, 1905-10-18

ut is not surprising" said Mr.. Grant
genially. Every one who knew him in
New York nineteen years & believed
him TO be dead. He left the city h
you were a very small lad. going to
Australia, l think. He was off to seek
his fortune. and he needed it pretty
badly when he started out. This let
ter from Mr.. Jones comes like n mes
sage from the dead Were it not that
we have known Mr.. Jones for a long
time, handling affairs of considerable
Importance for him, l should feel in
clined to doubt the whole story. 1t
seems that your uncle turned up in
Montana about fifteen years & and
there formed n stanch friendship with
old Swearengen Jones. one of the rich
est men in the far west. ~Sedgwicks
will was signed on the day of his death,
Sept. "a, and it was quite natural that
Mr.. Jones should be named as his exec
utor. That is how we became interest
ed in the matter, Mr.. Brewster"
81 see," said Montgomery. somewhat
puzzled. But why do you say that |
am both fortunate and u~nfortunate?'
1.-The situation is so remarkable that
you'll consider that a mild way Of put
ting 1t when you've heard everything.
1 think you were told in our note OF
yesterday that you are the sole heir.
Well, it may surprise you to learn that
James Sedgwick died possessed of an
estate valued at almost $7,0OO,00O."
Montgomery Brewster sat like one
petrifed, staring blankly at the old
lawyer, who could say startling things
in q level voice.
"He owned gold mines and ranches
in the northwest, and there Is nc ques-
ton as to their value Mr.. Jones III
his letter to us briefly outlines the his
tory of James Sedgwlck from the time
he landed in Montana. He reached
there in 1886 from Australia, and he
was worth $4,000 or $4,000 at the
time. Within five years he was the
owner of II huge ranch, and scarcely
had another five years passed before
he was part owner of three rich gold
mines. Possessions accumulated rap
idly; everything he touched turned to
gold. He was shrewd, careful and
thrifty, and his money was indie
with all the skill of n Wall street finan-
cier. AT the time of his death in Port
land he did not owe a dollar IN the
world. His property Is absolutely I'M
incumbered-safe and sound as n gov
eminent bond. It's rather oyerwhelm-
ing, isn't it?" the lawyer concluded,
taking note of Brewster's expression.
"And he-he left everything to meT'
with a proviso."
"Ah!'
81 have a copy of the will. Mr.. Rip
ley and are the only persons in New
York who at present know Its contents.
You, l am sure, after hearing 1t, will
not divulge them without the most
careful Elaboration"
Mr.. Grant drew the document from
a p%igeonhole in his desk, adjusted his
glasses and prepared to read. Then,
as though struck by a sudden thought,
he laid the paper down II turned
once more to Brewster.
1T seems that Sedgwick never mar
ried. Your mother was his sister and
his only known relative of close con-
n~ection. He was n man of most pc
culiar temperament, but in full posses
sion of his mental faculties. You may
find this will to be a strange document,
but l think Mr.. Jones, the executor,
explains II mystery that may be sug-
gested by it's terms. While Sedgwick's
whereabouts were unknown to his old
friends in New York, it seems that he
was fully posted on all that was going
on here. He knew that o were the
only child of your mother and therefore
his only nephew. He sets forth the
dates of your mothers marriage, of
your birth, of the death of Robert
Brewster and of Mrs. Brewster. He
also was aware of the fact that old
Edwin Peter Brewster intended to be-
queath a large fortune to you, and
thereby hangs a tale. Sedgwick was
proud. When he lived in New York he
was regarded as the kin of man who
roughly upon his pride. You know, of
course, that your father married Miss
Sedgwick in the face of the most bit
ter opposition on the part of Edwin
Brewster. The latter refused to recog-
nize her as his daughter, practically
disowned his son and heaped the harsh
est kind of calumny upon the Sedg-
wicks- 1t was commonly believed about
town that Jim Sedgwick left the coun-
try three or four years after this mar
rage for the sole reason that he and
Edwin Brewster could not live In the
same place. So deep was his hatred