The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1904-07-28
CHAPTER XXI.
Continued.


word of all this to your father be-
forehand," continued uncle Sam.
Your father is a fool. and fool Is
always marplot. Before you actual
ly undertake the task, 1t is we'll you
should realize that success may amount
to little more than failure. Your father
may appropriate the whole OF the Sc
quins the moment they are recovered
flor they are rightly his), give you
half-a-crown for your pains, and send
me a two-line apology on postal
card. Perhaps you may reasonably
hope for more generous treatment. but
It's hard to say. Nothing is so diff
cult as to forecast the acts OF an in
competent, stupid man."
Though my uncle's bitterness against
my father was easy to understand, l
found every exhibition of it hard 10
bear. 1t was not in my power to de-
fend the man who had the greatest
claim upon my gratitude, and whom
! still preferred before all other men,
30 remained silent. Something Of the
detection his words had caused must
have appeared in my face, for uncle
Sam, taking my hand in his and hold
ing it tightly, continued in a kindller
tone, while he regarded me steadfastly
TO observe the effect his words pro-
duced:
IF you clearly carry out my sug-
gestions. our family differences will
be mended, If not ended. What in
England is thought to be comforta-
BILE fortune will be rescued from the
clutch of a contemplate old crank.
who has gone wrong at the accidental
sight of q heap of gold, and your father
and you-or one Of you-benefited to
that extent. The friendship of your
father 1 don't want u am sorry to say
anything painful to you, Ernest, but
such is the truth; yet. l repeat, 1t
would be a satisfaction to me to know
that he mad been brought to q knowl-
edge Of the wrong he has done me.
These things it is in your power to
effect; but to do so you must be cool
and cautious, yet bold. Observe close
", deliberate profoundly; and, your
conclusions once reached, act promptly
and with vigor. Clothe your reserve
in many words. When l wish to avoid
making assertions, talk most. Your
task is not hard one, and you have
at least an average share of ability.
If you had been my son l would have
subjected you to training which
would have enabled you to engage
with confidence in a matter so simple
and easy as this"
Il am sorry you have no son, uncle"
I remarked.
Reserve your sorrow for greater
need" answered uncle Sam quickly,
land tell me. are you disposed to fol-
low my advice?'
Yes, uncle, / am" answered firm
". Il believe your theory is correct,
and l will do my best to carry out
all you have proposed"
VERY good. Your prompt decision
augurs well for your success. When
will you return"
The sooner the better. Say next
week." l suggested.
Why so long delay asked uncle
Sam. THE man is old and feeble.
and whenever he dies no one will be
surprised. Every day that passes tells
against us. Let me see. This is Tues
day and the Umbria leaves on Thurs
day; better let me book you a passage
by her."
Thoughts of leaving my Constance
almost as soon as l had found her
again, and-of Immediately renewing
the LMonotonous life on an Atlantic
liner which only two days before l
had abandoned with so much thank
fulness, were far from agreeable to
me; but l was now almost as eager
as my uncle was to bring the affair
of the sequins to termination, and
therefore assented to this proposal
also.
Uncle Sam was much grati6ed, and
If he had not expressed his satisfaction
In words (which he did very explicitly
the merry twinkle Of his bright eyes
and his pleasant smile would have
sufficiently denoted it. He not only
undertook to secure my passage to
Liverpool in the Umbria, but insisted
upon my accepting, then and there,
a gift of $1,000, which sum he handed
to me in the form Of thirteen United
States bank notes-seven for $1O0 each,
and six for $50 each. There" said
he, as he selected them from the
thick packet of greenbacks which filled
his pocketbook, put those thirteen
bills in your pouch. To-day is the
thirteenth of September, and 1 dine
at Knickerbocker Cottage tonight with
the Thirteen Club. have been men,
ber of that club ever since its forma-
ton; but though l was not supersti-
t;ous when l joined it, have become
20 since; because, in reservinS import
:. affairs for the thirteenth Of the
nth. in defiance of the old super