable firm, too. Ga their rep
regulations we paid the money. II II can
be ascertained that we have been defraud-
ed we must look to them. IL we have to
prosecute anybody, it must be that respest.
able firm"
Good" said the Chairman.
AT this moment a card was brought In.
1t was that OF Mr.. Erskine himself. senior
partner in the very firm.
lie came in. Old, sminently respectable.
but shaken. lie was greatly shaken.
"GentlemeU,' be said, %nervously, Il
hasten to bring you a communication, o
most extraordinary communication, which
i have just received. 1t Ia nothing less
than Il confessional full Confession
from d person whom | had every reason to
believe was dead. 1t Is from Lord Harry
NOrland."
Pray read II" the chairman said.
Gentlemen the lawyer read, "You
will be surprised and panied to ,earU that
1 am not-as you were given TO understand
dead: but, on the other hand, living aud
III the enjoyment Of rude health. see no
reason why my life should not be prolong-
ed TO three score years and ten.
Tn clall.., therefore. which you sent in
70 the Royal Unicorn Life insurance Com
pdny was fraudulent. IL was the result
OF a deep aid conspiracy. You nave been
made the Innocent accomplice OF a gIcat
crime.
Ny wife, who now knows the whole
frutn il most unYInng for raCfffnffan 70
be made. Sue is ABOUT TO restore that Dor
tioa Of the money which lies in her name.
The rest will be SEN back by myself, on
EJertain conditions.
In communicating the fact OF my being
still alive to the head OF my family you
will please also 10 inform him that | au-
thorize the discontinuance OF the premium.
This will save the family 1890 a year.
This will be IA solatium to him for the fact
that his brother still lives to disgrace the
name. II | should die before the next
premium is due | order my heirs not to
claim the money. ! remain, gentlemen,
your obedieut %seryant,
iiARRl NoHLAsu.'
"The premium, which slouid have been
aid under ordlsary circumstances" said
the secretary, was due six week ago. The
policy has Therefore expired
HE will not he caught observed the
Chairman. The letter is from too cool a
hand. He has prepared "A retreat. ! dare
say by thist time he is In some safe and
c~erned--are we not;-for the momen with
the lady. She has received the money
from you. We paid it 10 YOU on your rep,
RESERVATIONS
Observe said the lawyer, that the
moment she learns the truth she hastens
to make restitution
"Humph,' said the Director, turning
over Lord Harry's letter SO that the lawyer
should not be able TO read the contents.
"Have you seen herr"
II have not. expect to do so before
long. She will certainly call upon me-
"She will he ill-advised, y said the Chair.
man, "!f she calls upon u ybody Just at
present. Well, sir. ! confess that | am
s~orry-every member Of this board would
be sorry-to see that lady placed In the
dock beside her husband
"In the interests OF the noble family on
cerned, | hope that neither Of them will be
placed In the dock
I'VE are much obliged to you, sir, for
your prompt action. 1t is, of course, onl y
what we should have expected of your
firm. Meantime, remember that the claim
was made by you, that you received the
money. and-but we will communicate
with you in a few days.
The Secretary wrote such a letter as was
suggested. By return of post a check was
sent, signed by one William Linville, fOr
the sum OF eight thousand pounds. The
Company had. therefore, recovered thir'
teen out OF fifteen thousand pounds. The
Secretary had another interview with Mr..
Erskine, the result OF which WAS that the
Company recovered the remaining two
thousand pounds.
Every firm of solicitors contains its own
secrets and Keeps them. Therefore, we
need not inquire whether it ~as intended
that this money should be paid by the firm
or by the noble family TO which Lord Har.
~ Norland belonged. Ii is, owever, Ger.
tain that q tsSaays atteryYaEds Mr.
< had a long conversation with the senIoI
partner, aud that he left behind him
very big check.