Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1915-08-04
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1T. He's your uncle. But take this
from me: I'll handle Mary's property"
And sink every dollar of it in some
wildcat speculation of yours. l know
the kind" sneered Eric.
Il am not a s~peculator," said Pay
son quietly.
We'll pass that point. I'm going to
put a very blunt question to you. Who
was your father?"
Payson's face went very white. A
full minute passed before his lips
parted in reply to this unexpected
question.
My father was not a blue-stocking.
MI. Midthorne, if that's what you're
trying to get at. Am to understand
that you object to me because happen
to have been boin TO a somewhat less
exalted state than your own?"
mo. Not just that" said Eric mean
ingly. WHO is o u father?"
HI one small word was like a blow
in the face. is" he said.-not was"
"Why-why. what do you mean?"
stammered Payson. the blood rushing
to his cheeks. My father is dead. 1
ican't even remember him. You-you
think he is alive? That he is-Good
Lord, you don't suspect that he is a
criminal. a fugitive, or something of
that sort!"
III died before you can remember?"
cried Eric. his eye cleaning.
Yes. He was a sailing-mastar. He
took a boat out of this port for years.
One night he was lost in a gale. His
body never came ashore. Hes lying
out there in the Atlantic somewhere,
with all the others who are buried in
that vast grave. For you know, Mr..
Midthorne, that the Atlantic is a grave
yard"
Eric was suddenly conscious of a dis
converting d~irectness in the other
mans words. 1t seemed to him that
there was a significant, even hooking
CLEAN in the greyish eyes.
A chill crept swiftly into his blood.
He felt the icy moisture starting from
every pore in his body. Was it pos
sible that Payson knew? Was ne SO
close to Adam Carr that the great Sec
ret had been given into his Keeping
and for what sinister purpose? To be
used as a threat. as a club?
With AN almost visible effort, he re-
gained control of his wavering forti-
tude. There was the chance, he argued
.linwardly. that Payson's remark had no
sinister meaning. He would not be so
easily caught.
Are you quite sure your father is
lying at the bottom of the Atlantic?"
he asked. after the briefest hesitation.
Payson scowled. see here. Mid
thorne, l don't like your name What
are you driving at? My father, Captain
Henry Payson. Went down with his
schooner. the Lanigan. Three of the
crew were picked up alive. Two Of
them are inmates today of the Sea-
mans Home. There is no mistake. He
was an honest man. and a God-fearing
one. He was not a gentleman, accord
ing to your lights. l daresay, but he
must have been a good man. for my
mother has prayed that I might grow
up to be Ike him." He came a step
nearer. What nave you heard? Has
anyone told you that he did o go
down with the Lanigan? Has anyone
dared to say that he Dol that way of
ldeserttng my mother and me?"
How old were you when che ship
went down." demanded Eric, ignoring
the questions.
What has that to do with it?'s
will you answer the question or
not?"
Certainly. l was not more than six
months old. they tell me. My mother
has told me the story a hundred times
overall about the black night and the
savage storm in the April Of that year.
Adam Carr has told me OF my father.
He was his closest friend. He always
stayed at u house when he was in
him always. He a tell you that my
father was an honest mar and thai he
did go down with the Lanigan. I am
not ashamed OF my father. BY heaven,
I hope I am like him. He was q mani"
There could be no doubt as to his
connection with his origin. he was
totally ignorant Of the fact. It was
plain to Eric that the secret mlnlblings
tof gossiptng townspeople had never
lreached his ears; i was equally plain
semblance Of himself to Adam Carr.
In spite of himself. Eric felt a sud-
den. sharp pity for this tall. good-look-
ling chap.
have the right to inquire. you.ll adj
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