Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1909-01-22

the next day. montgomery WoIe d
slightly bored expression, and 1t was
t,I.ent that he took little interest in
the will of James T. Sedgwick. From
far back in the recesses of memory he
now recalled this long lost brother OF
his mother. AS a very small child ne
had seen his Uncle James upon the few
occasions which brought him to the
home of Mr.. and Mrs. Robert Brewster.
But the young man had dined with the
Drews the night before and Barbara
had had more charm for him than usu-
al 1t was of her that he was thinking
when he walked into the office Of
Swearengen Jones' lawyers.
The truth, is, Mr.. Grant, I'd COM
pletely forgotten the existence OF an
uncle" he responded.
1T Is not surprising" said Mr.. Grant
genially. Every one who knew him
in New York nineteen years ago be-
lieved him to be dead He left the
city when you were a very small lad,
going TO Australia. l think. He was
off TO seek his fortune, and he needed
il pretty badly when he started out
This letter from Mr.. Jones comes like
a message from the dead. Were 1t not
that we have known Mr.. Jones for
long time, handling affairs of consid-
erable Importance for him, should fee!
inclined to doubt the whole story. 1t
seems that your uncle turned up IN
Montana about fifteen years ago and
there formed a stanch friendship with
old Swearengen Jones, one of the rich
est men in the far west. Sedgwick's
will was signed on the day of his DEATH
Sept "a. and it was quite natural that
Mr. Jones should be named as his exec
utor. That is how we became inter-
ested in the matter, Mr.. Brewster
Il see," said Montgomery, somewhat
puzzled. But why do you say that
am both fortunate and unfortunate?"
The situation is so remarkable that
you'll consider that a mild way Of
putting it when you've heard every
thing. l think you were told in our
note of yesterday that you are the sole
heir Well, it may surprise you to
learn that James Sedgwick died pos
sessed of an estate valued at almost
S7,OOO,OOO."
Montgomery Brewster sat like one
petrifed, staring blankly at the old
lawyer, who could say startling things
in level voice.
He owned gold mines and ranches
in the northwest, and there is no ques-
ton as to their value. Mr. Jones in
his letter to us briefly outlines the his
tory Of James Sedgwick from the time
he landed in Montana He reached
there in 1885 from Australia, and he
was worth $4,000 or $4,000 at the
time Within five years he was the
owner Of a huge ranch, and scarcely
had another five years passed before
he was part owner of three rich gold
mines. Possessions accumulated rap
idly; everything he touched turned to
gold. He was shrewd, careful and
thrifty, and his money was handled
with all the skill of Wall street finan-
cier. At the time of his death in Port
land he did not owe a dollar in the
world. His property is absolutely un-
incumbered-safe and sound as a gov
ernment bond. It's rather overwhelm-
ing, isn't it?" the lawyer concluded,
taking note of Brewster's expression.
And he-he left everything to me?"
With proviso."
Ali"
Il have copy of the will. Mr.. Rip
ley and l are the only persons in New
York who at preesnt know it's contents.
You. l am sure. after hearing it, will
careful deliberation."
Mr.. Grant drew the document from
a pigeOnhole in his desk, adjusted his
glasses and prepared to read. Then,
as though struck by a sudden thought,
he laid the paper down and turned
once more to Brewster.
1T seems that Sedgwick never mar
ried. Your mother was his sister and
his only known relative Of close con-
nection. He was a man Of most Pc
culiar temperament. but in full posses
sion of his mental faculties. You may
but I think Mr. Jones, the executor,
explains any mystery that may be sug-
gested by its terms. While Sedg-
wick's whereabouts were unknown TO
his old friends in New York, it seems
that he was fully posted on all that
was going on here. He knew that you
were the only child Of your mother and
therefore his only nephew. He sets
forth the dates of your mothers mar
rlage. Of your birth, Of the death of
Robert Brewster and Of Mrs. Brew
ster. He also was aware Of the fact
that old Edwin Peter Brewster intend
ed to bequeath a large fortune To you,
and thereby hangs a tale. Sedgwick
was proud. When he lived in New
York he was regarded as the kind OF
man who never forgave the person who
touched roughly upon his pride. You
know, Of course. that your father mar
ried Miss Sedgwick in the face of the
most bitter opposition on the part OF
edwin Brewster. The latter refused
to recognize her as his daughter, prac-
tically disOwned his son and heaped
the harshest kind Of calumny upon the
Sedgwicks. 1t was commonly believed
about town that Jim Sedgwick left
the country three or four years after
this marriage for the sole reason that
he and Edwin Brewster could not live
ir the same place. So deep was this
hatred of the old man that he fled to
escape killing him. 1t was known that
upon one occasion he visited the office
OF his sisters enemy for the purpose
Of Staying him. but something prevent
cd. He carried that hatred to the
grave, as you will see"
Montgomery Brewster was trying to
gather himself together from within
the fog which made himself and the
world unreal.
II believe I'd like to have you read
ny hp