The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1901-04-09

address as the office of the newspaper,
but after four or five days I received a
call from him in person He gave me
his name as James Bennett and his
address as London and left me to infer
that he was a man of leisure.
l was not exactly pleased with Mr..
Benefits personal appearance. He
was a tall. dark faced man of troubled
countenance. His eyes had furtive
look, and he was nervous and i'll at
ease. Had met him while travelling
should have been inclined to look upon
him with suspicion. He told straight
enough story, however, though rather
queer one. Being left an orphan at the
age of ~ years, he had been brought
up by an uncle living in Hartford coun-
ty. He had always been given to I'M
derstand that he would be his uncle's
heir, and he was sure that will had
been made to that effect, but three
years previous to his call on me the
uncle had passed away, no will had
been found. and the property had gone
to the next of kin. While the uncle
was rich. he was also an eccentric. Be
ing a single man and living almost
alone, he had been almost a hermit.
The house he had occupied was ram
bling old structure at best and now
that it had been untenanted for several
years was in a bad state. What Mr..
Bennett had come to believe was that
the will was concealed in the old house.
He had searched and searched without
avail, and he wanted my assistance for
a new search. There might be secret
closets he had passed over. If would
give him my faithful services for three
days, he would pay me f25. II the
will was found. he would present me
with f20O more. | was to say nothing
of my quest, make my appearance at
the old house on certain date. and he
would assist in the search.
didn't like Benefits personal ap-
pearance and actions, as ! have said,
but there was nothing out of the way
with his story, and was glad to ac-
cept his offer. 1t would be combining
romance with business to come upon
the hidden will and restore the ousted
heir to his own. His caution to me to
make my way alone from the nearest
station without asking or answering
questions might have seemed queer but
for the fact that we woulf both be Tres
passers while making the search. l
| had not a single suspicion. was to
arrive by a train which would enable
me after a walk of three miles to ar
rive at the old house at dark. and he
would have provisions at hand and hx
M the best lodgings he could. | was
especially warned not to betray my
destination to any one | happened to
meet en- route and was to bring NO
baggage.
All these things seemed all right to
me at the time. reached the station
by the train named but found the
distance to the house to be five miles
instead Of three. This brought about
my arrival quite a spell after dark
and BENNETT was waiting for me
quarter of a mile up the road. The
first question he asked was if any one
had spoken to me, and when assured
him that even the people at the station
did not know where | was bound FOL
he was somewhat elated. found III
had provisions for a cold lunch, bu
nothing very appetizing. while W.
must sleep on the bare boards or tn
family sitting room. 1t was While eat
ing supper that | noticed wild
strange look in the mans face and be
gan to doubt him. He was reStlcs
and distract and watched me III
furtive way, and it wasn't long befor
felt that he had some sinister de
signs in Turing me to the lonely OIL
, house. / put bold face on the maj
, ter and demanded an explanation, an
at that he attacked me and threw IN
to the floor. From his savage name
/ believed he was going to murder NJ
outright, but after growing in III
throat like wolf he lifted me up an
showed me into closet and bolteu I'll
stout door on me- or course protes
ed. argued and struggled, but withot
avail. | heard him laughing to hin
self after he had locked me in. but
did not hear him leave the house. Flft
times during the night ! kicked on q
' door and called out, but l got no al
! swer. Next morning, still failing
= arouse him, began to cut at the do'
with my pocketknife. 1t was Of Ga
and my task was hard one. It WI
almost night when l reached up al
. slid back the bolt, and as soon as o.
found the house deserted and lost l
! time in getting away myself
: l went straight to the police Wi
my story. and wig. do you think Y