The Van Buren press., 1912-06-22
The Heir OF Tregenna
Strange Experienced IN fbs Life
of q Doctor.
Copyright. by w. G. Chapman.)
By A. T. M E AID

Halifax"
The next morning Tregenna sailed
for England, but it so happened that
| did not leave India for several
During that time | was con-
cerned to hear that my special friend,
DR.. Collett, who had sent ne 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 left Calcutta
for England | received the following
from Tregenna.
Dear Halifax: | am given to un-
derstand that you will be back in the
some time in June. / hope
as soon as ever you arrive you will
come straight down to Tregenna
Manor. | want to show you the boy.
He Is as fine a lad as the heart of
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, /
breathe freely.
Yours,
John Tregenna."
was altogether unprepared to re-
ceive a letter written in this strain
in view of what | had heard from Col
lett. | had preserved the cahlegram,
and now took it and read it over care
fully. There was no doubt whatever
Of the meaning Of the words. 1t stat
ed clearly that Lady Tregenna had
given birth to a boy, who had died
after an hour Of life. could only
wait for the mystery to unravel itself
| resolved TO accept the invitation ex-
tended to me, and in due course of
time arrived at Cornwall
Sir John met me at the station. All
his taciturnity and gloom had left
him-he was now talkative and
cheerful man.
The boy is in splendid form, Hall
fax" he cried, as he wrung my hand,
"and Lady Tregenna is also in fine
health You will see her for yourself
in few moments"
The baronet whipped up his horses,
and soon alterward we drew up in
front of the fine old mansion. Lady
Tregenna was standing on the steps,
a nurse little behind her holding
baby in her arms.
We'll, Kate" called out her hus-
band, Ihere is our old friend, Halifax
Bring the lad along, Now, Halifax,
what do you think Of him, eh?"
"He is indeed a fine boy" re-
marked to Lady Tregenna, Curious
ly enough, / chanced TO be In the
same hotel at Madras with your hus'
band when he received the cable
gram announcing his birth
| surveyed the infant critically He
was wellgrown boy, with somewhat
large features, but could not detect
the slightest likeness to either parent,
The nurse, a grave, middleaged wom'
an, with dark face and thin, com.
pressed lips, took the boy In her arms
and vanished with him around cor.
ner Of the house,
Look after Halifax, Kate" said
Tregenna. IL must go to the stables,
but will join you presently"
Lady Tregenna conducted me under
n thick arch Of roses on to small
lawn, where she seated herself by n
little teatable. She motloned mo to
a seat near her.
at IS strange" she said, that you
should have been with my husband
when he received the message that he
was the father Of boy"
"Thcre IN something else stranger"
/ said, impelcd by an unaccountablc
impulse to force my information upon
her 81 also received cablcgram
In cipher from my old friend, Doctor
Collott, on the same night II gave
false information With regard TO the
matter Collctt told mo that your
baby died shortly after lts birth"
Her checks flushed crimson, then
turned pale, "What mn odd mistake
to make" she said "Thnt was abso-
lutoly without foundation, But then,
Doctor Collett died on tho day Of my
babys birth, lIc may not have known
what he was cabling 20 you about"
81 have not mentioned the matter
to anyone" | began, but At that IN
stant we heard Sir Johna voice IN tho
distance, ard Lady Trogonna mo-
toned me 20 bo silent
mot q word to him." she aald IN m
eager whisper 81 would not let him
know for the world, lie would think
II unlucky You win promise2"
"As | did not tell your husband NJ
the time, should have no reason for
repeating the news now" | said
"llIs affection for the child Ia quite
That evening Tregenna took me
into his study aud We spent short
time examining the valuable photo.
graphs he had taken In India OF the
suns eclipse, Just before we parted
for the night he spoke again Of his
heir,
80 you think the boy fine little
chap, Halifax he said "And Lady
socmp pleased 10 be
hia mother, eh9-that strikes you, too
suppose9"
"you are wrapped UP IN him, at
oil events" was my evasive reply for
| had noticed from tho start that tho
mother scarcely ever mentioned tho
child, and Az far AZ | could see sp.