The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1904-02-19
CHAPTER S1. :


MYSTERY OF THE DEAD siisER's HAND.
V IA RHILE was quietly endeav.
EyAg or:ng TO seeure as much of
: " W the branch stock as. could
a dse had, Kelvin made n some
, what, msS ,inovc than l had ex-
pectea St.t8sfa@ OF the game. He
appeared atht. ofitce of the railroad,
at thesjanStfsn, accompanied by Will
.h2nT H,sckeft, and the transfer of the
cntlse .Hacketts interest was recorded
upoii the books 1t Amounted to 1900
/ Aftefward fInck zane oyer 10 see
me mt .fulihriage and told me / tIiSf this
sastien tyas In accordance wifk 3slssown
sSpuIat ne hads f<xnsed 8t :sell at
10y price otStouse his sintlNl ssto Sc.
cure the stock from ffe of6&r heirs un.
Nless Kelvin would agree, in writing, to
declare. himself the owner through the
usual medium Of the stockbook before
q certain date.
THAT was very honorable in you,
William" said l. "But wish you had
given me chance at the stock"
1.-The deal was proposed to me in con-
ndence," he rejoined. 81 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.
II knew what he wanted it 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 1.
Upon the same day at later hour /
received call from Kelvin. He came
to my office to see me- and the shock of
that surprise was considerable to n
man of my years.
Kelvin is capable of that engaging
frankness 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 town, he said, 1t was al
ways his way to get 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 it was good investment and
because it would identify him with
Tunbridge, which, because Of it's 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
l could not guess, Donald strolled into
the office, and, seeing Kelvin, he was
about to back out again.
Nothing private" said Kelvin.
Don't 80 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 flavor Of little Rollo
In this remark which let me know that
Donald was disturbed in mind.
; "As an old resident OF Tunbrldge," !"
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. sullen and bru-
tai scoffer against all things sacred. and
man Of secret and mysterious ways.
The house In which he lived had long
been viewed with disfavor by the su.
perstitious for 1t had history before
Walmsley's day. 1t was set with q
corner to tho road an1 had haay, y,atp<