Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1908-06-26
CHAPTER II.

CHAPTER III.
This sudden announcement of his faith.
er's death was a great shock to Walter.
The news stunned him, and he stood,
pale and motionless, looking into the
housekeeper's face.
Come in, Master Walter, come In ami
have a cup of hot tea. It'll make yov
feel better"
"Tell me about it, Nancy; IL can't
think it's true. It's so sudden. When
was he first taken sick|
II didn't notice nothing till last night
just after supper. Richard went to the
postoffice and got your fathers letters.
When they came he took EN- into tn. Ii
brary, and began to read 'em. There was
three, remember. 1t was about an hour
before l went into the room to tell him
the carpenter had called about repairing
the carriage house. When / came in,
there was your poor father lying on the
carpet, senseless. He held a letter tight
In his hand. l screamed for help. Mr..
Brier, the carpenter, and Richard came
in and helped me to lift up your poor
father, and we sent right of for the doc
tor"
What did the doctor say"
He said it was a paralytic strokes
very bad one-and ordered him to bo put
to bed directly. But it was of no use.
He never recovered, but breathed his last
this morning at eight o'clock"
Nancy, have you got that letter Which
my father was reading"
Yes, Master Walter, put 1t in m,
pocket without reading. l think there
must have been bad news in it."
She drew from her pocket letter,
which she placed in Walters hands. lie
read 1t hastily, and 1t confirmed his sus
picions. 1t was from lawyer Mr.. Con-
rad had asked to make inquiries respect
ing the Great Metropolitan Mining Com.
pany, and was as follows,
William Conrad, ESQ.,:
Dear Sir-I have, at your request,
taken pains to inform myself Of the pres
ent management and condition Of the
Great Metropolitan Mining Company.
The task has been less difficult than l
anticipated, since the failure Of the com
pany has just been made public. The
management has been in the hands Of div
honest and unscrupulous men, and 1t IL
doubtful whether the stockholders will he
able to recover anything.
ANDREW HOLMES"
Walter folded up the letter, and put 1t
into his pocket. He felt that this letter
had cost his father his life, and in the
midst of his grief he had very bitter
thoughts about the INSCRIPTIONS man who
had led his father to ruin. Had it been
merely the loss Of property, he could
have forgiven him, but he had been de-
prived Of the kindest and most indulgent
of fathers.
81 should like to see my father lie
said.
An hour later he came out of the death
chamber, pale but composed. He seemed
older and more thoughtful than when he
entered. A great and sudden sorrow often
has this effect upon the young.
Nancy" he said, have any arrange
ments been made about the funeral?"
mo, Walter, we waited till you came"
"My father had no near relatives.
There is a cousin, Jacob Drummond, ho
lives in Stapleton. 1t will be necessary
to let him know. 1t will be best to tele-
graph"
Jacob Drummond kept dry goods
store in the village of Stapleton. He had
the reputation Of being a very mean man.
He carried his meanness not only into
his business, but into his household, and
there was not a poor mechanic in Sta.
pleton who did not live better than Mr..
Drummond, who was the rich man of the
place.
(T-o hA continuedl