The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1905-11-07
CHAPTER w
you are both fortunate ard IN
fortunate. Mr.. Brewster" {"
said Mr.. Grant, after the
. - - 1-......4.4 t..4.

bdiQ MI 0luHtf aAAcA ALN
y young man had dropped into
chair in the Office OF Grant g. Ripley
be next day. Montgomery wore a
lightly bored expression, and It was
vident that he took little interest in
be wiz Of James T. Sedgwick. From
Rr back in the recesses Of memory he
ow recalled this long lost brother Of
Is mother AS very small child he
ad seen his Uncle James upon the few
Sccaslons which brought him to the
ONE Of Mr.. and Mrs. Robert Brewster
'ut the young man had dlned with the
: )rews the night before and Barbara
ad had more charm for him than usu-
l. 1t was Of her that he was thinking
when he walked into the Office Of
wearengen Jones' lawyers
"The truth is, MIR. Grant, I'd com
letely forgotten the existence Of an
ncie," he responded
"Is is not surprising" said Mr. Grant
enlally. Every one who knew him in
Kew York nineteen years ago believed
i'm to be dead He left the city when
ou were very small lad. going to
ustralia, / think. He was of to seek
u Is fortune and he needed ii pretty
badly when he started out. This let
Ter from Mr.. Jones comes like a mes
age from the dead Were il not that
I've have known Mr.. Jones for a long
ime, handling affairs Of considerable
Importance for him, should feel in
= lined to doubt the whole story. 1t
/. .eems that your uncle turned up In
Montana about ffteer years ago and
here formed stance friendship with
I'D Swearengen Jones. one of the rich
hst men In the far west Sedgwiol,' IS
win was signed on the day of his death,
Sept "a, and It was quite natural that
Mfr. Jones should be named as his exec
ltor. That is how we became interest
Pd in the matter. Mr.. Brewster"
81 see" said Montgomery, somewhat
puzzled. "But why do you say that
., I'm both fortunate and unfortunateT
"The situation is so remarkable that
you'll consider that a mild way OF put
hing 1t when you've heard everything.
ID think you were told In our note OF
Yesterday that you are the sole heir
well. 1t may surprise you to learn that
flames Sedgwick died possessed Of az
@estate valued at almost S7,000,000."
. Montgomery Brewster sat like one
|petCified, staring blankly at the old
lawyer, who could say startling things
Ii level voice.
HE owned gold mines and ranches
N the northwest, and there is no ques
Ntion as to their value. Mr.. Jones IN
bis letter to US briefly outlines the his
story of James Sedgwick from the time
.he landed in Montana. He reached
there in 1885 from Australia, and he
Twas worth $4,000 or $4,000 at the
Etime Within Eve years he was the
|owner Of a huge ranch, and scarcely
&had another five years passed befor,
he was part owner OF three rich gOle
mines Possessions accumulated rap
'.idly: everything he touched turned I,
gold He was shrewd, careful anC
thrifty, and his money was handled
with all the skill of a Wall street hnan
cier. At the time OF his dea.h in Port
Fland he did not owe a dollar In th'
world His property is absolutely un
incumbered-safe and sound as gov
eminent bond. It's rather overwhelm
ling. isn't it," the lawyer concluded
= taKing note Of Brewster's expression.
'And he-he left everything to me9
"With proviso-"
"Ahl"
Il have copy of the will Mr. Rip
ley and are the only persons ia New
York who at present know its contents
You, am sure. after hearing it, vii
mot diyulge them without the mos
3careful dellberation."
Mr.. Grant drew the document from
q a pgeonhole in his desk. adjusted hi
glasses and prepared TO read. Then
as though struck by a sudden thought
he lald the paper down and turned
once more 70 Brewster.
1T seems that Sedgwick never mar
ried. Your mother was his sister an,
his only known relative Of close con
nection He was man Of most pc
culiar temperament, but in full posses
sion OF his mental faculties. You ma.
find this will to be a strange document
but / think Mr.. Jones, the executor
explains any mystery that may be sug
gested by its terms. While Sedgwiek'
whereabouts were unknown 10 his oil
friends in New York, 1t seems that b.
was fully posted on all that was goinl
on here. He knew that you We're tn
only child OF your mother and therefor
his only nephew He sets forth -
dates OF your mothers marriage, o
your birth OF the death OF Rober
4 Brewster and OF Mrs. Brewster. II
also was aware OF the fact that oil
4 Edwin Peter Brewster intended 10 be
4 queath large fortune to you. AM
thereby hangs a tale Sedgwick wa
proud. When be lived In New York d
was regarded as the kind OF man VIII
never forgaye the person who touches
roughly upon his pride. You know. 0
4 course. that your fasher married Mis-
. Sedgwick In the face OF the most bli
i ter opposition on the part Of Edwl
4 Brewster. The latter refused TO recoe
4 nize her as his daughter. practicall
/ dlsOwned his son and heaped the harsh
/ est kind OF .calumny upon the Sedp
wIcks, II was commonly believed abou
/ town that Jim Sedgwick left the coun
4 try three or four years after this mar
/ riage FOR the sole reason that be an
Edwin Brewster could not live IN ID
same place. So deep was his hatre
OF the old man thet he hed 10 escap
4 killing him. II was known that upo
4 one occasion be visited the Office OF hl