Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1882-08-13
A CABINET SECRET.

4 tAAo SN&SAON SsAAAhe3g tuC 81
ing onn of the Rev. Samuel had been q
scandal and by-word in b Is parish
and diocese for years past, and when
matters came to such climax that his
son felt in duty bound to offer q respect
! full remonstrance, everyone considered
\ that Reginald's interference was more
than justifitable. Unfortunately, the
| reverend gentleman took q different
view, and though he followed his sons
advice and resigned his benefice, he
\ neither discontinued his attentions to
I the lady nor showed himself ameaable
to reason. On the contrary, he took the
young woman with him TO the Gsud-
nept, after first making fresh will,
leaving every farthing Of his large for
tune to his elder brother, the Baronet.
Reginald Courtney was very much
distressed at having incurred his father
displeasure. There intercourse had al
ways been extremely friendly, though
Of late years, owing, probably, to gull
| ty conscience, the rector had rather
| Stunned his sons society. But the old
gentleman, though he did not often beg
Reginald to his house, made up for his
neglect in other ways, and especially by
granting him q liberal allowance, which
enabled the yonng man to lead life OF
| pleasant idleness under the pretense OF
| studying for the bar. This allowance
was ut once discontinued when the es-
arrangement took place, and Regi-
maids income was suddenly reduced to
the pittance which he had inherited
from his mother. 1t was, however, less
| on this account than from honest atfee-
ton and filial regard he made overtures
| to his father to bring about reconciila-
| ton, but his letters were sternly dlsre-
garded by the outraged parent; and be-
fore time could work its soothing and
beneticient effect upon him, the Rector
tor and his fellow traveller perished In a
dreadful conflagration which destroyed
a crowded opera house, and made Eu-
rope ring with tale of horror.
Ii was rude shock to Reginald to
find himself disinherited. His father
had not revoked or altered his unjust
will, which was proved, in due course,
by Sir Craven Courtney, the fortunate
legatee, who took possession of his
brothers estate with sublime inditfer-
ence to his nephew's feelings. Reginald
had quarreled with the baronet and his
ramiIy long ago, in standing up for his
father, and dutifully repelling their ill
natured attacks upon him. He there
fore felt his present position the more
aeutely because he could expect neither
assistance nor sympathy from his near
est relatives. Thrown upon his own re-
sources, and being totally ignorant, with
no accomplishments, how to set about
earning his own living, he thankfully
accepted modest post as supernumer-
airy clerk or writer in one OF the Gov
eminent offices. His fortunes being
now at their lowest ebb, he proceeded
to exemplify the proverbial reckless
ness Of both by getting married. Then
he gradually lost sight of his old friends
and associates, dropped out of society
and soon developed into an anxious,
careworn, proverty-strieken father of a
perpetual struggle to make both ends
meet. Under this condition of things
is seemed like a glimpse OF heaven
when an unknown correspondent Of
fered to put him in possession Of e2),OOO
of certain conditions. Young Courtney
naturally lost no time in calling upon
his benefaetor to inquire into the matter.
Mr.. Richard de COurcy Myrtle Jones
was the euphoniOus appellation OF TINS
benevolent individual, who described
himself on his letter-paper by the vague
term of claw agent" and gave an ad-
dress in q fashionable West End street.
To Coartney's disappointment he turn
ed out to be a vulgar, shabby little man,
carving on business in dingy office
on a third floor, who certainly did not
look as though he had the disposal OF
superfIuous thousands. Nevertheless,
he solemnly averred to his astonished Wis
itor that he was in u position to reveal
most important information, and would
do so il Reginald would be satisfied with
the sum named, and would promise to
pay him over and above that amount.
Reginald COurtney's first impulse
was to agree to the condition at once.
He had thought the matter over, and
knew of no source from whence so large
a sum could possible be forthcoming;
besides which, the prospect of receiving
100000 in his Strengthened clrcum-
stances was dazzling enough to make
him Indifferent to the possible balance.
He was on the point OF affixing his
signature to a formal agreement, which
Mr.. Myrtle Jones produced ready
drawn, when suddenly occurred TO nina
that he was acting rashly. He there
fore decided to take a few days for re-
Election, and sought out his old friend
Bob Tyler, to ask his advice.
Bob was regarded as shining light
at the Blenheim Club among his own
set, on account of his natural shrewd-
ness, his worldly wisdom, and his native
talent for diplomacy. He was little
vain of his reputation, and, being an
easy.going, gOOd-natured fellow, was
always ready to take an interest in his
friends affairs. He greeted Reginald
warmly, after his long absence from his
old haunts, and listened to his story
with careful attention. AT his suSges-
ton Reginald made particular inquiries
about his fathers will, and especially
as to whether he had executed a fresh
one while abroad; but he found no rea-
son to suspect thst the will which had
been proved did not convey his parents
last wishes.
TYLER, on his part, directed his ener-
cfes to gathering information concerning
Mr.. MYRTLE Jones and his method OF
doing business. He found Me-. Jones
was neither more or less respectable
than the rest of class, who earn q
somewhat precarious livelihood by
searching the records of the Chancery
and Bankruptcy Courts, and hunting
up persons entitled to long neglected
funds. AS in nine cases out often the
information thus acquired turns out,
from various causes, to be valueless, the
business would not be profitable were 1t
not for the preliminary fees which it is
customary to exact from victims whose
cupidity has been aroused. The fact
that Mr.. Myrtle Jones had dispensed
Nth this ,nrelimfnarv fee in Re0i1aiQS
case seemed to suggest the the SOL
disant sslaw agentn fs;l more than
usually connuent ofthe value OF his
secret. h.s1ar,. .f:e.e - 81 -
iUpon the whole,' said Bob, few
DAYS afterwards, SIN inclined to think
there is something in 1t, but Pu be
hanged if can guess which way the
wind blows. I don't like the idea of
your resigning yourself blindfolded into
Mr.. Jones's hands. Suppose we call
upon him together and talk it over"
Bnt Bob Tyler found his powers OF
persuasion and diplomacy at fault in