Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1903-03-04
CHAPTER NJ.
MYSTERY OF THE DEAD AlsER's HAND.

upon the books. 1t amounted to $500
shares.
Afterward Hackett came over to see
me ut Tunbridge and told me that this
action was in accordance with his own
stipulation. He had refused to sell at
any price or to use his influence to Sc
cure the stock from the other heirs I'M
less Kelvin would agree in writing, to
declare himself the owner through the
usual medium of the stockbook before
a certain date.
That was very honorable in you,
William" said l. But wish you had
given me chance at the stock"
The deal was proposed to me in con-
fidence," he reioined. II could not dis
close 1t to you. Besides" he added
thoughtfully, 81 wouldn't have had the
face to ask you to meet his terms"
This was all that could make him
say about the price which Kelvin had
paid.
81 knew what he wanted 1t for" said
he, "but its wild financial night
mare. Kelvin will never get control of
this road
"He will come mighty close to 1t,
William" said I.
Upon the same day mt n later hour
to my Office to see me, and the shock of
that surprise was considerable to a
man of my years.
Kelvin is capable of that engaging
franliness of department which char
acterizes the man who does not see
anything wrong in lying. He men,
toned his Investment in the branch
stock as if it had been something that
should be glad to hear of. When he
moved into a town, he said, it was al
ways his way to get a property interest
aside from mere house in which to
live 1t made him feel free to go ahead
and take hand in the towns affairs.
He had bought this branch stock be-
cause 1t was a good investment and
because 1t would identify him with
Tunbridge, which, because of its situa-
ton, depended so much upon the rail-
road for its prosperity.
When he had finished this address,
perceived that the real reason of his
visit did not lie in that matter at all.
This amicable mention of it had merely
paved the way for something else.
While he was preparing to Introduce
this other subject, the nature of which
could not guess. Donald strolled into
the Office and, seeing Kelvin, he was
about to back out again. '-,..,.-
Nothing private" said Kelvin.
Don't go on my account. I'd be glad
to have you stay. This is case where
superhuman agencies will be.welcome."
"a case in which they would be well
come to me- sir" said Donald, would
be a distinct novelty in my experience"
recognized flavor of little Rollo
in this remark which let me know that
Donald was disturbed in mind.
AS an old resident of Tunbridge,"
said Kelvin. turning to me, you will
remember Ezra Walmsley."
l have already mentioned this old
miser whose mortal part-with the ex-
ception of the right hand-lay buried in
Tunbridge cemetery. He was a most
unpleasant creature. h sullen and bru-
tai scoffer against all things sacred, and
The house III which he lived had long
been viewed with disfavor by the SUI
perstitious. for it had q history before
Walmsley's day. 1t was set with a
corner to the road and had been paint
ed red in some dim date Of old times,
but the paint had weathered to dingy
black, upon which. in certain states of
the atmosphere. dull spots like faded
blood stains would appear in curious
designs. When Walmsley died. his
hoard proved to be very small, though
there were stories of lhrge sums hid
den. What was found the public ad-
ministrator took charge of for lack Of
an heir.
Yes" replied to Kelvin. II knew
him. but there is an old maxim which
would present my saying anything
about him now that he is dead"
"Don't know any good Of him, eh?''
responded Kelvin. well, guess there
wasn't much to know. But to get back
to business. My property up here. The
Elms, used to be called the Stoughto1
place. That family in this town goe,
back to colonial times. Ezra Walmslel
marricd Stoughton after the famil.
had lost its money and was nearly ex
tinct. When Mrs. Walmsley died, sh,
was supposedSto be the very last Of tn,
Stoughton blood Soon afterward, alon,
in the early sixties, Walmsley, as til,
heir of his wife, brought suit for thi,
property which is now mine. He claim
ed that there had been no legal trans
fer"
"That was his contention" said 1. ~
family named Westcott then owned thu
place. Norman Westcott, the head O.
the family, was colonel in the Uniol
army and u fine lighting man. Becaus,
Colonel Westcott was busy putting
down the rebellion Walmsley though
that the chance of making trouble will
his suit was quite good, but the colo
mel came back, and the suit was set
tied. The whole truth never came out
SO far as ! know. 1t was very mucl
of mystery, as l remember. Abou
that time Walmsley lost his right hand
nobody knew how. There was legent
that he had sold it to the devil, but l
SO he didn't get his price, which coult
hardly have been anything else thai
the fine property now known as Kelvil
Elms."
"What do you suppose the fact
were?" asked Kelvin.
1.-THE facts commonly known" re
piled, "were that the public record o
the transfer of the property from tn
Stoughtons to the Westcotts had beel
destroyed and that Colonel Westcot
could not produce any deed, or, to b
more exact, Mrs. Westcott couldn'
produce it. Just what happened whel
the colonel suddenly and unexpected
Iy appeared no one could find Out
He may have shown the deed t
Walmsley and thus have ended tn
proceedings. but there is another stor
to the effect that Walmsley had thi
deed himself and that Westcott got
away from him either by force or by
4