The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1903-08-28
CHAPTER XII.

be had, Kelvin made some
what more open move than | had ex-
pected at this stage of the game. He
appeared in the office of the railroad,
at the junction, accompanied by VIII
liam Hackett, and the transfer of the
entire Hackett interest was recorded
upon the books 1t amounted to $500
shares.
Afterward Hackett came over to see
me at 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 IN
less Kelvin would agree. In writing, to
declare himself the owner through the
usual medium of the stockbook before
a certain date.
'srhat was very honorable in you,
William" said I. But I wish you had
given me chance at the stock"
"Tbe deal was proposed to me In con-
fidence, he rejoined. II could not dis
close it to you Besides" he added
thoughtfully, II 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
II knew what he wanted 1t for" said
he "but it's wild financial night
mare. Kelvin will never get control of
this road"
"He will come mighty close to it,
William" said l.
Upon the same day at later hour |
received a call from Kelvin. He came
to my office to see me, and the shock of
that surprise was considerable to
man of my years.
Kelvin is capable of that engaging
frankness Of department which char
actertzes the man who does not see
anything wrong in lying. He men
TONED his investment in the branch
stock as il 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 a 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 it was good investment and
because it 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 1t 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 distinct novelty in my experience"
/ recognized a 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 win
remember Ezra WalmsLey"
have already mentioned this old
miser whose mortal part-wtth the ex-
ception of the right hand-iay buried in
Tunbridge cemetery. He was a most
unpleasant creature, sullen and bru-
tai scoffer against all things sacred, and
q man of secret and mysterious ways.
The house in which he lived had long
been viewed with disfavor by the SUI
perstitious, for 1t had a 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 large 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 prevent my saying anything
about him now that he is dead"
Don't know any good Of him, chr
responded Kelvin. swell, guess there
wasn't much to know. But to get back
to business. My property up hare The
Films, used to be called the Stoughton
place. That family in this town goes
back to colonial times. Ezra Walmsley
married a Stoughton after the family
had lost its money and was nearly ex-
tinct. When Mrs. Walmsley died, she
was supposed TO be the very last Of the
Etoughton blood. Soon afterward along
In the early sixties, Walmsley, as the
heir of his wife, brought suit for this
property which is now mine. He claim
ed that there had been no legal trans
fer"
That was his contention said l. IA
Family named Westcott then owned the
place. Norman Westcott, tho head of
the family, was colonel in the Union
army and fine fighting man. Because
Colonel Westcott was busy putting
down the rebellion Walmsley thought
that the chance of making trouble with
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 much
OF mystery, as l remember. About
that time Walmsley lost his right hand,
nobody knew how. There was legend
that he had sold 1t to the devil, but If
so he didn't get his price, which could
hardly have been anything else than