Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1893-08-04

~ Z<[ Hddc u VnOiOuS
go -1-=.==Ez=-AAG survey of the
u. - premises without
discovering any traces of an intrusion.
His first proceeding after breakfast
was 10 replace the glass he had broken
and nail up the three signs he had sup
pressed and then he decided to saunter
to town and boldly ask for his sister-ln'
laws mail
To his intense satisfaction, he secured
letter and parcel OF newspapers, all
bearing the postmark of Calcutta,
They're from Colonel Ridley, nc
doubt" was the mental ejaculation with
which he set about retracing his steps to
The Elms. 81 wonder what they Goa
tain?"
He found upon closer examination
that the newspapers could be readily
slipped out of their wrapper, and he was
soon busily absorbed in their perusal as
be continued his course homeward.
y Siren the Colonel, sure enough" he
calculated, after a few rapid glances
~He's coming back to America immedl-
atelyl Here are marked articles ex-
pressing the regret of the press and pub
lie at his retirement from business and
bis departure from the country"
He skinned" the articles in question
with an intense interest, at times paus'
ing in his walk and standing as motion
less as a statue with audible comments
and calculations.
~ don't see just when he's coming nor
how" he at length calculated, as he re-
turned the newspapers to their wrapper
and set out at high pace for The Elms.
"Evidently that is a matter he has taken
care to keep to himself, or else he has eX-
pressed his intentions only in this letter
to his sister. What pity it is that !
have never met the Colonel He might
turn up here at any moment. and |
shouldn't know him from Adam"
BY the time he had reached the seclu-
sion of The Elms he had become very
curious concerning the contents Of the
Colonel's letter, and had resolved to open
it and learn its contents.
"Fortunately there is no big seal in the
way" he muttered, after turning the
epistle over and over dozen times, and
trying in vain to pry into it. "With the
aid of little steam from the ozzle of
tea kettle | shall be able to manage it in
such a way as to harm neither the letter
nor the envelope. 1t twill not be the first
one. Later, after I've read it, I'll seal it
up again, and my sister-in-law will be
none the wiser for the liberties I've
taken"
The envelope was soon open and the
letter in his hands. 1t was dated as
postmarked and read as follows:
"DEAR SISTER AND NIECE: l am coming
home Immediately. The grand question
has been how to bring my money, which
amounts to trifle over two millions of dol
lars, exclusive of the valuables contained
in six large chests, many of which are pres
ents for you. You will remember that the
one rule and watchword of my life has been
never to exchange a certainty for an un-
certainty, and this principle commands me
to bring my money in ready cash instead of
taking anybodys letters of credit or other
commercial paper. have decided to bring
with me Agnus Hillington, who has been my
confidential bookkeeper for six years past.
He is such trustworthy young man, and L
have become so dependent upon him, that
/ seldom take the least step without his
knowledge. By his thoughtful action l
have converted my fortune into paper
money, principally English, French and
American, and this measure has been so
well managed by Agnus that no one here
has received hint of it. All this ready
cash has been secured in a neat little solid
sole leather trunk, with which Agnus and |
start for home in the 2. & o. steamer of
next Saturday. Your loving brother and
uncle BARTON RIDLEY.
"P. S.-We shall not take the 2. & o.
after all At the last minute, after our
passage was engaged, Agnus discovered
that my intentions had become known toa
score of the worst villains in Calcutta, and
that they had engaged steerage passage
with the evident design of robbing me-
Agnus learned that they were determined
10 scuttle the ship OF set it afre if neces-
sary to carry their point. At his suggestion
have purchased a splendid ocean-going
schooner-yacht, the Albatross which be-
longed to the late VicerOy, and am coming
home in my own vessel. We shall sail to-
morrow late at night, so as to slip off un-
seen, and will write you next from Cape
Town, South Africa. | close by expressing
the hope that Jessie is still heart-free as
am anxious to see Agnus make a favorable
impression upon her. l inclose his photo
graph.
"P. 6. No. 81 may also bring some of
my faithful servants"
The reading Of this extraordinary epiS-
tie left such a disagreeable impression
uron the mind of Radd Moreland that he
fastened to read it again, with many an
unfavorable comment and many an un-
easy movement in his chair.
"ft's Enthusiastically the Colonels hand
writing" he calculated, although
have not seen a specimen of it before
for many long year. But l don't like
It! There's too much of that confidential
bookkeeper in it-too much Agnus Hill
lington!"
He proceeded to scan critically the
photograph which had dropped out of
the letter
1t was that of young man of thirty
years, with very regular features and a
business-hke air, but the impression it
left upon Radds mind was even more
unfavorable than that which had been
produced by the letter. While Agnus
Hillington was certainly a handsome
man, his beauty had many o. sinister line
and there was such lack of soul in the
picture that Radd instantly decided 1t
was mere mask of an essentially deep
and treacherous nature.
"Why, the fellows as deadly as a
thug" exclaimed Radd, as he dropped