The Somerset reporter., 1909-08-26
CHAPTER II

1T appears that the Messrs
Skaggs and Wyckholme as
their dual career drew 10 a
~ close set about to learn what
had become Of their daughters. In
vestigation proved that Wyckholme's
daughter had married a London artist
named Ruthven. The Ruthvens in
turn had one child. . daughter. Wyck-
holmes wife and his daughter died
when this grandchild was eight or ten
years old. BY last report the grand
child was living with her father in
London. She was a pretty young wo-
man, with scores Of admirers on her
hands and a very level head on her
| shoulders.
Wyckholme held to his agreement
with Skaggs by bequeathing his share
Of the property to him, but it was
definitely set forth that at the death
of his partner 1t was to, so to Agnes
Ruthven, the grandchild-with reser-
vations.
Skaggs found that his daughter, who
married Browne, the American, like
!
behind a son and heir. This son, Rob-
ert Browne, was In school when the
Joint will was designed, and he was to
have Skaggs' fortune at the death Of
Wyckholme In case that worthy sur
vived.
| In order to keep the business and
the property intact and under the per-
/ - !, in no
granddaughter of Wyckholme was to
marry the grandson of Skaggs within
the year after the death of the sur
viving partner. The penalty to be I'M
posed upon them II the conditions
were not complied with. neither to be
excusable for the detection of the
other, lay In the provision that the
whole industry and its accumulated
fortune, including the land (and they
owned practically the entire island.
were to 60 to the islanders. Wyck-
holme named Sir John Allencrombie
as one executor, and Skaggs selected
Alfred Bowen Of Boston as the other.
AS Wyckholme was the first to die
| Skaggs became sole owner of the Is
land and its treasures. and 1t was he
who made the final will In accordance
with the original plans.
The island of Japat, with its jewels
and its ancient chateau, Of modern
construction, represented several mil
lion pounds sterling. Wyckholme's
dream of erecting an exact replica Of
q famous old chateau found response
in the equally whimsical Skaggs, who
constantly bemoaned the fact that 1t
was impossible to spend money. For
five years after its completion the two
old men, with an army of Arabian re-
taners and Nubian slaves, lived like
oriental potentates In the huge struc-
ture on the highlands overlooking the
sea.
Skaggs seldom went from one part
! of his home to another without q
guide. 1t was SO vast and so laby-
rinthine that he feared he might be-
come lost forever. The dungeon be-
low the chateau and the moat with
its bridges were the especial delight
Of these lonely, romantic old chaps.
One of the builders Of this rare pile
was now sleeping peacefully in the
sarcophagus beneath the chapel; the
other was lying dead and undiscovered
In the very heart of his possessions.
The magnificent plans Of the part
ners would have been a glorious trib-
ute to romance had It not been for
one fatal obstacle. The trouble was
that young Miss Ruthven and young
Mr.. Browne did not know that their
grandfathers lived, much less that
they owned an island In the south
seas. Therefore 1t Is quite natural
that they could not have known they
were expected to marry each other.
Miss Ruthven, from motives peculiar
to the head and not to the heart, set
about to earn a title for herself. Three
months before the death of Mr.. Skaggs
she was married to Lord Deppingham
who possessed title and country
place that rightfully belonged to his
creditors. Mr.. Browne, just out Of
college, hung out his single as a
physician and surgeon and forthwith,
with all the confidence his profession
Is supposed to inspire, proceeded to
marry the daughter Of brokerage
banker In Boston and at once found
himself struggling with the difficulties
It Back Bay society.
A clause in the VIII, letter Of in
struction attached, demanded that the
two grandchildren should take up
their residence In the chateau within
stx months after the death Of the
tsstator, there 20 rsmain through the
compulsory days Of courtship, up to
md iaeisding the wedding day. -Four
months bad already passed n was
sho stipulated that the executors
should receive 10000 each 1t tho ex-
ptrattoa Of their year Of servitude.
provided Il VS. shown In court that
they had Carried ont the wishes Of
We tsstatr or In failing had made
the most ditioeut s1ost within human
power.
II - very explicit" murmured Mr..
nrs for the third time. II suppose
~ nrst step l. to notify young Mr..
BsVwns OF BIZ mtyc0rtune. His lord
sAer has The task Of breaking the news
- Ledy Deppingham."
you ere assuming that l intend to
see under this ridiculous wfil."
~Ckrtsinly. It means about $4,000
10 you 1t the end Of the year, with
nothing to do but to notify two persons
Of tho terms In the will II they're not
divorced and married again at the end