The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1895-01-24

brother. May I hope that you will sus-
pend Judgment on my course until am
in position to defend it?'
The look of mystifcation deepened in
the faces of his auditors; but, perceiving
a perfect acquiescence in Mrs. May
nards expression, Ollin forebore tier;
ing the questions that had almost risen
to his lips. Slowly drawing off his
gloves, lie looked at his brother for a
moment with a peculiarly close, intent
scrutiny before replying; then he said,
quietly: #
so far as this matter rests between
ourselves, Allan, it can wait, Of course.
But now pray tell me, if I may ask,
how did you happen to come to N--??''
Il came on professional errand,
Noll. am here as the authorized rep
resentative of Messrs. Hunter and
Ketchum, of New York" T.
Hunter and Ketchum? JIow-w why
are you associated with them, Allan?
In what case, pray?' IN
"The same in which you are so deep
ly commemorative Dunkirk will case.".
He spoke these last words in sig
nificant tone, looking scarchingly at his
brother to see what effect they would
produce. His expectation was not full
filled. There was no confusion, no
guilty consciousness in Ollin's face as
he answered: only a genuine surprise
and amusement. a.
THE Dunkirl1 will case? BY Jove,
Allan, that is coincidence! And so
Of TO Of h 10
all this time? Pray tell me, what par
: ticular point have you been at work
upon here? I say, AL, haven't you been.
rather accommodating the enelny's
camp? Come, now, old fellow. own up!"
II will tell you fully about that here
after, Noll,'' said his brother, flushing a
little under the laughing accusation. @
- "Oh, very well. Since the Dunkirk
will case has been introduced, | have a
word to say on that subject which I
shall proceed to say now, as Allan ut
terly refuses to tallS!' exclaimed Ollin.:
turning to Mrs. Maynard with sudden
animation. ''Of course my brother. be-
ing duly informed on that point,
through his own connection with the
case. must have told you about the late
awkward developments in regard to
that will. And right here" he added,
quickly, ''allow me to explain why you
never heard about it from me. The
night before left home, having made
an unsuccessful attempt to call upon
you. wrote you, stating briefly how
matters stood in New York. and advis-
ing you of my proposed absence, though
not entering into any explanation Of
the object of this hastily-projectc.l trip.
Now I give you my word that solefnn-'
ly believed I had mailed that letter,
along with several business letters that
I wrote at the same time; but it now
transpires that I did nothing of the
sort, for last evening on the train.
while making a very thorough invests
cation Of my pockets, I brought to light
that identical document" holding out
to Mrs. Maynard who mechanically ac-j
cepted it, a letter duly stamped, sealed
and directed, but not post-marked,
(which l hereby offer you as an evil
dcnce of good faith. And now, to res
turn. ! have crowded some very salts
factory work into the last two weeks
Mrs. Maynard, though it has kept me
busy day and night. have been fol-!
lowing up clew after clcw and sitting
all the evidence could get my hands
on, and the consequence is, have final
.ly discovered the whole truth in regard
to that forgery. Isn't that sufficient.
cause for self-congratulation?''