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

ed red in some dim date Of old times,
but the paint had weathered to a dingy
black. upon which, In certain states of
the atmosphere, dull spots like faded
blood stains would appear In curious
designs. When WalmsIey died, his
hoarfproved to be very small, though
there were stories OF large sums hid
den. What was found the public nd
minstrator took charge of for lack Of
an heir.
YES" replied to Kelvin. 'T 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, eh7''
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 Stoughton
place. That family In this town goes
back to colonial times. Ezra Walmsley
married StQpghton after the family
had lost It's money and was nearly ex.
tinct. When Mrs. Walmsley died, she
was s'supposed to be the very last Of the
StouShton 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 tfans:
fer" sSyas p
THAT was his contention" said I. .ssA
family named Westcott then owned th9;
place. Norman Westcott, the head Sd1
the family, was a colonel In the Union
armysand fine lighting mum. BeSafSa
Cologsf Westcott was busy ppft)ng
dowA the rebellion WalmsleyS tkdb &hts
Yhat the chance making troSi1& 2fitfit
SSnit was =! Ne good euS 8lESl6 63&1<
mel came sbas and sthes sutt~w4sF .sets.
so far as l know. 1t was very much
Of q mystery, as l remember. About
that time Walmslcy lost his right hand,
nobody knew how. There was legend
that lie had sold 1t to the devil. but If
SO he didn't get his price. which could
hardly have been anything else than
the fine property now known as Kelvin
Elms"
"What do you suppose the facts
wereT asked Kelvin.
''The facts commonly known" 1 re-
piled, were that the public record of
the transfer Of the property from the
Stoughtons TO the Westcotts had been
destroyed and that Colonel Westcott
could not produce any deed, or, to be
more exact, Mrs. Westcott couldn't
produce 1t. Just what happened when
the colonel suddenly and unexpected
ly appeared no one could find out
He may have shown the deed to
Walmsley and thus have ended the
proceedings, but there is another story
to the effect that Walmsley had this
deed himself and that Westcott got 1t
away from him either by force or by a
payment"
"How did Walmsley get itP inquired
Kelvin.
&. ''The story told by those who seemed
to know" said l, was that 1t had been
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
q quarrel with these thieves; that 1t
was so badly injured as to necessitate
amputatfon. The name Of doctor was
mentioned, but II he did the work he
held the fact to be n professional Sc
cret."
when I bought the place." said Kel-
vim. 81 was aware Of this flaw in the
title, but ! was assured that there was
not Stoughton heir nor a Walmsley
heir on the face Of the earth"
81 don't believe that there is one,"
said |. "Walmsley had son, but he
died."
Can you prove it7" demanded Kei.
win.
NO." I admitted. "He didn't die
here. Yet think 1t is susceptible of
proof. He died in early childhood, as
I remember"
tTo BE Continued =,
As Far as se Knew.
"One Of the comp, ;ent parts OF sus-
ar" said the professor, 'is an essential
In the composition Of the human BODY.
What Is itY'
II know" shouted the grocers boy.
"Sand!-Exchange.
knocks the Romance.
To take a trip aboard n ship
Across the broad Atlantic
And sail and sail through calm and gale