Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-08-30
ILLI RIGHTS RESERVED. ]
CHAPTER rvI1-ANorHER BARGAIN.

active in his breast.
At all events. the purposes that had brough'
him to England-to warringham-was accom-
plished. The mystery that had yelled his fath-
er's history dispelled now; but the Glscov5
ery that the dead MARX Eliot and Alchard
Harwood were brothers was almost as dlspleas-
ing as ii was unexpected.
The Young man had never had anything but
contempt for the halloween whose luminosity
had driven him out of England, and he had am
pie ground now for hating him.
If his father had lyed-if his mother mao only
known that her husband George Bentham
Harvood Richard HARDWOOD would never have
gained possession OF the fortune he had held Tor
nearly quarter OF century But the WIG and
jll-fated George HARDWOOD knew nothing OF the
wealth that his relative had beQuesthed him
when he met his fate; and his wife died In ex-
tremest poverty: their son had fought all his
life for a bare existence. never dreaming hewas
heir to anything doubtful ancestry.
Mark felt certain that he had not only a moral
but legal claim also upon his newly found
unce's wealth, and he meant TO assert that
claim TO the uttermost limit. In the courts OF
law he would assert his rights TO the fortune OF
his unfortunate parent.
Had Richard Harwood been an honest and
good man Rark might have been inclined to
spare himself and his relative the expos are ana
expenditure such lawsuit would entail. But
the millowner had done Snd been everything
that was despicable and cruel: Not only had
he forced Mark to quit Wauinghsm. but, be
lieving Nellie to be his brothers. child. he had
bribed Dan Ashton to keep her Identity
secret.
such man deserved no mercy. and Mark was
determined not to spare him.
Such thoughts as these ran through the young
mans mind as, turning from the room IN which
The dying lay. he sped down The narrow
stat case with the intention OF returning to the
hotel whereat he had engaged rooms that morn
ing after he had been set free. -,
Just he was quitting the Star man ran up
10 him saying
al am
MY master told me to give you this note -
Your master-whO is her
pipl.ar ri Harry &
wait a moment. - said Mark ind turning
back to the door of the inn he read 1t by the
light of the gas jet there. II was as follows:
My Dear Sir-f you have half an hour to
spare when you get this note shall be glad If
YOU will come to my house. After the stirling
revelation Ashton mas made 1 tnink you ana
ought to come to some arrangement at once. II
Sou are really poor Georges son. and 40 not
doubt IL for one moment. am prepared 10 DO
you the smplest justice. Come al once, on re-
RICHARD HARDWOOD"
Mark reflected a moment after reading ms
uncle's miSsive, and then turning to the ser
want who was still waiting, he said:
Tell AIR. Harwood VIII be with him in few
minutes.
Eyes sir.
Then the man darted of and Eliot followed in
the same direction at more leisurely pace The
tenor OF the note proved that Richard HarWood
had been deeply impressed by Dan Ashtons
confession in respect to the mill-owner 5 dead
brother: and that he no longer disputed It's &C
Curscy was evident from his desire T. make terms
with Marx.
As to what he would do IN the matter Mark
had as vet no clear idea. He was stiN full Of
wonder at the thought he was Richard Har-
wood nephew, and that his father was the
brother of one whom he had known so long.
AS he passed through the gate and went to-
wards Bank house, Mark could not avoid re-
Numbering his former visit to the millcwner's
residence; and when he reflected on the almost
incredible changes the last year and a half had
brought about. the past appeared TO him ike
some strange drama in which he had played
A little later our hero and Richard Harwood
were sitting in that room wherein that unpleas-
ant interview prior to the strike had taken place
between them The mill owner began bv treat
ing his visitor with the utmost Difference, greet
ing him with words of welcome, placing the
most com Portable chair in the apartment at his
command, and pressing wine and cigars upon
him.
~ suppose, - Harwood ssid presently, when
he and his guest were smoking their weeds,
that you were much surprised by the nature
OF Dan Ashton's revelations as l was myseli?''
something very different. Ashton had made on
believe. 1t appears, that Nellie Pembertou was
your niece, ana you had"
quickly. Dan deceived me. and IN admit
frankly that il was wrong, very wrong indeed,
for me TO have done what did But can tel
you something about Walter Mayhem which
you will be pleased to hear
What is it?''
Mayhem has got hold of Ashton's secret-he
believed that Dams daughter was my niece, ana
that prompted him to marry her at any cost
You are sure of that?''
place he came to me and threatened to let the
world know that his wife was my dead broth
er's child unless gave him half partnership
in my mills Fearing the exposure conceded
his demands.
But the artnership has not been eHected?''
Mark broke in.
mo. and il never will be now,
81 thank you for telling me this. Mr., Har-
WOOD. 1t explains much that 1 wanted to know.
The scoUndrel misled me and married that poor
girl because he thought her the rightful heiress
70 your fortune, - Mark exclaimed.
''Just so. Well. he is not likely to enjoy either
his wife or my fortune now. But now tell me
something about yourself. If you can satisfy me
that you are really Georges son, then / am
prepared 10 do you the fullest justice.
Hereupon the Younger man gave his compan-
ion a brief yet suCcinCt account OF his own his
tory; of his journey to America, and of his
meeting with Paul II. Linwood, and the extraor
binary disclosures resulting theTefTom. And
when he had concluded his narrative he added:
THAT is all have TO tell you; and if It fails
10 convince you that my father was your
brother, it can hardly fail TO convince the world.
But Mr.. Llnwood will be over here shortly-I
have sent message for him to come at once
and perhaps YOU would like TO taiF the matter
= should. indeed still am satisfied Need
add, Mark, that I sincerely sorry for all
that took place before you left Warrlnghsm.
Before you drove me away you mean, ,, Marx
said grRvely. well I am willing to let the
past be forgotten. But don't you think. Mr..
Gsrwood, that men of wealth and position like
yourself ought TO cease grinding the faces of the
poor and not build their fortunes upon the
coSns of those they have starved snd worked
20 DEATH
''In the race for riches - the elder man re-
plied thoughtfully, - "a man is apt to forget
those beneath him. Yes; / have been a hard
master know. brit perhsps it is not vet too late
10 wipe OF some of the dirt which has gathered
around my name. Anyhow. mean to be a bet
ter man henceforth.
Mark smiled family at the others words,
thinking that Richard Harwood's repentance
came late in the day. Having enriched him.
self by sweating his workpeople ne now
about 20 turn over fresh leaf and pose a
piiilanthropist by dsbursing little OF the great
fortune he had scraped together.
Perhaps Marx remarked, you viii tell
me something of my father Why did he go to
American Aud what prompted hin to assume
false name there?''
There is not very much to tell,'' the mill
owner responded quietly. ~ and my brother
were orphans, snd were brought up by
maiden aunt TO whom HARDWOOD S mill then be-
longed. When young men was put
into the mill TO learn the business. but George
had determined to become Literary man. Our
relative tried hard TO persuade George TO enter
the mill with myself, but he refused to do so,
and on that account there were many quarreIs
between the two, and my brother at last dis
appeared. taking with him, II was said, a con-
siderable SUE OF money
Perhaps that was the reason he assumed the
name OF Mark Eliot. But wild Is he was,
George trSs always the fsvorite, and when my
aunt died the whole OF the property was be-
Queathed to him. But he never turned up TO
claim il, although he was advertised for, and so
the money ana mills came to me as the next
heir. -
s.Yor never heard Of nv fathers death eyanq''