Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1918-08-02
CHAPTER xlV-Continued.

many just as valueleSS. But we have
been gradually getting those out of
tie way and listing and appraising the
remainder. 1t was tangle. Your
brothers business methods, especially
Of late years, were decidedly unsys-
tematic and slipshod. 1t may have
been the condition of his health which
prevented his attending to them as he
should. Or" he hesitated slightly, sit
may have been that he was secretly in
great trouble and mental distress. At
all events, the task has been a hard
one for us. But, largely owing to
Graves and his patient work, our re-
port was practically ready a month
ago"
He paused. Captain Elisha, who had
been listening attentively, nodded.
"YeS," he said; you told me twas.
What does the whole thing tot up to-?
What's the final figger, Mr. GravesT
"Neyer mind them now, Graves" in
terrupted Kuhn. "The amount, rough
~ speaking, is close to over our orig
fnal estimate, half million"
The captain drew breath Of relief
We'll" he exclaimed, that's all right
then, amt it? That's no poorhouse
pension"
Sylvester answered. EYES," he said
''that's all right as far as it goes"
"Humph! Well, 1 callate 1 could
make it go to the end of the route
and then have enough left for re-
turn ticket. Say" with another look
at the solemn faces of the three, what
is the row? If the estate is with ha'f
million what's the matter with it?"
THAT is what we are here this morn
ing to discuss, captain. A month ago,
as l 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 it threatened,
not to mention it's effect upon the es-
tate, to prove so distressing and pain
full to US, Rodgers Warren's friends
and legal advisers, that we decided not
to alarm you, his brother, by disclosing
our suspicious until we were sure there
was no mistake. did drop you hint,
you will remember
81 remember. Now we're comm to
the rockw
Sylvester was evidently disturbed.
Captain Elisha, regarding him intent
ly, nodded.
Il judge it's sort Of hard for you to
go on, Mr.. Sylvester" he said. "Ill
help you all can. You and Mr.. Kuhn
and Mr. Graves here have found out
Bomethin' that amt exactly straight
in Bijes doin's-somethins he's done
that's-well, to speak plain, that's
crooked"
I'm afraid there's no doubt Of it."
'Humphp' The captain frowned
His cigar had gone out, and he idly
twisted the stump between his fin.
gers WELL" he said, with a sigh
'our family, centrally speakin', has al.
ways held its head pretty high. Dad
was poor, but he prided himself on
bein' straight as plumb line. And, as
for mother. She Then, look
ing up quickly, he asked, Does any.
body outside know about this?
mo one but ourselves-yet."
"Yet? Is it goin to be necessary
for anybody else to know it?"
"We hope not. But there is a posi-
bility."
II was thinkin' about the children
"Of course. So are we ALL"
"Um-hm. Poor Caroline She put
her father on sort of altar and bow
ed down afOre him, as you might say
Any sort of disgrace to his name would
about kill her. AS for me-" with an
other sigh, 81 amt so much surprised
az you might think. l know that
sounds tough to say about your OWE
brother, but I've been afraid all along
You see, Bile always steered pretty
close to the edge of the channel. He
had ideas about honesty and fair deal
In in business that didn't jibe witt
mine. We split on just that, as l told
You, Mr. Graves, when you and fus
met. He got some South Denboro folks
to invest money along with him-sor
Of savin's account, they figgered it
but l found out he was usin' it t.
speculate with. So that's why we hat
our row. | took pains to see that the
money was paid back, but he and ]
never spoke afterward. Fur as my
own money was concerned, l hadnt
any kick, but - However. I'm
talkin' too much. Go on, Sylvester
am ready to hear whatever you've go
TO say"
''Thank you, captain. You make Il
easier for me. 1t seems that Won,
brothers first step toward wealth an(
success was taken about nineteen
years ago. Then somehow or other
probably through combination O.
luck and shrewdness, he obtained 6
grant, a concession from the Brazilian
government, the long term lease Of {
good sized tract of land on the uppel
Amazon. 1t was very valuable be