Wallowa chieftain. [volume] (Joseph, Union County, Or.) 1884-1909, 1902-04-24
CHAPTER XIN.

NJ. Dysart'> sudden death it hears the
following morning with a feeling Of
strong curiosity. but with none OF regret.
The funeral that takes place on the third
day Is small. certainly. yet. considering
all things-the dead mans open hostility
70 his ReiEhbors. and the dearth OF hos
pitaiity that characterized his sojou-n
among thenl-larger than might have
been expected, and at all events select
Among others Lord Riversdale attended
out Of compliment, il was supposed. to
SeatoA, as ne and the old man had never
50 much a. seen each others features.
But il was found impossible To conceal
the existence OF Sedley from the two
Eiris. Peytou Aad undertaken to give
them q rather careful account OF what
had happened; and in truth. when all
was told. he was almost as much az sea
about l. a. they were. as the stranger re-
NAMED stranger 10 him. Sedley had
determined % reveal the secret hold he
had rad on Mr.. Dysarr 10 Seaton. think
Ing tae latter would make good his faith
er's promises
Il Is IN the old mans private den that
he does this. Going up 10 the old-fash-
Toned bureau he, by a subtle touch, un-
locks the secret spring
The door falls back. the hudden shelves
and their contents lie all unconcealed
Selling upon fast following parchment,
sed!ey draws it out, and overcome by
fatigue and excitement drops upon his
knees. Eagerly he opens and scans it,
and then holds it out to Dysart.
Compare that" says he. in a high
laF Trim nh 81.
grandfather, that left all to Gregory by
sart, cutting out the elder son. Compare
II. 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-
bic to him, SO busy is his mind trying to
take in all the miserable dishonor of the
story that as yet has but the bald out
hines laid before him.
No one knew of it but me-" saws Sed-
ley, feverishly, yet with an undercurrent
or delicious excitement in the recital.
But me and Crunch. What she made
out of 1t no one can tell, as the old chaps
gone, but she's as knowing a file in nv
opinion as you'd meet in days walk.
You can see our two signatures Eh
cant You read EN-? 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 sun.
ported himself against a table near him.
and is gazing blankly, hopelessly, through
the window at the dull land dscape outside.
I
voice Of the man who is speaking.
Twas felony, mind you, besides the
fact Of having to give up the money. and
property, and all. so ! knew could turn
on the screw as tight as | liked But"
he laughs, you see | counted without
my host. | never dreamed the old man
would show fight like that He took it
hardly, my return-guess he believed me
dead, and resented the breath in me
and l shouldn't wonder if, after all these
years, he had got to believe the place.
money and everything, was legally his
own
Still Dysart says nothing. He has in
deed withdrawn his dull eyes from the
scene without, and is now staring with
unseeng eyes at the parchment that tells
him how the property was never his faith
er's, but was lett 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
SAVIOR TO man life on earth. 1t had never
been his fathers. all this huge property,
It never would be his. And If not, whose?
Vera'st He starts as if shot.
is that allt' he asks.
well, no. Not quite. Your face says
very politely that you'd be glad to see my
back. but business first, pleasure after
ward He grins. at is as good for US
to come to terms now as later"
Terms repeats Dysart, gazing at
him darkly.
"Ay, why not? Dye think you'll get
out Of it scot free
Dysart stares at him as il scarcely
pretending.
Want time to think it over like your
respected parent with a sneer. Not
for me, my lad Wen settle now or nev-
er. You see you're in my power, and
I'm not the one to"
'Sir, | am in no mans power" says
Dysart, calmly. II trust | never shall
be. This will" striking it with his hand,
through which my uncle and his daugh-
ter have been-been fraudulently"-b
says the word with difficulty" out
of their property for so many years, shall
be at once restored to its proper owner"
A yellow tint overspreads Sedley's face
AS if entirely overcome, he sinks upon
chair.
you'll surrender"' he says with
gasp. And your fathers memory? How
will you like to hear him branded as a
common swindler, whom death alone saw
ed from the laws gripT'
Dysart blanches. Involuntarily he puts
out his hand and seizes the chair next
him and clings to it as if for support. No.
no, that he could not endure.
81 will give you $500 the day / see
you on board a steamer sailing for Aus
tralia," says Dysart with dry lips and
heart that seems dead within him. II
am now, comparatively speaking, a poor
man" his words coming from him slowly,
in a dull, expressionless
way. Il can offer you no more"
Double it," says Sedley, "qnd I'll
cave the country tomorrow"
Il haven't it at this moment, but !
dare say | shall be able to manage it,"
says Dysart, in the same wornout, indif-
Ierent manner. I'm the meantime, while
try to get il, | shall require Of you that