Middletown transcript., 1904-04-30
GEOFFRY's INHERITANCE

rcoYrrNurD FROM LAST WEEK.

IL
wby was / deceived so cruelty? she
hurst out in feeble passion. Oh, what
have said before her, and what have
done ?-and she wrung her hands DIS
tractedly.
Mother, said Tom very quietly ana
firmly, you have done nothing and sand
nothingl I suppose you're thinking Of
what YOU told me about Erndalo. Wei,
Erndale is shut up; and perhaps Ia
better tell you that since Lady Ernda'e
lost her son no one has ever lived there.
Shall tell you the story shortly mother
or are you too tired to listen?
Tell me, dear the faint voice answered;
and Tom drew Ills mother closer and laid
her head on his breast.
The child, boy Of about I'VE, disap-
peared in a curious way, and, as II Is NOT
known whether lie is alive or dead, the
title and estates remain unclaimed Dld
YOU never hear my father say that some
one tried to prove claim to both long
before the boy disappeared9 The very
lawyers bis letter tells me to 90 to acted
for this claimant many years ago. But
he could not prove his case, and SO the
matter dropped. Mother dearest, you
are i'll again! This excitement has been
too much for you.
For the sick woman lay back faint and
white and, hastily calling the nurse,
Tom held restorative to her trembling
lips and wiped the damp brow.
For many days the frail invalid hung
between life and death, and Tom never
left her, not even to go up to the London
lawyers whilst Betty coaxed her father
to stay on, afraid to go, and AFRAID 10
enter the sick room uncalled.
AT length the visit to Messrs. Cadican
& Cooper could be no longer deferred ];
and one fine August morning found Tom
Archer sitting in theiHprivate Office with
the detective Mr.. Maxwell had sent to
accompany him by his side. He thought
the keen lawyers looked anything but
pleased on seeing he had not come alone ];
but they said nothing, and, after glanclng
at the papers before them, proceeded at
once to business.
We have letters here, said the senior
partner, a man with cunning eyes and
sharp prominent features-letters from
YOUR father, whose real name, ! suppose
YOU are aware, was Thomas Hurst Seaton
asking us to see you and forward IN
any way you may desire your claim as
his son to the Erndale titles and estates.
I suppose you know we acted IN tins
matter for your father good many years
ago ? the lawyer proceeded hastily, seeing
Tom about to speak. And may as well
tell you that we did SO at our own risK
and on our own responsibility. But, in
the event Of any future action on our
part, the risk and responsibility must De
entirely your own, unless you are pre-
pared with further proofs that would
absolutely secure US from loss.
Tom raised his head proudly, and
answered straightforwardly and frankly
NV fathers real name, he said, was
entirely unknown to me, and he never
once in my life mentioned the name OF
Erndale in my hearing. To my mother
also he was equally reticent. His death
was quite sudden, or this might have
been different and the letter he left
addressed in his desk contains his first
and last reference to the title and estates.
Have you that letter with you, Mr.
Seatoaa hquired the lawyer suavely. 1t
= ~ perhaps throw some additional light
on your fathers claim.
have copy, said Tom coolly, laying
the paper on the table. But do not
know how it can in any way throw light
on his claim to Erndale. The case failed
before-have you any reason to think IT
may not fail again?
That is the very question we we're about
to put to you, Mr.. Seaton, the lawyer
replied. Have you nothing but this let
ter to lay before us?
Messrs. Cadican & Cooper always spoke
in the plural. 1t sounded more imposing
and both the partners were usually pres
ent.
You have, am told, all the papers
connected with this case in your own
hands, was Toms quiet reply and doubt
less before his death my father sent you
any other papers he wished you to re.
tain. If those throw no further light on
the subject, need not take up your time
any longer. But perhaps you can tell
me why my father could not make good
his claim?
There were doubts thrown out by the
counsel for the Erndale's as to the way
in which your father became possessed Of
the late Viscount's letters, and he was
unfortunately unable to clear them up.
The ship went down with all hands, go
that his-the observation-disclosures in the
matter was lost to us. The Viscount GER
tainly did drop his title in the Colonies
that, his father Lord Erndale knew-and
we sent out to procure the certificates Of
his marriage and Of your fathers birth.
But fate was against us. The little tenn
porary church in which your father
averred the certificates had been copied
was burned to the ground sometime be-
fore, and thus the letters Of Lord Erndale
became the only proofs of your fathers
identity. The defence set up by the
other side was that there was no proof az
to how those letters had got into his
hands. That is all we can tell you, Mr..
Seaton, unless we can trace the where.
abouts Of certain David Callagan, who
had removed from the address your
father gave US, and who seems to have
been the only person in his confidence.
Tom rose, not unwillingly.
will advertise for this Callagan, he
said /; but that, I suppose, YOU did long
ago? Perhaps meantime the missing heil
may turn up-who knows?
The lawyers both glanced up keenly.
tn a