Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1896-07-09
CHAPTER TX

m
would orlng forth and how he should best
meet the questions that would be put to
him. pN' ~
smerdon was gone again to Occleye
Chase, so he could take no counsel from
MN; anu IN way, he was almost glad
that ne mad gone, for he knew
what that advice would be-that he
should pretend utter ignorance as to the
reasons Cundall might have had for max
ing him the inheritor of all his vast
wealth, and On no account to acknowledge
the brotherhood between them.
But he told himself that, even had
Smerdon been there to give such advice
1t would not have been acceptable: that
ne would not have followed it.
He had wavered for many days now as
10 what course he should take, had had
impulses to speak out and acknowledge
the secret of his and his brothers life. had
been swayed by Smerdon's arguments
and by the letter he had received at the
hotel, but now there was to be no more
wavering; all was to be told
1t was about midday that, as he was
seated in his study writing a long letter
to Smerdon, explaining exactly what he
had now taken the determination of do
ing, the footman entered with two cards
on which were the names Of "Mr. For
dyce, Paper Buildings" and ''Mr. A.
Stuart"
They came in together, Mr.. Fordyce in
Producing himself as the solicitor of the
late Mr.. Cundall, and Mr.. Stuart bowling
gravely.
Then Lord Penlyn motioned to them
both to be seated.
Il received your letter last night" he
said to the secretary, "and, although l
may tell you at once that there were, per-
haps, reasons why Mr.. Cundall should
have left me his property, I was still con-
siderably astonished at hearing he had
done 500
Reasons, my lord!' Mr.. Fordyce said,
looking up from a bundle of papers which
he had taken from his pocket and was
beginning to unite. Reasons! What
reasons, may l ask"
1.-THE reason" he answered, looking
straight at both of them, sis that he and
/ were brothers."
''Brothersr' they both exclaimed to-
gether, while Stuart fixed his eyes upon
him with an incredulous look, though in
credulity, look Of suspicion and dislike
the lawyer said after a moment.
YES" the other answered. "And you
will perhaps think it still more strange
when l tell you that I myself did not
know Of it until a week ago."
Then he told them, very faithfully,
erythng that had passed between him
and Walter Cundall, from the night on
which he had come to Blacks Club, and
they had had their first interview in the
park, down to the letter that had been
written on the night Of the murder.
Nor did he omit to tell them it was
only a month previous to Cundall's dis
closing himself, that he and Philip Smer-
don had made the strange discovery at
lie Vocq that his father, to all appear
ances had had previous wife, and had,
also, to all appearances, left an elder son
behind him.
If there was anything he did not think
it necessary to tell them it was the vio-
lence of his behavior to Cundall at the in
terview they had had in that very room,
and the curse he had hurled after him
when he was gone, and the wish that ''he
was dead"
That curse and that wish which had
been fulfilled so terribly soon after their
expression, had weighed heavily on his
heart ever since the night of the murder;
he could not repeat it now to these men.
cit is the strangest story l ever heard"
Mr.. Fordyce said. ''The very strangest!
And, as we have found no certificates OF
either his mothers marriage or his own
BIRTH we must conclude that he destroyed
them. But the letter that you have
shown us, which he wrote to you, is suffl-
Gent proof Of your relationship. Though,
of course. as he has named you fully and
perfectly in the will there would be no
need of any proof Of your relationship
'The man." Stuart said quietly, "who
murdered him, also stole his watch and
pocketbook, probably with the idea of
making it look like a common murder for
robbery. The certificates were perhaps
in that pocketbook"
"Do you not think it was common
murder for robbery" Lord Penlyn asked
him.
"No, do not" Stuart answered, look
ing him straight in the face. There was
a reason for it.
What reasOn?
THAT the murderer knows best"
It was impossible for Penlyn to dis
guse from himself the fact that this.
young man had formed the opinion in his
4ulllU ludL lie WAS lIc
His manner. his utter tone Of contempt
when speaking to him, were all enough
to show in what light he stood in Stuart's
eyes
Il understand you," he said, quietly.
Stuart took no notice Of the remark,
but he turned to Mr.. Fordyce and said:
*Did it not seem strange to you that Lord
Penlyn should have been made the heir,
when you drew the will? 2"
Il did not draw it," Mr.. Fordyce said,
cor l should in all probability have made
some nquiries-though, as matter Of
fact it was no business of mine to whom
he left his money. AS see there is one
Spanish name as witness, it was prob
ably drawn by an English lawyer in
Honduras. and executed there"
''Since it appears that I am his heir,
Lord Penlyn said, Il should wish to see
the will. Have you it with you?"
Yes, Mr.. Fordyce said, producing the
will from his bundle of papers, and hand
ans it to him, ''it is here
The young man took it from the law
yer, and spreading it out before him, read
1t carefully
Ihe perusal did not take long for it was
0. the shortest possible description, sim