The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1924-07-25
CHAPTER X


and summer. Occasional news of
Mrs. Transley filtered through; she
was too prominent character in that
countryside to be lost track Of In a
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 at 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, 1 hope?" said his
employer, cloaking his curiosity in
commiseration.
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 a brief holiday In the
South. The automobile in which they
were travelling was struck by a 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 requests 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
1.-The brokerage firm which your ia
Their founded Is, temporarily, without
a 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 it to the best of their
ability, but you will understand that
a permanent organization must be eff
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
''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 very early date.
In the meantime we assure you of our
earnest attention to your interests.
yours sincerely,
BARRETT, JONES, BARRETT,
DEACON & BARRETT"
"Well, 1 guess it means you've
struck oil, and I've lost a good fore
man." said Landson, as he returned
the letter. "Tm sorry about your loss,
Grant, and glad to hear of your good
luck, If / may put 1t that way. What
do you reckon she's worth?" he asked.
after waiting as long as his patience
would permit.
"0h. don't know. Possibly six or
eight millions by this time"
"Six or eight millions! Jehoshaphat (!
What will you do with it?"
Look after It. Mr.. Landson, you
know that I have never worried about
money; il had / wouldn't be here. l
don't care for the money, but any SON.
of-a-gun who takes it from me is
better man than I am. and I'll sit up
nights at both ends of the day to beat
him at his own game. Now, just as
soon as you can line up some one to
take charge I'll have to beat It."
Grant put his affairs In order as
quickly as possible, and started for
the East with trunkful of clothes.
But even before he started one thought
had risen up to haunt him. He crushed
1t down. but 1t would insist. II only
this had happened year ago.
Grant reached his old home city late
at night, and after quiet cigar and
a stroll through some of the half-fOr-
fotten streets he put up at one OF the
best hotels. He was deferentially
shown TO a room about as large as
the whole Landson house; soft lights
were burning under pink shades; his
feet fell noiselessly on the thick car
pets. He placed chair by a window,
where he could watch the myriad
lights of the city, and tried to appraise
the new sphere In which he found
himself. 1t would be a very different