The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1909-07-26
TcoNTISuED.l
copyrisht 1908. BY Dodd. Mead a Co.
CHAPTER II.

- close set about to learn what
had become Of their daughters. In
vestigation proved that Wyckholme's
daughter had married London artist
named Ruthven. The Ruthvens In
turn had one child. a 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 pretty young wo-
man, with scores Of admirers on her
hands and very level head on her
shoulders
Wyckholme held to his agreement
with Skaggs by bequeathing his share
Of the property to him. but 1t was
definitely set forth that at the death
Of his partner It was to so to Agnes
Z Ruthven. the grandchild-with reser-
vations.
Skaggs found that his daughter, who
married Browne, the American like
wise had died, but that she had left
behind son and heir. This son, Rob-
ert Browne. was in school when the
joint will was designed, and he was to
q have Ekaggs' 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-
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 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 land they
owned practically the entire island).
were to go 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 It was he
who made the final will in accordance
with the original plans.
The island Of Japat, with its Jewels
and It's ancient chateau, Of modern
construction, represented several mil
lion pounds sterling. Wyckholme's
dream of erecting an exact replica of
a 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
tainers 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 a
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 mont 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 glorious trib-
ute to romance had 1t not been for
one fatal obstacle The trouble was
that young Miss Ruthyen 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 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
4 banker in Boston and at once found
himself struggling with the difficulties
of Back Bay society.
A clause in the will, letter Of In
struction attached, demanded that the
two grandchildren should take up
their residence in the chateau within
six months after the death Of the
testator, there to remain through the
compulsory days Of courtship, up to
and including the wedding day. Four
months had already passed. It was
also stipulated that the executors
should receive 10000 each at the ex-
piration of their year Of seryitude,
provided 1t was shown In court that
they had carried out the wishes Of
the testator or III failing had made
the most diligent effort within human
power.
1T is very explicit" murmured Mr..
Hare for the third time. Il suppose
the first step is to notify young Nj
Browne OF his misfortune. Ella lorG