The Dolores star., 1924-08-01
CHAPTER X

prant occupied himself with the
work Of the ranch that winter, spring
and summer. Occasional news of
Mrs. Transley filtered through; she
was too prominent n character In that
countryside to be lost track of In n
season. But anything which reached
Grant came through accidental chan
nels; he sought no information Of her,
and turned deaf ear, almost, to what
he heard. Then In the fall came an
Incident which Immediately changed
the course of his career.
1t came In the form of an Impor-
tant-looking letter with an Eastern
postmark. 1t had been delivered with
other mail Mt the house, and Landson
himself brought 1t down. Grant read
1t and at first stared at 1t somewhat
blankly. as one not taking In Its full
portent.
Not bad news, HOPPER said his
employer, cloaklng his curiosity In
commisera
Rather" Grant admitted and
handed him the letter. Landson read:
ut is our duty to place before you
information which must be of very
distressing nature, and which at the
same time will have the effect of great
ly increasing your responsibilities and
opportunities. Unless you have hap
pened to see the brief dispatches
which have appeared in the press this
letter will doubtless be the first init
nation to you that your father and
younger brother Roy were the victims
Of most regrettable accident while
motoring on brief holiday In the
South. The automobile in which they
were travelling was struck by fast
train, and both of them received in.
juries from which they succumbed al
most Immediately.
"Your father, by his will. left all his
property, aside from certain behests
to charity, to his son Roy. but Roy had
no will, and as he was unmarried. and
as there are no other surviving mem
bers Of the family except yourself, the
entire estate, less the bequests already
referred to, descends to you. We have
not yet attempted an appraisal, but
you will know that the amount is very
considerable indeed. In recent years
your fathers business undertakings
were remarkably successful. and we
think we may conservatively suggest
that the amount of the estate will be
very much greater than even you may
anticipate.
"The brokerage firm which your IA
J-I Il, .nrfl nj
head You have had some expert
ence in your fathers office, and as his
solicitors for many years, we take the
liberty of suggesting that you should
Immediately assume control of the
business. A faithful staff are at pres
ent continuing 1t to the best of their
ability, but you will understand that
a permanent organization must be ef-
fected at as early date as may be
possible.
"Inability to locate you until after
somewhat exhaustive inquiries had
been made explains the failure to
notify you by wire in time to permit
of your attending the funeral OF your
father and brother, which took place
in this city on the eighth instant, and
was marked by many evidences OF re-
spect.
1--WE beg to tender our very sincere
sympathy, and to urge upon you that
you so arrange your affairs as to en-
able you to assume the responsible
ties which have. in a sense. been
forced upon you, at a very early date.
In the meantime we assure you OF our
earnest attention to your interests.
"Yours sincerely.
BARRETT, JONES. BARREII'
DEACON 4 BARRETT"
'Well, I guess 1t means you've
struck oil, and I've lost good fore.
man," said Landson, as he returned
the letter. "I'm sorry about your loss,
Grant, and glad to near OF your gooa
luck, il l may put 1t that way. What
do YOU reckon she's worth?" he asked
after waiting as long as his patience
would permit.
"Oh, 1 don't know. Possibly SIX or
eight millions by this time.
"six or eight millions Jehoshaphat !
What will you do with I'll"