Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1902-02-18

"Then you are gao you wentF
"Most certainly. The fact is, Craig,
I should have gone there long ago or
sent you, as talked Of doing. think
the trip has been good for me In more
ways than one. 1t surely has per-
formed one miracle, for I have discov-
cred that still have left sufficient en-
ergy to do things If only work myself
up to the proper pitch. ] left this Mex
lean business altogether too long.
should have attended to 1t Immediately
after the death Of the gov'nor. 1t
would have been easier and better, and
think the people down there would
have understood things better. How
ever, fancy 1t is all right now"
"You fancy? thought you said you
had succeeded"
$50 Unexpectedly, entirely, ut
terly, in every way but one, and that
one is apparently unimportant. I have
brought back mystery, and hate
mysteries. as you know"
"Is the mystery connected with the
business"
Eyes and no.
"That reply is ambiguous, Burr. OF
course I possess ordinary curiosity.
Naturally would like to hear all about
all that you will tell me. but you must
remember that was left in ignorance
of many points in this affair Of yours,
and do not like to ask questions"
Pcndleton waited q moment before
replying. Then he tossed away his ci-
gar and took turn up and down the
room. Reseating himself, he said
slowly:
Briefly, then, will say this, for the
present-the duel, as you say, can wait;
In fact, 1t came mighty near waiting
anyhow: Yol know. ever since the gov
nor died have felt that l ought to
take this tr..,, and you also know that
the only reason why did not do so
was my own consummate laziness. l
wanted you to 60 there for me, and
you consented to do so. But, Craig, |
could not bring myself to tell you all
that was necessary for you to know.
II you had undertaken the trip simply
because | asked It, would have felt
that I was not keeping faith with my
dead father. You knew or ought to
have known. and, believe, did know,
that my hesitation did not arise from
any reluctance to take you into my
confidence"
| "Assurediy, Burr"
1.-THE written injunctions that the
gov'nor left for me-you remember that
| / did not get home until three days aft
er his death-imposed the obligation OF
| silence upon me with considerable
emphasis; that is, silence up to GER
| tain point, after which l could, of
course, exercise my own discretion.
| That point could not be reached until
had made a personal investigation,
thing that he practically ordered me to
do. Well, have made it. The obliga-
ton Of silence is upon me no longer. l
Can see no reason for keeping still now.
| In fact, the time has come when must
tell somebody, and naturally you are
| the one whom | have selected for con-
| fidant. More than that, | feel tie need
of advice and help, and you are the on
| ly one | know to whom | am willing
| to apply. There is not time and this Is
no place for ne to go into details, but
| If you will give up this evening to me
in my rooms-wel, we'll have it out to
the end. 1t is mighty strange thing.
Craig, that Il man can leave behind
him when he dies Il tangle which in
wolves two families and which may yet
| involve two nations IN trouble. but that
is precisely what my father did. Not
only that. but | have permitted these
years since his death to roll past, never
| dreaming that the matter could take
the serious shape it has. | regard my
self as rather n guilty party rs things
are situated now. for cannot help be-
lieving If had attended to matters ut
once much that is now unavoidable
might have been prevented. believed
the old nan was deceived tlat he in
agined a great deal. but | found-wcll.
wait until tonight, and will tell you
what discovered"
81 think, old man." said Wyndham
deliberately, while he drummed the
burning eEd of his cigar upon the ash
receiver-"I think that perhaps, having
returned from n long trip and being
naturally delighted upon meeting in
old friend. you may be inclined TO
place too much confidence in him. Let
us revert to the part Of the business
that understood before you went
away, which, as l remember, related
only to property. Did you find the
property that your father directed you
to recover? Have you brought back the
title to 1t, so that it Is undenably
yours? Have you fulfilled that part of
the obligation that rested upon you|
ENTIRELY, yes"
"Then it seems to me that ends it."
"How so, Craig?"
"Why, that is all that l supposed !
had anything to do with"
"You are right 1t Is" Pendleton
| made this last remark between the in
| termittent flaming Of cigar which at
| that moment he was engaged In light
| Ing. When he cast the match aside. he
| left the table with some haste and In
tercepted gentleman who was ut that
moment passing. They talked together
several moments and then disappeared
In the direction Of the club cafe. and
Wyndham, supposing he would soon
return, waited, but when an hour had
passed and he was still alone his pa
thence was exhausted
He summoned the waiter and. hay-
ing signed the necessary check. asked
the name of the man whom Pendleton
had intercepted, for he remembered
that the waiter had been standing near
them at the moment.
"He is club guest. sir" replied the
waiter. 81 do not remember his name.
1 think, sir, that he presented his card
only yesterday"
Wyndham strOllcd through several
parts Of the club after that, believing
that he might encounter Pendleton,
and at last. convinced that he was no
longer in the house, he applied at the
desk, only to be told that Mr.. Pendle-
ton had gone out more than an hour
before and had left no word.
"Tell him when he returns" said
Wyndham. that found it impossible
to wait longer. but that will keep the
appointment for tonight"