Evening journal., 1922-12-08
CHAPTER III


silence.
Z "Gosford." he said. ~wha
secheme were you and Marshal
about"
You may wonder. SIR" replied
the EDslishman, continuing to writ
bis notes; II shall not tell you"
But will tell you. said the boy
my father thought that the state
In this republic could not hold to
gether very much longer. He believed
that the country would divide, ant
the South set up a separate govern
mont He hoped this might DOM,
about without a war. He was II
horror OF a war. He had travelled
he had seen nations and read theii
history. and he knew what they wer,
talking when they urged war"
He paused and looked at Gosford
MY father wac convinced that
. the South would finally set up an
Independent government, but he
hoped war might not follow. He
believed that II this new govern
ment were Immediately recognized
by Great Britain. the North would
aooeps the inevitable and there would
be no bloodshed. My father went 20
England with this scheme. He met
! Mr.. Gosford somewhere-on the
ship. think. And Mr.. oosford sue
oeeded in convincing my father that
IL he had a sum Of money he could
win over certain powerful persons
in the English Government, and so
pave the way TO an immediate recog-
milton OF the Southern Republic by
Great Britain. He followed my father
home and hung about him, and so
finally got his will. My father was
careful; he wrote nothing. Mr.. Cos
ford wrote nothing; there IS no evil
denoe Of this plan, but my father
told me, and Il Is true"
My father stopped by the table
and lifted his great shoulders.
''And So" he said, "Peyton Mar
shall imagined a plan like that. and
left It's execution TO a Mr.. Gosfordi"
The Englishman put down his pen
and addressed my father.
i would advise you. sir. 70 re-
quire a little proof for your oonclu-
Hione. This Is a very pretty story.
but Il is prefaced by an admission
OF no evidence. and # comes as a
special pleading for a criminal act.
Now. sir, II I chose. 81 the bequest
required II, I could give a further
explanation, with more substance;
of moneys borrowed by the decedent
IN his travels and to be returned to
me. But the will sir. stands for IL
lelf. as Mr.. Lewis will assure you"
Ny father seemed brought up in
a cui-de-sac. His face was tense and
disturbed. He stood by the table;
and now. as by accident he put out
his hand ana took up the Japane4e
crystal supported by the neoks OF
the three bronze storks. He APP
peared unconscious OF the act, for
he was in deep reflection. Then. as
though the weight in his hand drew
his attention. he glanced at the
thing. Something about It struck
him, for his manner changed. He
spread the will out on the table and
began to move the crystal over It,
his face close TO the glass. Pres
entity his hand stopped, and he stood
over, staring into the ORR
Entail crystal. Ike those practicers OF
black art who predict events from
what they pretend to see in these
spheres OF glass.
Mr.. Gosford, sitting at his ease
In victory. regarded my father with
4 supercilious, lronioal emile.
Sir" he said, ARE you, by
shance. fortune-teller?
"A misfortune-teller," replied my
'ather, his face still held above the
crystal. II see here a misfortune 10
Mr.. Anthony Gosford. I predict,
rom what I see that he viii release
this bequest OF moneys TO Peyton
son."
Sir" said the Engllshman, now
provoked into a temper, do you
enjoy this foolery?"
You are not interested in crystal
gazing, Mr.. Gosford," replied my
Iather In a tranquil voice. We'll,
ind 1t most diverting. Permit me to
piece out your fortune. or rather
your misfortune, Mr.. Gosfordl By
chance you fell IN with this dreamer
wormed into his conf
aence, pretended a relation to great
men in England; followed and per-
suaded him until in his ill-health,
you got this will You saw It writ.
ten two years ago. When Marshall
fell Ill, you hurried here. learned
from the dying man that the will
remained and where It was. You
made sure by pretending to write
letters in this room. bringing your
portfolio with ink and pen and a pad
)f paper. Then, at Marshall'e
heath. you inquired of Lewis for
egal measures TO discover the dead
mans Will. And when you find the
Dom ransacked, you run after the
Hw."
My father paused.
"That is your past, Mr.. Gosford.
low let me tell your future. see
on in JOY at the recovered Will.
see you pleased at your foresight
/ getting direct bequest. and at
&c care you urged on Marshall to
ave no evidence Of his plan, lest
ae authorities discover It. For
ae. Mr.. Gosford, that It was your
ltention all along TO keep this sum
( money for your own use and
ieasure. But alas, Mr.. Gosford. II
Ga not to bel / see you writing