Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1909-07-28
CHAPTER IL.
AN EXTRAORDINARY DOCUMENT.


N II appears that the Messrs.
Skaggs and Wyckholme as
their dual career drew to a
~ close set about to learn what
had become of their daughters. In
vestigation proved that Wyckholme's
daughter had married London artist
named Ruthyen. The Ruthvens in
turn had one child. a daughter Wyck-
holmes wife and his daughter died
when this grandrhild was eight or ten
years old. BY last report the grand
child was living with her father in
London. She WIS pretty young wo-
man, with scores of admirers ON her
hands and very level head on her
shoulders.
Wycllholme held to his agreement
with Skaggs by bequeathing his share
of the property to him. but it was
definitely set forth that Mt the death
of his partner 1t was to go to Agnes
Rutlven. the grandchild-with reser-
yations.
Skaggs found that his daughter. who
wise had did. but that she had left
behind a SOB and heir. This son. Rob-
ert Browne. WAS in school when the
joint will was designed. and be was to
have Skagss' fortune at the death Of
Wyckhone in case that worthy sur
vived.
In order to keep the business and
;,,ty u Al.
petual control Of one partnership the
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 If the conditions
We're not complied with. neither to be
eXcusable for tho detection of the
other. lay in the provision that the
whole industry and its accumulated
fortune. including the land Mnd they
owned practically the entire island).
We're to 90 to the islanders. Wyck-
holme named Sir John Al!encrombie
as one executor, ard Skasgs selected
Alfred Bowen Of Boston as the !. Ter.
AS Wyckholmc was the first to lie.
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
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
tainers and Nubian slaves, lived like
oriental potentates in the huge struc-
turc on the highlands overlooking the
sea.
Skaggs seldom went from one part
of his home TO another without Il
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
sarcophasus beneath the chapel; the
other was lying dead and undiscovered
in the very heart of his possessions.
The magnificent plans of the part
ncrs would have been glorious trib-
ute to romance had it not been for
one fatal obstacle. The trouble was
that young Miss Ruthven and young
MIR. Browne did not know that their
gl'andfathers lived much less that
they owned an island In the south
seas. Therefore 1t Is quite natural
that they could not have known they