The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1901-04-17
CHAPTER VII. -
ICnnfin1nnl

1T was he who sent me. I have ex-
hausted nearly four months In all.
There remain eight more for you to
show up in Philadelphia and prove
your identity. That done within a
year from the date of the old mans
death you fail heir to his vast estates" !"
"Well," with a steady "puf-puf,"
;suppose l fail to show up-what
them?
"Why, man, there's cool million at
stake in this matter-think Of it,
enough to tit out expeditions to the
North Pole-to the centre of the earth
money to squ:nder in the most elab-
crate efforts to discover what even
q Livingstone or a Doctor Kane has
failed in
How artfully Mr.. Grimes puts this,
appealing to what he knows is the
weak spot in the makeup OF his
strange companion. Was ever such
scene as this known before, when a
man pleads with a fellow human to
appear and claim fortune that
awaits his coming?
Mynheer Joe seems to be weighing
the whole affair in the invisible scales
of his mind. When he speaks again it
Is refectively.
Eight months, you say. When did
he die?"
ION the 10th of October last"
Eight months-let me see-from
Cairo 60 direct to India-it is impos-
sible to give that journey up, for even
now I may be too late to accomplish
what ! seek to do. Then, If all goes
well there, I have made up my mind
to see something Of China in region
foreigners have never yet been able
to penetrate, making my way through
to Persia and the Mediterranean.
Eight months are short time. but
then if everything goes well there is
chance that I may turn up in Phila-
delphia before or on next October
10th. 1t all depends on how fortune
handles me, you know"
1t would be impossible to portray
the feelings that possess Mr.. Grimes
while he listens to these remarkable
words He has seen many types of
men in his life, and looks upon the
whole human race as gold-worshipers,
vet here is q man who seems to have
an honest scorn for the dross. 1t IS
the most astonishing event Mr.. Grimes
has ever come across in all his life.
he holds his cigar between finger and
thumb and surveys Mynheer Joe with
amaZement.
"You are the first man I ever met
In my range, sir, who would snap his
fingers at a fortune which he could
have by putting out his hand and
grasping it," he mutters.
perhaps so, Mr.. Grimes. I know
my own mind best, and as you per-
haps are aware possess enough means
Tor all the purposes of my business.
A little money goes long way when
In the bush, and 1 don't travel like
Stanley with from one to five hundred
porters and fighting men. By the way,
supposing I fail to turn up by the time
specified, does the property go to char
ity"
Mr.. Grimes has been expecting this,
and yet he twists uneasily in his chair,
as though hardly willing to answer.
mo. 1t goes to the other side Of the
house."
, "Ah! The Runners?"
"a descendant Of theirs, daughter
of the last Miss Bunner. She married
and was lost sight Of for long time,.
but her family turned up out West
somewhere"
do you know the name of this heir
ess, Mr. Grimes?"
"Well, yes, sir, I have heard it," he
replies.
LET me have it, please" remarks
Mynheer Joe, taking out his note
book. "a man is bound to feel some
interest in the party who will come
into q million or not, according to his
whim. If you have seen this party
By the way, is she spinster or mar
ried woman"
1.-THE former, by all MEANS" with
grin that Mynheer Joe takes note Of
and presrmes is caused by the fact
that the party referred to is an anti
quated old maid, with queer little
curls, blue classes and pet cat-oh,
he can see her in imagination, just as
he pictured the Hon. Demosthenes
Tanner-and as truly.
II trust she'll make good use Of the
money if through my failure to appear
1t falls to her." pursues Joe, thought
fully.
mo doubt of that, sir, no doubt Of
that" says the other, with something
Of q chuckle. According to my idea
Of thinking that money is bound to go
the same way whether you get it or
the other"
That's an enigma. Mr.. Grimes.
explain"
well, Jou see, she's uncommonly
fond Of travel-bas been up Mount
Blanc, partly sealed the Matterhorn,
cruised along the whole coast Of AL
giers, and has any number of trips in
contemplation which will consume
money and add to the knowledge OF
geographers. Bless you, sir, she's got
a medal already from the Royal Geo
graphical Society Of Great Britain in
connection with certain features con-
cerning some daring work she did in
The Alps"
"Phew! a regular female discover
er! An advcnturer in petticoats. I've
met number Of such. They're all
alike. And while admiring their grit