Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1918-05-10
CHAPTER XiV-Continued.
Il

the way ana llStlnE ana aDpTuLsllb tlle
remainder. 1t was n taugle. Your
brothers business methods, especially
of late years, were decidedly unsys-
telnatic and slipshod. 1t may have
been the condition of his health which
prevented his attending to them as he
Should. Or" he hesitated slightly, ut
great trouble and mental distress. At
all events. the task has been a hard
m for us. But, largely owing to
Graves and his patient work, our re-
port was practically ready a month
ago"
He caused. Captain Elisha, who had
been listening attentiyely, nodded.
Yes" be said, you told me twas,
What does the whole thing tot up TOT
What's the final hgger. Mr.. GrayesF'
Never mind them now. Graves In
%terruptcd Kuhn. "The amount, rough.
ly speaking. is close to over our orig
inal estimate, half a million
The captain drew a breath of relief.
We'll he exclaimed, that's all right
then. amt it2 That's no poorhouse
pension"
Sylvester answered. yes" he said,
that's all right as far as 1t goes
"Iumph, Wen, | %cal'late | could
make il 90 to the end Of the route
and then have enough left for Il re
turn ticket. Say" with another look
at the solemn faces of the three, what
il the row? If the estate Is wuth hn'f
n million what's the matter with itY'
That is what we nre here this morn
ing to discuss, captain. a mouth ago.
as | said. we considered our report
practically ready. Then we suddenly
happened on the trail OF something
which upon investigation upset all our
calculations. If true 1t threatened.
not to mention its effect upon the es-
tate. TO prove $50 distressing and pain.
full to us. Rodgers Warren's friends
and legal advisers, that we decided not
to alorm you, his brother, by disclosing
our suspicious until we were sure there
was no mistake. | did drop you a hint,
YOU will remember
81 remember. Now we're comm to
the rock
Sylvester was evidently disturbed
Captain Elisha, regarding him intent
ly, nodded.
Il Judge It's sort of hard for you t.
go ON, Mr.. Sylvester he said. "Il
help YOU all | can, You and MIR. Kuhi
and Mr.. Graves here have found on
somcthin' that amt exactly straigh
I'm Blie's doin's-somethin's he's don
that's we'll, to speak plain, that
%crooked?'
I'm afraid there's no doubt o. It."
"Humph," The captain frownet
His cigar had gone out, and he idl
twisted the stump between his fiji
gers. well" he said. with n sigl
"our family, centrally speakin', has n
ways held its head pretty high. Da
was poor, but he prided himself Q
bein' straight MS n plumb line. And,
for mother. she"-''' Then, loo
ing up quickly, he asked, Does an
body outside know about thisT'
mo one but ourselyes-yet,"
yet? Is 1t goin' to be necessa
for anybody else to know it?'
I'VE hope not. But there Is a pos
bility,'
81 was thinkin' about the children,
"Of course. SO are we all"
"Um-hm. Poor Caroline. She T
her father on a sort Of altar and DO
ed down afore him, as you might 81
Any sort of disgrace to his name wol
about Kill her. AS for me- with
other sigh, II amt SO much surpris
as YOU might think. | know Il
sounds tough TO say about your o.
brother, but I've been afraid all alol
You see. Bile always steered pre-
close to the edge of the channel.
had ideas about honesty and fair dt
in in business that didn't jibe W
mine. We split on just that, as t
YOU. Mr.. Graves, when you and (
met. He got some South penboro 70
70 invest money along with him-s
Of mvin's account, they tiggered
but | found out he was uSin' II
speculate with. So that's why We
our o " | took pains to see that
money was paid back, but he an
never spoke afterward. Fur as
W money was concerned, / hat
any kick. but -" However,
tolkin' too much. Go on, Sylyes
I'm ready to hear whatever you've
to say"
'Thank you. captain. You maxi
aos,er for me. 1t seems that Y
brothers first step toward wealth
success was taken about ninet
Years ago. Then somehow or OF
probably through a combination
luck and shrewdness, he obtaine'
grant. a concession from the Brazi
Government, the long term lease {
good sized tract of land on the VI
Amazon. 1t was very valuable
cause of its rubber trees.