Norwich bulletin., 1910-07-29

l If Richard Prentice will communi- l cate with Golden g. Golden, attorneys. he will receive information of value | regarding the disposal of the estate of l the late John Prentice"
 Roger Quincey read the advertise ment second time and sighed heav- l fly. So Dicks uncle was dead! Poor Dick. The paper slipped to his knee and he stared thoughtfully out of the car window.
 Instead of the rugged mountains of New England he was looking straight into the heart of that fiery desert ! where he and Richard Prentice had fought the grim spectres of starvation aAd thirst.
 Oh the agony of those days and nights. with their terrible torturel He shuddered and a sombre fire burned in his dark eyes he lived again the night when, spent and almost perish ing, he stumbled into a desert camp carrying his friend, only to see him die in his arms an hour later. He was wearing a seal ring Dick had slipped on to his finger as his life f1ickered out.
 Again he heard the well loved voice: It's all I have. My 1ove-to Mary it was always you-she loved. Good by-dear old chap-good- by"
 Oh, the plans they had made for the future, for a fight against the great white plague that was carrying to death thousands of men, women and little children, whose poverty made the struggle ever a losing one Together they had planned a hospital in the mountains. free to those who could not buy health. where pure air. good med ical treatment and careful nursing should give back life and strength.
 But now& Dicks body lay buried in the heart of Africa. while he had come home alone to find his own moderate fortune swept away by financial panic. He was even now returning from visit to his old home, where he had gone to find the girl who had been his sweetheart in days gone by; but she had left the village, leaving no address.
 It was growing dark and when the porter came through the car and light ed the lamps Roger picked up his pa per and turned again to the notice which had started his sad train of thought.
 No one but himself knew of Richard Prentice's death The uncle who had just died was Dicks only living rela- tive, and Roger had planned to break to him the news he was too sorely grieved to write So he must call on Golden & Golden the next day and tell them of Richards death.
 He turned to the editorial page and read there a comment on the will of the late John Prentice. So, after all, the money was to be used as he and Dick had pIannedi If his nephew failed
 
 event of positive proof of his death, John Prentice's estate of $200, GOO was to be placed in trust for the mainte- nance of a hospital for the treatment of tuberculosis sufferers.
 As he read thoughts flashed through Roger Quincys brain that made his cheeks flush, while his lips hardened into a firm white line and his jaw set sternly. To his certain knowledge Dick had never met his uncle's solicitors. He and Dick were of the same height and age. In fact since boyhood there had been a marked resemblance be- tween the two faces which had caused much comment. Five years under southern suns had changed them both and he believed he would have little or no difficulty in establishing a claim to John Prentice's fortune by assuming the name of his dead friend.
 He would harm no one by such an act for the money would be spent just as he and Dick had planned and as the will also provided, and in no way for his personal gain. It was a strong and subtle temptation to do evil that great good might come.