Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1900-02-21
CHAPTER XIX.

0T tlat LLEAL ldldl "oi thC NoohAy
,de remains in complete ignorance. OF
Mr.. Dysart's sudden death it hears the
following morning with a feeling of
strong curiosity, but with none of regret.
Tho funeral that takes place on the third
tsy Is small. certainly, yet, considering
,U tbiugs-the dead mans open hostility
10 his neighbors. and the dearth of hos
u,tality that characterized his soJourn
among them-larger than might have
been expected, and at all events select
Among others Lord Riversdale attended
ont Of compliment, it was supposed, to
seaton. rs he and the old man had never
90 much as seen each others features.
But it was found impossible to conceal
the existence Of Sedley from the two
xirls. Peytou had undertaken to give
Them a rather careful account of what
bad happened: and in truth. when all
was told. he was almost rs much at sea
about il as they We're, as the stranger re-
NAMED a stranger TO him. Sedley had
determined To reveal the secret hold he
had had on Mr.. Dysart to Seaton, think
Ing the latter would make good his faith
ers promises.
Il is in the old mans private den that
be does this. Going up to the old-fash-
loned bureau he, by subtle touch, un-
locks the secret spring.
The door falls back. the hudden shelves
and their contents lie all unconcealed.
seizins upon fast yellowing parchment,
Sedley draws il out, and overcome by
fatigue and excitement, drops upon his
knees. Eagerly he opens and scans II,
and then holds it out to Dysart.
Compare that" says he, in q high
tone Of triumph, with the will Of your
grandfather, that left all to Gregory Dy-
sart, cutting out the elder son. Compare
Il, say, and you will see that this was
executed three years later than that 9TH
er-that other which is now in force, and
has been these twenty years.
Mechanically Dysart takes it. No word
escapes him. Speech. indeed, is impossi-
ble to him, so busy is his mind trying to
lake in all the miserable dishonor of the
story that as yet has but the bald out
ines laid before him.
No one knew of it but me-" says Sed-
ley. fererishly. yet with an undercurrent
sf delicious excitement in the recital.
But me and Crunch. What she made
sut of il no one can tell, as the old chaps
gone, but she's as knowing a file in my
opinion as you'd meet In a days walk.
You can see our two signatures. Eh,
can't you read 'em? We witnessed IL.
We alone knew, and he bought us over.
Well, twas worth a quid or two: it's a
6ne old place"
Dysart makes no answer. He has sup
ported himself against a table near him,
and is gazing blankly, hopelessly, through
the window at thedull landscape outside.
He sees nothing, heeds nothing, save the
voice Of the man who Is speaking.
Twas felony, mind you, besides the
tact Of having to give up the money, and
property, and all, so knew l could turn
On the screw as tight as 1 liked. But"
De laughs, you see, 1 counted without
my host. l never dreamed the old man
would show fight like that. He took it
hardly, my return-guess he believed me
lead. and resented the breath in me
and | shouldn't wonder II, after all these
Fears, he had got to believe the place,
money and everything, was legally his
owD" "
Still Dysart says nothing. He has in
iced withdrawn his dull eyes from the
Icene without, and is now staring with
lnSeeing eyes at the parchment that tells
him how the property was never his faith
.rs, but was left to his uncle, and how
his father suppressed the will, and kept
the property in spite of law and honor,
and all things that go to give a sweet
Iavor 10 mans life on earth 1t had never
been his fathers, all this huge property,
I never would be his. And if not, whose?
Nera'sf He starts as il shot.
is that all?" he asks.
We'll, no. Not quite. Your face says
fery politely that you'd be glad to see my
back, but business first, pleasure after
ward He grins. 1T is as good for US
10 come 10 terms now as later"
'Terms?' repeats Dysart, gazing at
him Iarkly.
"Ay, why not? Dye think you'll get
'ut OF it scot freeT'
Dysart stares at him as if scarcely
Want time to think it over like your
parent?' with a sneer. Not
;or me, my lad. We'll settle now or new
sr. You see you're in my power, and
I'm not the one to"
Sir, l am in no mans power" says
Dy>lrt calmly. Il trust l never shall
be. This WILL" striking it with his hand,
through which my uncle and his daugh
ter have been-been fraudulently"-he
says the word with difficulty-"kept out
of their property for so many years, shall |
be al once restored to its proper owner"
! yellow tint overspreads Sedley's face
As If entirely overcome, he sinks upon
chair
You'll surrenderT' he says with a |
gasp. And your fathers memory? How
iA YOU ike to hear him branded as |
common swindler, whom death alone saw
Ell from the laws grip?'
Dysart blanches. Involuntarily he puts
out his hand and seizes the chair next |
MIN and clings to it as if for support. No, |
DO, thar he could not endure.
Il will give you $500 the day 1 see
gou on board steamer sailing for Aus |
TaAa, says Dysart with dry lips and q /
aeaTt hat seems dead within him. Il
am now, comparatively speaking, a poor |
man, his words coming from him slowly, |
mechanically, in a dull, expressionless
way i can offer you no more"
Double it." says Sedley, "and III
'eaye the country tomorrow"
haven't it at this moment, but II
uare say | shall be able to manage it,
Gays Dysart, in the same wornout, indif- !,
,erent manner. In the meantime, while |
'Fy to get it. shall require Of you that |
you stay within this house and hold |
speech with no one save Crunch"
ven, | guess I'll chance it," says Sed- !,
=! ~ aiter long glance at the young |
nan pale, earnest face.
- ~, CHAPTER Xxx.
WIN the fatal will clasped In his
-uHu, Dysart goes straight to the small
li''h'ng room, where he knows he will
De !. sure to lind Vera. Twilight IL begin
- lug 10 fall, and already the swift herald
. nlsht is Droclaiming the approach of