Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1907-12-05

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loughby had not called for his money.
James was in no hurry to find out
what had become Of this man and who
were his heirs Indeed, he was at first
fully occupied mastering the details
of complicated estate, and it must be
owned that he was not good at master
ing details. Presently, things becom-
ing little clearer, he began to inquire
further into this matter, and he dis
covered several curious and interest
ing things, namely, first, that no mes
sage or intelligence had come to the
office concerning Captain Willoughby;
secondly, that 10 person had sent in
any claim as heir; thirdly, that no one
had inquired after the trust; and
fourthly, that Captain Willoughby's ad-
dress was unknown. 1t was strange
that If the man was dead his heirs did
not come forward. The mystery OF
this trust began to worry him. Where
were Captain Willoughby's heirs? Was
he really dead7 If so, why had no
news been sent to the Office?
"The trust money" he said, present
ing the case to himself, twas given to
my uncle. Here is Miss Willoughby's
letter in the safe. Give my nephew
three hundred year. And here is the
deed which my uncle drew up to Sc
cure the carrying out of the trust.
The nephew did marry, there's my
uncle's note at the back of the letter.
He married an actress and she died.
Had he any children? I don't know.
If he had, let them come and take
their money. They must know where
their father came for his. If there
are no children, the money reverts to
Miss Willoughby's heirs. Well, let
them come and claim it. There is
nothing to prove the trust but this one
letter and the deed. They may have
a copy. but it isn't likely, or should
have heard of it by this. time. Besides.
Mrs. Willoughby died seven years ago;
her will has long since been proved
and her money paid over by my uncle,
her executor, to her heirs, and not
word said about the trust in her
will"
You now begin to understand what
it was that James Rolfe did. First,
he constituted himself sole heir. II
anything, he said, should be left after
the trust was paid, it could be divid.
ed among all the cousins if they came
to claim it. Until they should claim
their share he would continue to take
and enjoy the whole.
Next. he said nothing to his wife
about the trust; he did not endeavor
to find out if Captain Willoughby left
any children, nor did he acquaint the
heirs of Miss Willoughby with the
facts.
AS for his promise as regards Kath-
arine, he put that away in corner
Of his brain where it was not likely
to disturb him. And he told his wife
nothing of that promise, any more
than of the trust money.
Conscience sometimes makes dread
full ghosts to appear in the dead of
night and whisper terrifying things in
the ears of some solicitors who do
these things. In James Rolfe's case
there were no ghosts at all. Conscience
acquiesced. He slept the sleep of the
just and righteous.
No one knew about the trust; there
was, to be sure, the letter in the safe
with the deed, but the key of
this safe was in his pocket. No one
knew about the trust, or about his
promise as regards Katharine-ridicul-
Gus, to think that he was going to
give that girl his urcle's estate! No
one knew except Tom Addison and
himself, and Tom was dead.
If lie had told Harriet the exact
truth she might perhaps have insisted
on the restitution Of the trust money
to Miss Wiloughby's heirs and she
might have proposed compromise rs
regards Katharine. On the other
hand, she might have acquiesced in
her husbands proceedings, and even
given him assistance and moral sup
port Who knows? But ha did not
tell her, and she continued happy in
he; great house, for the first time in
her life free from worry; now her
husband was rich there would be no
:-.ore trouble. OF course. he was hon.
est. Honest? The doubt could rot
arise. A gentleman is always honest;
who ever heard Of gentlsman being
rogue and a robber Of orphans?
CHAPTER V.
KATHARINE
Tom was dead The worst nisfor-
tune that could happen to any girl had
fallen upon Katharine. She had lost
her lover. In modern warfare tine
war correspondent runs more risks
than the warrior The latter only
takes his turn in the fighting; the
former must De always in the front;
the combatants are looked after and
kept in safety; they are like the pawns
Of chess board, moved from cover
to cover; the correspondent has to find
his own cover. The earlier war CORE
spondent had to keep in the rear with
the camp followers and the commits
sariat; he picked up what information
he could gather. an object of much
suspicion and some contempt. He now
marches with the van, goes out with
the forlorn hope, sits down in the
thick Of the fight with his note book
and takes ten mems share of the bull
lets. Consequently he sometimes gets
picked off.
The hope that the two missing Eng
lishmen might return was never strong
and grew daily more faint, until 1t