The Lake County times., 1907-02-09
and spoke with simple directness

MI 14cudIIIs tleTS Is SOUI6tAlHS
wish to ask you. but I can say it only
II we are to be friends. have feared
you might look upon US here as enc
mics"
That is a strong word" I replied
evasively.
Let me say to you that | hope very
much that nothing will prevent your
inheriting all that Mr. Glenarm wished
you TO have from him"
Thank you; that is both kind and
generous" l said with no little sur
prise
Not in the least. 1 should be dis
loyal to your grandfather, who was
my friend and the friend of my family
If did not feel kindly toward you and
wish you well. And I must say for
my niece"
Miss Devereux" I found a certain
pleasure in pronouncing her name.
Miss Devereux is very greatly dis
turbed over the good intentions of
your grandfather in placing her name
in his will You can doubtless under
stand how uncomfortable person or
any sensibility would be under the cir
cumstances. I'm sorry you have never
met her. She is a very charming
young lady whose happiness does not,
I may say, depend on other peoples
money"
She had never told, then! | smiled
at the recollection of our interviews.
"I am sure that is true, Sister The
resa."
Now, I wish to speak to you about
a matter of some delicacy. 1t is, un-
derstand perfectly, no business Of
mine how much of q fortune Mr.. Glen
arm left. But this matter has been
brought to my attention in a disagree
able way Your grandfather estab-
lshed this school; he gave most OF
the money for these buildings. | had
other friends who offered to contribute
but he insisted on doing 1t all. But
now Mr.. Pickering takes the ground
that the money-or part Of 1t, at least
was only loan"
"Yes; l understand"
"Mr. Pickering tolls me that he has
no alternative in the matter; that the
law requires him to collect this money
as a debt due the estate.
THAT is undoubtedly true, as a gen.
eral proposition. He told me in New
York that he had a claim against you
for $4,000"
! "Yes, that is the amount I wish to
say to you, Mr.. Glenarm, that If it is
necessary, l can pay that amount"
Pray do not trouble about it, Sis
ter Theresa. There are a good many
things about my grandfather's affairs
! that l don't understand, but I'm not
going to see an old friend of his swim
died. There's more in ali this than
appears, My grandfather seems to
have mislaid or lost most Of his assets
before he died. And yet he had the
reputation of being q pretty cautious
business man"
THE impression is abroad, as you
must know, that your grandfather con
cealed his fortune before his death
The people hereabouts believe so; and
Mr.. Pickering, the executor, has been
unable to trace it"
Yes. I believe Mr.. Pickering has
not been able to solve the problem, -
l said and laughed.
But, of course, you and he viii CO
operate III an effort to find the lost
property"
She bent forward slightly; her eyes
as they met mine, examined me with a
keen interest.
'Why shouldn't be frank with you
Sister Theresa? I have every reason
for believing Arthur Pickering {
scoundrel He does not care to co
operate with me in searching for this
money. The fact is that he is very
. much wishes to eliminate me as fac
, tor in the settlemen, Of the estate
speak carefully; know exactly wha
, / am saying
She bowed her head slightly ant
was silent for a moment The silenc'
, was the moro marked from the fac
that the hood of her habie concealed
; her face.
What you say is very serious"
. Yes, and his offense is equally Sc
} r1ous. 1t may seem odd for me to b
| saying this to you when l am a strans
{ er-when you may be pardoned 70
; having no very high opinion of ne"
| She turned her face to met wa
/ singularly gentle and refned-not
face to associate with an idea Of sci
Z seeking or duplicity.
'I sent for you, Mr.. Glenarm. bt
r cause I had a very good opinion c
: you; because. for one reason, you ar
t the grandson of your grandfather
> and the friendly light in her gray eye
drove away any lingering doubt I ma
have had as to her sincerity.
wished to warn you to have a care fc
/ your own safety. I don't warn yo
a against Arthur Pickering alone. bl
against the countryside. The idea
Il hidden fortune IS alluring; a my
terious house and a lost treasLl