The Wenatchee daily world. [volume] (Wenatchee, Wash.) 1905-1971, 1907-02-09
1.-The truth is, Mr. Grant, I'd COM
pletely forgotten the existence of an
uncle" he responded. q


pletely forgotten the existence of an
uncle" he responded. q
1T is not surprising" said Mr.. Grant
genially. Every one who knew him in
New York nineteen years ago believed
him to be dead He left the city when
you We're very small lad, going to
Australia, [ think He was off to seek
his fortune, and he needed 1t pretty
badly when he started out. This let
ter from Mr.. Jones comes like mes
sage from the dead. Were 1t not that
we have known Mr.. Jones for 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 ago and
there formed stanch friendship with
old Swearengen Jones, one of the rich
est men in the far west. Sedgwick's
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"
Il see" said Montgomery, somewhat
puzzled. But why do you say that
am both fortunate and unfortunatc?'
The situation is so remarkable that
you'll consider that a mild way of put
ting it when you've heard everything.
l think you were told il our note OF
yesterday that you are the sole heir
Well. it may surprise You to learn that
James Sedgwich lied possessed of an
estate valued at almost S1,000O00.'
Montgomery Brew ster sat like one
petrified, staring blankly at the old
lawyer, who could say startling things
in level. voice.
He owned gold mines and ranches
il. the northwest, and there is no CUES
ton as to their value. Mr. Jones in
his letter to Us briefly outlines the his
tory of James Sedgwick from the time
he landed in Montana. He reached
there in 1885 from Australia, and he
was worth $4,000 or $4,000 at the
time. Within five years he was the
owner of a 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 handled
with all the skill of Wall street finan-
cier. At the time of his death in Port
land he did not owe dollar in the
world. His property is absolutely I'M
incumbered-safe and sound as gov
eminent bond. It's rather Overwhelm
ing, isn'tsit?' the lawyer concluded,
taking note of Brewster's expression.
And he--he left everything to me?"
with proviso.'
"Ah"
II have a copy of the will. Mr.. Rip
ley and l are the only persons in New
York who at present know its contents.
You, / am sure, after hearing it, will
not divulse them without the most
careful deliberatlon.'
Mr.. Grant drew the document from
a pigeOnhOle In his desk, adjusted his
glasses and prepared to read. Then,
az though struck by a sudden thought,
he laid the paper down and turned
once more to Brewster.
TT seems that Sedgwick never mar
ried. Your mother was his sister and
his only known relative of close con-
necti0n. He was man of most pc
culiar temperament, but in full posses
sion of his mental faculties. You may
find this will to be strange document.
I;,,yr fJA
explains any mystery that may be sug-
gested by its 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 you 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 kind of man who
never forYave the person who touched
roughly upon his pride. You know, of
course. that your father married Miss
Eedgwick in the face of the most bit
ter opposition on the part of Edwin
Brewster. The latter refused to recog-
vie her as his daughter, practically
lisowned 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
riage for the sole reason that he and
Edwin Brewster could not live in the
CT the old man that he fed to escape
killing him. 1t was known that upon
one occasion he visited the office Of his