Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1912-06-28
The Heir of Tregenna
Strange Experienced In the Life
of a Doctor.
Copyright. by W. G. Chapman.)
By A. t. MEAD

seized with severe attack of appen
dicitis, and 1t was to an operation
performed by me at the eleventh hour
that he owed his recovery. We grew
70 be warm friends, having discovered
mat we had many tastes in common !;
among others, liking for exploring
the mysteries of the skies. For Ire
gonna was noted astronomer, and
The proud possessor of one of the larg-
est telescopes in England.
During the following year l gave up
practise. except In cases where | was
called In consultation. | had resolved
on taking good long rest, and paying
= promised visit to Tregenna. He and
his wife were then at their London
residence, and l was surprised and
pleased to find that Sir John num-
bered among his intimate friends a
former great chum of mine-Dr. Hor-
ace Collett
About this time a total eclipse of
the sun was expected to take place
In Ceylon and Southern India. Hav-
Ing never seen the great world of light
under these interesting circumstances.
| gladly accepted an invitation from
Tregenna to join party of solar spec
troscopists who were starting for In
dia under his leadership. We arrived
at our destination in good time. and
had the satisfaction of witnessing a
total eclipse of nearly six minutes du-
ration. Having made our observations
In the hill country, we Immediately
afterward started for the coast. On a
certain intensely hot night Tregenna
and were standing on the veranda
outside one of the big hotels at Mad
ras. when he said abruptly:
81 am rather worried about my wife,
Halifax"
rs not Lady Tregenna in good
health?' queried.
Il hope So" he said slowly, and then
added with a sudden burst of conf
dence: The truth Is. Halifax, that
when left England there was hope
that Lady Tregenna might present
me with an heir to the property. 1t
was imperative that l should accom-
pany this expedition, or | would not
have left home at such critical time.
l expected news before now. 1t was
arranged that Dr. Collett was to cable
to me here. The silence makes me
rather uneasy"
He had scarcely finished speaking
when servant appeared. bearing two
cablegrams on salver One was adj
dressed to Tregenna, the other to my
self. | noticed that he changed color
as he took his from the salYer. Out
of consideration for him left the YER
nd anti
where we had just dined. l opened
my cablegram. 1t was from Collett,
written In cipher. and contained
good deal of valuable Information re-
garding certain discoveries in medi-
cine which correspondent closely with
some had made myself. But the final
news In the message startled and dis
tressed me:
"Your fellow-traveler, Sir John Ire
gonna, is disappointed of his hope of
an heir. Lady Tregenna gave birth to
boy this morning. who only lived an
hour"
Sir Johns eager face. the look in his
eyes when he spoke of an heir to his
property, flashed painfully now before
my mental vision. The blow he was
about to receive was a cruel one. II
had Just thrust the cablegram into
my pocket, when Tregenna rushed In
to the room.
Halifax" he gasped excitedly, 81
can scarcely contain myself. the re-
lief is SO immense. am the father
of a ape boy. and the property is
Saved" !
| saw there was a serious error
somewhere. but did not dare to tell
him the news had received. His ex.
element was so great that to dash |
his hopes to the ground might almost |
kill him.
you do not realize what this means |
to me-" he said. IF have an enemy |
In the world, 1t is the man who was |
to have succeeded me at the Manor. |
His name is Dayrell Tregenna. But |
the coming of the boy makes 1t all |
right. | am surprised, though. to find
that DIR. Collett did not send the cable.
It was sent by DR.. Mason. Collett |
could not have been in attendance. / |
shall leave for home tomorrow. Wish
me luck, Halifax"
with all my heart" responded.
But the thought of the news which
lay in my own breast pocket caused
the words to stick in my throat.
The next morning Tregenna sailed
for England, but 1t so happened that |
/ did not leave India for several
months. During that time I was con-
cerned to hear that my special friend,
DR.. Collett, who had sent me the
cipher cable, had died suddenly. His
death had taken place on the very day
on which had received the message
We were greatly attached to each
other, and had been associated in
more than one investigation of inter-
est Two days before l left Calcutta
Tor England received the following
from Tregenna.
Dear Halifax | am given to I'M
derstand that you will be back In the
metropolis some time In June. I hope
as soon as ever you arrive you will
come straight down to Tregenna
Manor. | want to show yon the boy.
He is as fine lad as the heart of a
father could desire. Dayrell is still
In the country, and sometimes visits
at the Manor, but with my heir to look
at, | no longer mind him. In short, l
breathe freely.
Yours,
John Tregenna"