, 1922-12-05
Go on With he story
CHAPTER III

Go on With the Story
CHAPTER III
1; was my father who broke the
silence
.-Gosford." he said. what scheme
were you and Marshall ahout?'
You may wonder. sir" replied the
EnEiishman, continuing to white his
notes: IL shall not tell you"
But VIII tell you" said the boy.
'My father thought that the states In
this republic could not hold together
very much longer. He believed that
the country would divide, and the
South set up a separate government.
lie hoped this might come about with
out a a He was In horror OF q war.
He had Travelled; he a seen nations
and rend their history. and he knew
what they were talking when they
urged war
lie paused and looked ut Gosford.
My father was convinced that the
South would finally set up an indie
pendent government, but he hoped n
wal might not follow. He believed
thst II this new government were
Immediately recognized by Breat
IAAAa IL IA W. ~ WYNN a@E~EN NHN
inevitable and there would be no
bloodshed. My father went TO Eng
land with this scheme. He met Mr..
Cosford somewhere-on the ship, l
think. And Mr.. Gosford succeeded in
convincing my father that II he had a
srm OF money he could win over Ger
tain powerful persons In the English
government, and SO pave the way to
an immediate recognition OF the
Southern Republic by Great Britain.
He followed my father home and hung
about him, and so finally got his Will.
My father vas careful; he wrote moth
ing; Mr.. Gosford wrote nothing; there
IS no evidence 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 its execution 10 a Mr.. Gosford!"
The Engiishman put down his pen
and addressed my father.
~ would advise you. sir. 10 require
n little proof for your conclusions.
This is a very pretty story. but 1t is
prefaced by an admission of no evi
denoe. and Il comes n a special plead
ing for a criminal act. Now. sir. II
chose, II the bequess required 1t. ]
could give a further explanation. with
moro substance; of moneys borrowed
by h decedent in his travels and to
be to me. But the will, sir.
stands for itself. as MI. Lewis will as.
sure you"
My father seemed brought up In a
cul-de-sac- His face was tense and
disturbed He stood by the table; and
now. as by accident. he put out his
hand and o up the japanese crys.
tai supported by the necks OF the
three bronze storks. He appeared un-
conscious of the act. for he was IN
deep reflection. Then, as though the
weight in his hand drew his
he glanced at the thing. Something
about 1t struck him. for his manne
changed He spread the will out on
the table n began to move the crys-
tai over 1t, his face close to the glass.
Presently his hand stopped. and he
stood stopped over. staring into the
Oriental 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 case, in
victory. regarded my father with a
supercilious, ironicai smile.
Sir" he said, ''are you, by chance.
a fortune teiler?'
"A misfortune-teI1er," replied NV
father. his face still held above the
ciysta.. II SEQ here a misfortune TO
MIR. Anthony Gosford L predict,
from what 1 see, that he will release
this bequest OF moneys to Peyton
Marshalis son."
Sir" said the Engiishman, now
provoked into a temper, edo you en-
Joy this foolery."
You are not interested in crystal
gazing, Mr.. Gosford." replied my
father in a tranquil voice. well. I
find it most dlverting. Permit me to
piece u your fortune. or rather your
misfortune. Mr.. Gosford! BY chance
you fell in with this dreamer Mar
shall. wormed into his confidence. pre-.
tended a relation to great men in Eng
land; followed and persuaded him
until. in his il-health, you got this
Will You saw Il written two years
60. When Marshall fell III, you hur.
ried here, learned from the dying man
that h Will remained and where IL
Was. You made sure by pretending to
write letters in this ROOM. bringing
your portfolio with ink and pen and
a pad OF paper. Then, at MarshalI's
death, you inquired of Lewis for legal
to discover the dead mans
will. And when you find tho room
ransacked. you run after the law"
Ny father paused.
That is your past. Mr.. Gosford.
Now let me tell your future. I see you
in Joy at the recovered will. I see YOU
pleased at your foresight in getting a
direct bequest, and at the care you
urged on Marshall TO leave no evil
denee Of his plan, lest the authorities
discover 1t. For I see, Mr.. Gosford.