Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1905-07-25
CHAPTER V.

v.
The big man finished his big meal and
took an armchair by the FIRE. He I'M
laced his shoes, pushed them from his
feet and put on pair of slippers, talking
all the time in sheer exuberance of
spirits
And now" he said, cts your turn,
turn, Harvey. Let's discuss your pros
poets. For my own part, I'm man OF
my word, unless l see good reason for
going back from it. Unless something
which won't be of my making comes liz
between US, you'll be my heir. How
like you are to your poor dear motheri
Dear mel was saying Come In"
He broke off his speech to answer q
knock at the door A waiter entered.
Mr.. Jethroe, l believe, sirT
Mr.. Jethroe? Yes"
L was to say, sir, that a gentleman
representing the Ezekiel firm is in the
house, and to ask you at what time it
would be convenient for you to see him
In the morning"
Harvey Martin Jethroe the elder rose.
He cleared his throat with loud, rasp-
ing cough.
What name did the gentleman giveT
he asked.
He didn't give his name to me, sir, T"
the waiter answered; ''but the gentleman
Is staying here, sir, and believe it
Is Mr.. Joseph Taylor"
TaylorY said Uncle Martin, cues
tioningly. Taylor? New man, most
likely. You said the Ezekiel frmY'
Yes, sir, the Ezekiel firm"
"Oh, well, tell him to choose his own
time between nine and midday"
Thank you. sir"
The waiter vanished, and Uncle Mar
tin resumed ais seat by the fire. His
manner was so altered that the dullest
observer in the world could not have
missed the change. He made some at
tempt "a talk in the old way, and, failing
tn that, he set his nephew talking; but
ne lapsed into such evident oblivion of
what was being said that the Younger
man went silent in his turn. The cessa-
ton of his companions speech served to
awaken him.
"WeIly he said, suddenly. GO on,
Harvey. Go on, lad"
Il am afraid sir" said Harvey, "you
have had some kind of unpleasing re-
minder. Perhaps you would rather that
didn't trouble you just at present"
well, yes" said his uncle cts I'M
pleasing. set of hungry scoundrels! l
shouldn't wonder now"
He sank once more into a complete
abstraction, and sat with his big hands
clenched between his knees, looking into
the fire.
Look here, Harvey" he said, recov,
ering himself as swiftly as before, 'In
tell you what l want you to do for me.
Stay here tonight, and in the morning
go down to the bank first thing and see
that that ten thousand is all right. Don't
disturb me before you start Draw
twenty-five hundred in gold, will you
Draw as much more as you like, but
have twenty-five hundred dollars ready
for me at any moment when l may ask
for it. I'm going to my bedroom; I've
heap of things to do and to think
about. Good night"
The bank manager, in a new access
Of bewilderment, rose to shake hands
with him.
If you want anything, ring for it,
said Uncle Martin. "The waiter will
show you to your room. Good night,
again. Don't forget that twenty-five hun
dred. Gold, mind you"
He gave his nephew another hand
shake, which was quite limp and heart
less, and walked into the next room
where he tramped heavily up and down
for a full quarter of an hour At the
end of this time Harvey Jethroe the
younger began to feel as if, in lingering
there, he were somehow playing the spy.
and rang to be shown to his own apart
ment. Arrived there, he undressed and
went to bed, but sleep for long time
failed him.
eho l..
morrow" he said to himself, land laugh
at this ridiculous ightmare-murdered
man, millionaire, uncle, check book, Eze-
kiel firm and all"
He was settling down at last and
when he had murmured to himself. Its
too" he fell sound asleep for half a
moment, and came broad awake to say,
':Preposterous!" Then he fell asleep in
earnest, and forgot even to dream.
The force of custom awoke him at his
customary hour. He took a bath, ate a
light breakfast and chartered a cab. He
was still quarter disposed TO think a
part of last nights adventure was a
dream, but the smiling entry of the
senior partner of his firm made one side
of it real enough.
You must allow me to congratulate
you, Mr.. Jethroe," said the senior part
ner, ION your uncle's return"
He called on me last night, SIR" said
JethrOe, 'and told me"
That he had placed fifty thousand
dollars at your disposal? That is so,
Mr.. Jethroe, and you may rely upon us
TO honor your draft to that amount.
presume you are aware Of your uncle's
testamentary disposition. NoY The
senior partner smled. This is no be-
trayal of confidence, Mr.. Jethroe, no be-
trayal."
My uncle asked me, sir" said Jeth
roe. ITO take him twenty-five hundred
dollars in gold this morning"
Certainly" said the senior partner.
certainly. Give me your check. Mr..
Jethroe."
There never was a man more aston
ished in this world than Harvey Jethroe
when, having signed his name to a
check, he saw the senior partner carry
it to the cashier. He made some pro-
test, but was smilingly waved back 10
his own official armchair, and in a min
ute or two the senior partner was back
again.
There is a bag, Mr. Jethroe," said
the great man, containing the exact
amount"
He wore a comedy manner the man.
ager had never seen before, or expected
to see, and this increased the bewilder
ment Of the whole bewildering business
of the last fourteen hours.
Jethroe took the solid. heavy little bag
of gold, climbed into the waiting cal
and drove back to the hoted.
''AIr. Martin Harvey Jethroe" he said
10 the servant in the hall, for he had not
remarked the number of his uncles room
Mr.. Jethroe has gone away, sir" said
the man.
CHAPTER VI.
Gone away?" asked Harvey.
IF you are Mr.. Jethroe's nephew. sir
l believe there is a note waiting for you
at the office"
Thank you. ! viii ask for it,
He was still nursing the solid little