Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1889-08-29


glanced burriedly round, mounted the
bulwarks and leaped into the sea- One
of the ships officers just caught sight
of him as he disappeared; an alarm
was quickly raised, and the engines
were reversed. No one had time to
notice or think of the coat; but Sir
Toby always prided himself on his
presence of mind. Instantly he seized
it. tore off his own coat. which con-
tanned the pocket book and the papers,
laid it down on the deck and put on
the coat left behind by the suicide. 1t
was a master-stroke, a veritable in
spiration. and Sir Toby retired to his
berth knowing that the odds were at
least hundred to one against rescue.
At his leisure he examined the pockets
of the strangers garment; the only
thing OF importance it contained was
letter, apparently addressed to the
dead mans wife. las thought. said
Sir Toby to himself, when he read it at
leisure. ordinary case of forgery, can
not live any longer-the usual boshi l
don't think that Mrs. Bowston will
ever get this letter." And he burned
it carefully, and night or two later
took an opportunity OF throwing the
coat itself overheard. Now l am
really all right" he reflected.
There was a great hue and cry in
London when it was reported that Sir
Toby Bunskin had actually disappeared.
Half the detectives were employed to
| look for him. advertisements were in
serted by the score, even placards were
posted on the boardings; no exertion,
in fact, and no expense were spared to
discover his whereabouts. But not the
slightest result followed until the news
arrived from America that Sir Toby
had jumped from an Atlantic steamer
and had, of course, been drowned, leav-
| ing behind him. no doubt for purposes
of identification, a coat, in the pocket
of which was a pocket-book containing
cards and private papers obviously be-
longing to the unfortunate Baronet. 1t
was nine-days' wonder, but as no one
cared a straw about Sir Toby when
alive, people soon got tired of specu-
| lating as to the cause which had
prompted the crash act" And as soon
as certain necessary legal formalities
had been complied with, Jack Bunskin,
found himself Sir John Tobias Bunskin,
Baronet, of Bunskin Hall and Gros-
venor Square, and the possessOr Of a
substantial rent-roll and a goodly sum
of ready money. Now, it was not very
likely that Jack should feel any pro-
found grief for his uncle. The manner
of the old mans death certainly shocked
him considerably, but the pleasures
and duties of his new position speedily
banished the unpleasant subject from
his mind.
He had, too, plenty of things to look
after. His creditors, of course, came
down upon him in hungry horde, and
the amount of post-obits which he had
to pay off was quite alarming. More
over. he had no intention of leading
the sober and quiet life that had suited
his uncle He bought yacht, started
a small racing-stud, and began to dab
bic in city companies-all of which
! things demand considerable amount
of time and attention, not to mention
money. So a couple of years passed.
Jack, in common parlance, went the
pace to the best of his ability; got him
| self elected NJ. Z. for one of the divi-
sions of Fallowland, and finally became
engaged to Miss Hilda Grains, only
daughter and heiress of the late Sir
John Grains, NJ. p, the well-knOwn
brewer and millionaire. There was, of
course, very grand wedding, and, in
due time, the happy paired returned to
London from a prolonged honeymoon
on the Continent. When Jack had fin
ished examining a pile of letters and
other documents. he inquired of the
family butler whether he had any spe-
cial news to communicate, for that in
dividual looked like a man burdened
with a guilty secret.
'.It's my dooty to tell you, sir" said
Mr.. Flaggon, mysteriously, las an old
gent as been calling here every day
for the last week and says he must see
you"
lis that alp" queried Jack.
mo, sir-fact is, sir, that he says
he's your uncle"
My uncle! What miserable non
sense! Why, the fellow must be a
! lunatic or an impOstOrrn
just so, sir; but we can't get rid of
him, and didn't like to give the poor
old idiot in charge"
Quite right, Flaggon; next time he
comes I'll see him."
Oddly enough, half an hour after
wards, the old gentleman returned,
and Mr.. Flaggon promptly ushered
him into Sir Johns study.
We'll, my man." said the new baro-
net, land what can l do for you?"
Jack" said the stranger, do you
mean to say that you don't know me?
I'm your Uncle Toby-I am, indeed.
and not blessed soul recognizes me"'
This is driveling nonsense!" he
said; ''but if you are my uncle, how
the deuce do you account for the fact
that you were drowned in the At
lantic?"
Il wasn't drowned; it was another
passenger, and Sir Toby confessed
the story of the change of coats, which
had induced every one to believe he
was dead.
But what on earth have you been
doing for more than two years."