Los Angeles herald., 1906-06-17


face. II will call the police"
I'VE do not intend to detain you by force,
L interposed. But l entreat you to listen Il
me for moment
Which is Mr.. Brooks?" asked the old gen
tleman, in gentle tone.
i am known by the name of Gay Brooks
but my real name is Gayworthy," | replied
"Gayworthy," he repeated casting pityini
look at me, as though he believed he had fath
omed the deception which had been practlcec
upon him.
IL am the son of John Gayworthy, and my
mother was your daughter Olivia" | said.
Y oung man, what do you propose to nc
complish by this piece of deception asked
Mr.. Maldrake, walking up to me and looking
intently into my face.
"lf you will listen to me, propose to dc
justice to the dead and the living" l re
piled, as solemnly my clerical grandfathel
could have uttered the expression, For six
teen years you have been the victim of the
vilest deception ever. practiced upon human
being, and compared with it not much need
be said about the little trick which it seems
my jealous friend, Mr.. Wadlaw, has put upon
you tonight l repeat that am the son oi
your daughter Olivia"
"Impossible!" he exclaimed, with more en-
ergy than he had before displayed.
"If you will kindly listen to me for few
minutes, and find that L don't know what
am talking about i will not complain If you
leave me without another word" | declared
when saw that he was disposed to relent Q
little from his original position.
Both my daughter and her son perished in
the fire at Constantinople in November
1853" said Mr.. Maldrake, with quiverine
lip, which showed that he had not yet recover
ed from the terrible shock of that awful event
''The remains of John Gayworthy and his
wife were found in the ruins. But did yor
identify the body of the child?"
Il did not" he replied, with great dea
of half-suppressed emotion.
"Could you have identified it if you hac
seen it?"~
81 certainly could, for the remains of Johr
Gayworthy and his wife were not burned, ant
the child was near the spot. The fire hat
spent itself, and the wall which caused thei
death was thrown down by the fall of severa
other ruins"
"The valet of your son-in-law, Milton
Brooks"
'Ah, you know the name of that man ?" in
terrupted Mr.. Maldrake, with an expression
of the greatest surprise.
81 bear his name, and he has been my re
puted father since that day Of the fire."
| replied, as impressively as the solemn fact
compelled me to speak.
By this time | was satisfied that | had woi
victory, for the reverend gentleman was no
only willing, but anxious to hear what l hat
| to say.
He seated himself in the chair Maddy hat
| placed for him. Wadlaw came into the ga
tance from us, and was all attention.
This seems to be very strange story,
| said my grandfather, rubbing his head witt
both hands, as though he wished to assure him
self that he was awake and in his right senses
1T is strange story, sir" / answered. ''Bu
it is true. Sir Morgan Gayworthy is a villain
and has been guilty of a most atrocious crime!
Softly, young man, mildly interposed Mr.
Maldrake.
/
"He has robbed your own flesh and blood 0
both name and inheritance; and | shall prov
/ what | say. But before we go any further
think we had better attend to the matter o
Identification. You said you could certainl
have identified the remains Of your grandson
if they had been found"
Il am sure of it. l resided with my daugt
ter in Constantinople, and the little boy wa
the companion of my idle hours, though
had to he at the legation from ten till thre
every day. l was often present in the morr
ing when his mother washed and dressed tn
boy, and one day | noticed wound on hi
back, under and close to the left shoulde
blade.
There was a plaster upon it at the tim
| asked his mother about it, and she told m
that the child had fallen over backward upo
sharp stone of the pavement in the stree
He was just beginning to walk little, an
the nurse was careless about it.
81 need not dwell upon this wound, an
more than to say that it left scar about a
inch long. Probably it is there now, for 81,
teen years would hardly efface it."
Il am not aware that there is any such sca
on my back" l replied.
well, It is in place where you would nI
be likely to see it, said my grandfather, wit
a smile "Johncy was very active and enc
getic little fellow"
"Johnny" | put in, interrogatively.
'"rhe child's name was John, after his
ther and his, paternal grandfather, Sir job
Y L ~. Ovnea 1aKy tuI,o h. Il.