Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1900-05-09
CHAPTER XIV.

In III CA5b, 1ttfs ScA SAVh O1 AAb
DEAD"
At ten o'clock on the morning OF the
10th Hugh Gordon and Tom boarded
the steamer for Wilmington. where
they arrived at noon.
Tom had stated at home shat he
was going up the river on the steamer,
but would be back before the time set
fm the marriage ceremony"
His father and mother supposed that
b is errand to town was to procure some
present for one or both of the brides.
Arrived in Wilmington, the two
gentlemen proceeded to the Carolina
hotel to dinner, and at two o'clock stood
on the piazza of 9 brick residence on
Chestnut street.
Hugh Gordon thumped on the old
fashioned knocker, and q colored girl
opened the door.
How is the colonel to-dayP" asked
Gordon.
"De doctor say he much improved,
he in de office; come dis away"
They followed the girl into the office.
A smooth-faced gentleman, whose
silvery hair bespoke the fact that no
had passed the meridian of life, was
seated in a large rocker before q tabla
on which We're arranged before him
numerous papers and law books. while
from the array along the wall 1t was
evident to Tom that they were In tho
office of an attorney at law.
Good day, gentlemen; will you be
seated9 Hester, will you place chairs
for the gentlemen near the tablet.
Colonel" said Gordon, II trust And
you much improved"
Every much, Mr.. Gordon, thank you.s
"Allow me, colonel, to introduce my
friend Lieut.. Thomas Hill.
Indeed, young man, am glad to
meet you. have had the pleasure Of
lifelong acquaintance with your TO-
ther, but suppose that he now thinks
am at the bottom of the sea"
II remember seeing you often, at our
home, when boy, and Gun assure you,
my father greatly regretted to hear Of
your loss at sea; If remember 1t was 40
the time the Media went down."
"The same, Tom. You will excuse mo
for calling an old friends children by
their given names"
II should wish to be called no other,
colonel"
We'll, Gordon, how did your snare
operate? I suppose Tom is conversant
with the matter, or he would not be here
in your company"
"He Is fully SO, colonel, and together
we listened to admissions by Lathrop Of
his guilt"
Here Gordon related all that had
TRANSFERRED, the night before, in the
library at Kendall.
He is evidently filed with remo-se
at this time" said Col. Strange, for he IL
was.
$50 much so, that doubt even II the
Justice of the law is meted out to him. {"
you fear suicide, then?''
II should not be surprised at any time
to hear that he had taken his life. I
feel almost certain that he will attempt
1t, when he is confronted with the
charge Of numbering his uncle"
Far better should he die by his own
hand" said the attorney. my poor
friend. Lloyd, distrusted Herbert, but
little did he think that the youth he
educated and raised would prove his
assassin"
Colonel, will you please state to Mr..
Hill, the circumstances in regard to the
will of the banker"
"That is soon done: On the Goth day
of October, 1920, at just about this hour,
John Lloyd sat where you now sit, and
at his dictatlon I drew up his will. He
desired to have me act as his administra-
tor, in case of his death. had all or
engagements made for trip to Europe,
and stated that sometimes people were
lost at sea, and suggested that he So
lect some one else, or leave vacancy,
until I returned.
''He replied: Leave the name va
cant, Jim; you know more as to my
affairs than does anyone else, and
guess won't peg out before you re-
turn
"'No, John, I trust not,' said, or
for many years to come, but should you,
the name being absent would not In
validate the will. and the court would
sec that your daughter was properly
protected. In the will was clause lesy-
ing Herbert Lathrop $4,000, and Mr..
Lloyd seemed to think that he was treat
ing him very literally. He said as
much, and added: II at his aga he
cannot succeed in life, with the educa-
ton have given him and $4,000. he
probably would not with more.
"'Of course, should live for years
md see proper to make his bequest
larger, can do SO, but that is enough
money to place in the hands of young
man of his age
ANDREW Bligh, passing as I had con-
cluded writing the will, I called him in,
md he and myself signed itas witnesses;
but poor Bllgh went down with the Ill
fated Media, while in my case the ses
! gave up ite deaA thAt I nalghs ~ =