The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1909-07-08
CHAPTER XXI

whom Mr.. Pegram candidly avowed to be
his nominee in the Great Tortine."
1T is a wild chance" thought Jack,
and | suppose, as such. ought to be
tried but | am afraid il is little likely
that Ronald will discover anything that
may prevent this marriage. They will
show him Mr.. Krabbe. just as they show
ed me Mr.. Krabbe. and he will know that
1t is not the real man: but what is the
use of that? We cannot prove it. He
may make any amount of inquiries he
likes in Rydland, and they will all tell
him the same story-that Mr.. Krabbe
lives in that cottage, and has done so
ever since he broke down and became past
work. kingwood will feel sure. as he is
now, that all these people have been bam-
boozled by the Pegrams. But there, again.
neither my uncle nor anybody else-bar
Hemmingby-will believe us. | declare.
If Ringwood declines TO go l shall really
not be able to blame him.
"Yo1 never called here, and conse-
Quently never got my note" said Ring
wood as he welcomed his visitor Il left
a line for YOU What did you do in
Males?"
Worse than nothing. doubt very
much whether. under any circumstances,
1t was possible ever to have done any
thing. Hemmingby was quite right: l
did not impose upon him as the sailor
one bit. And yesterday | followed your
advice. and went and saw my uncle, and
that was not a bit of use either: that
confounded old Welsh villain had written
up a most plausible account of our inter
view, owning, with affected candor, that
his nominee was Mr. Krabbe, begging my
uncle to send anybody he liked 10 see and
inquire into his identity. The marriage
takes place next week. and l see no hope
Of exposing the Pegrams before that, I'M
less you think you are likely to make
anything out of your interview with old
Krabbe"
MY interview with old Krabbe. What
do you mean"
Il forgot TO tell you. Ciinglng to what
Seems to be my last chance. persuaded
my uncle to take Pegram at his word, and
send some one down TO Rydland to see
this nominee of him You must try
Ringwood; you are sharper than me, and
may detect the fraud. cleyerly as it has
been contrived"
Of it than you did but | will own to
feeling a curiosity to see the impersonator
of a man whom we firmly believe TO be
dead. on insufficient grounds it
may be. Still, have a bit of real good
news for you: you viii have to see Lord
darlington again, and l think can prom
Use you that you will find him then quite
as keen to break off this marriage as you
can wish"
You speak in riddles"
Terence Finnigan l.; found"
what Miss Caterhim's missing NOM
inee Are you quite sure it is the right
MANI"
Quite. / went down TO Portsmouth
yesterday with Miss Chichester to see
hir She identified him at once"
"iIurrah - exclaimed Jack. springing
from his chair, and pacing the room with
rapid strides in his excitement. with
a third person in il. their arrangement be-
comes impossible. Ii insures the wedding
being put off, at all events: and we shall
learn the truth about Pegram's nominee
before long. / have no doubt. By the
way, I suppose you will hardly go down
to see him now"
Il do not know; you must remember
That am acting for Miss Caterham's heir
as well as endeavoring to help you.
should like to consult Hemmingby about
it."
Come along, then; let US run across
and tell him the news"
The two young men proceeded at once
10 the "Vivacity," and after some Ettle
delay were shown into the managers sane
tum. Mr.. Hemmingby listened with great
interest to Ringwood's story of the dis-
ccvery of Finnigan. He roared with
laughter at Jacks account OF his inter
view with old Pegram.
II tell you what, Ringwood," said the
manager at length, II have an idea about
this. | should like to take advantage OF
your going down as Lord Lakington's ac
credited agent to accompany you. and see
Mr. Krabbe myself. You see, knew the
old man for many years; and though
have a strong suspicion that whoever they
have got in that cottage is not the real
man, yet / am curious TO see an imitation
which is SO good that it has undoubtedly
deceived many people who knew hin
quite well. | have another reason. which
have never mentioned TO you as YET
When I endeavOred to see him, | was
very much struck with the nurse who
takes care of him; with the idea that
had seen her before, and in a very differ
ent capacity. You go down tomorrow
call upon them that afternoon, and ar
range 10 pay your visit about midday
never trouble about me: shall turn UT
as you knock at the cottage door. AS fol
you. Mr.. Philiimore, you will. of course
Inform the Viscount that the 'Tontine' i:
not reduced to a match yet; and, conse
quently, the dividing of the stakes not al
present practicable"
Lord Lexington was not little dis
turbed by the announcement the mex
morning that Mr. Phillimore wanted Il
see him. He felt quite certain that this
Interview with his nephew was not like
ly to be a pleasant one. No sooner die
Jack Phillimore make his appearance
than the yiscount FASTENED to exclaim
pray sit down. Delighted to see you
of course; but / trust that you hav,
not come to reopen yesterdays converse
ton. 1t is impossible you can have heart
anything from Rydland as yet. nor likel,
indeed that you will find these wild sus
picions Of yours substantiated. Now, m,
dear Jack. if you like to come to Bea
trice's wedding we shall be very pleased
to see you; if. on the contrary. you thinl
ct to feel aggrieved, very WELL stay away
but once for all. be good enough TO un
derstand that l decline al further discus
sion on the subject
As far as discussion goes, certainl.
not, unless you like" replied Jack. .
have only come down this morning 10 pu
you in possession of a fact. not a sus
picion mind, and to point out the differ
ence that that fact makes in the arrange
ment between you and Mr.. Pegram- Wha
have to tell you is this. The nomine
of the late Miss Caterham. who has beef
so long missing, has been found. is alive
tolerably well, and in no immediate dan
ger of dying. Miss Chichester herself cal
tell you that she saw Finnigan alive for
ty-eight hours ago, and either Mr. Ring
wood or Mr.. Carbuckle could tell yol
that the result of his being alive is as
say"
This makes difference exclaimed