The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1902-12-24
low lid Walmsley get it!' inquire

L,
stolen by thieves who entered the
house, and that Walmsley, who was
generally believed to be receiver OF
stolen goods. bought this document
with the rest of the plunder. That
there was robbery in the old Slough
ton house | know positively. 1t was
said that Walmsley lost his hand IN
y quarrel with these thieves; that 1t
was SO badly injured as to necess1tate
amputation. The name Of doctor was
mentioned, but if he did the work ne
held the fact to be professional Sc
cret."
when 1 bought the place." said hel-
vim, 81 was aware Of this flaw in the
title, but I was assured that there was
not a Stoughton heir nor a Walmsley
heir on the face Of the earth"
Il don't believe that there is one"
said I. "Walmslcy had son, but he
died."
"Can you prove it," demanded Eel
vim.
NO" admitted. HE didn't die
here. Yet 1 think it is susceptible OF
proof. He died in early childhood, as
remember"
"a man has appeared in this town
who claims to be that son." said Kel-
vim. He has threatened me with a
suit. Now. the fellow is an impostor
On the face Of him. He doesn't appear
with legal counsel. He came to see me
a couple of days ago with some sort Of
documentary rubbish to prove his iden-
titv, and be asked ne in the name OF
Justice to move out Of the house. l
told him to move out pretty quick. He
did, saying that he'd come back, but he
hasn't. shouldn't ordinarily regard
such a claim as having any Importance,
though these blackmailing suits are
confounded nuisance, and if this rascal
really could make out any sort OF q
case he'd have ne in tight place. I'd
probably have to pay him something" :"
at would be hard to prove the death
OF Walmsley's son at this late date"
said I.
That's true" said he, "and yet I'd
be willing to take my chances BUT
here's another feature Of the case: My
butler. Cobb, who stole the diamonds,
is out on bail. I was going very light
on him, for, after all, he furnished US
with q most interesting experience,
thanks to our young friend here, and
besides he didn't really get away with
ANYTHING; so the charge against him was
made as mild as the law would allow,
and bail was fixed at $500. 1t has been
furnished in cash. He was released
yesterday, early in the afternoon, ana
be came right up to my house-made a
bee line for it, as I've learned by IN
quiry. Naturally he didn't feel like
presenting himself at the front door, so
he got into the house by a window OF
the library. I happened to so to that
room after lunch and met the man face
to face"
There seemed to be something anus
ing in the recollection, for Kelvin grin
ned.
Upon my word, he's cool one!' he
continued. "He was just taking down
a book to resd. Said he thought that
he'd improve his mind while waiting
for me. Your morals are what need
improving said l. Your minds all
right After that we got right down
to business, and he said that he had
heard Of the threatened suit against
me and that he could be Of assistance
to me if l would treat him fairly.
Naturally asked him what be could
do. and after some backing and filling
he said that be could produce the miss
ing decd" -,
Il beg your pardon, Mr.. Kelvin" said
Donald. "Did he tell you how he had
got news Of the suit?"
81 couldn't corner him on that point"
answered Kelvin, 'but have shrewd
idea. His lawyer is Joe Harvey. the
worst shyster in these parts, as I'm
told. Now, believe that the whole
Job has been put up by Harvey and
tina: it is based upon facts told him
by Cobb"
THAT seems likely" said l. Being
in your house, Cobb would naturally
pry into everything that might be OF
use to him. lie probably heard the old
story Of Walmsiey's suit and the miss
ing deed"
Its some kind Of q game, OF course. ="
continued Kelvin, but here is the fact:
If this fellow can really produce this
deed, I'm willing to pay something for
it and ask no questions. More than
that, III do my best to withdraw the
charge Of theft against Cobb in the
matter of the diamonds"
told Kelvin that thought it great
mistake to permit rascal to triumph
in this way and so scot free after a
crime which really had no excuse. In
my opinion, one should take the side of
the law in such matters for the protee-
ton of the community. If Cobb had
been a sorely tempted man would
have wished to see the utmost leniency
shown to him, but he had committed a
bald crime and was now following 1t
up with another. The place for such q
man is the penitentiary.
"In a business matter" said Kelvin,
"I never lose sight of this one great
point What is it that I'm after? In
this case it is the deed that completes
nv title. to The Elms. If could get ii
for nothing and send Cobb to the pen
itentiary to boot, I'd do it. Perhaps
there may be way to manage that"
''It is my judgment" said i, that the
fellow has a bogus deed for sale"
E'The same thing occurred to me, OF
course" responded Kelvin. land for
that reason 1 put Cobb off. If Id asked
him to produce his document. l should
not have known whether it was genu'
inc or not
HE couldn't have had it in his pock'
ct, Mr.. Kelvin" said Donald. "The fel'
;o;J hf