Henderson daily dispatch. (Henderson, N.C.) 1914-1995, 1937-10-23
CHAPTER "a

THE CONVERSATION between
Kennedy and DR.. Harold Ark
wright continued in a rather dis
mai strain. BY tacit consent they
kept off the subject Of Esther, but
her ghost hung over the dinner
table. When they had finished.
Doctor Arkwright said. with a
rather too casual air:
by the way, had a letter from
Neddy yesterday"
Tim looked blank. 'Neddy?"
"Neddy Asl1well."
"Oh, Of course, Esther's brother.
=. How's he getting along?"
mot too well, by his account.
The people he's been working for
have been badly hit by the depres-
sion, and they've had to sell their
stables. So Neddy's lost his job"
That's bad. Still, he must have
plenty Of friends by now over on
that side. I expect he'll fall into
another"
"He doesn't seem to think so.
In fact he talks Of returning
to England"
Tim pursed his lips.
'Iow does he think he's going
to live over here?"
"Well that's why thought
/ ought to mention it to you. He
talks Of breaking the entail and
selling The Wilderness"
"He can't do that" Tim spoke
abruptly.
Cant he? To tell the truth,
never quite knew what the ar
rangement was that you all came
to, at the time of Edgar's death"
"It was quite an explicit ar
rangement. He took Esther's
share Of the money, and Esther
took The Wilderness"
"Well, I suppose you've got It in
black and white. I don't profess
to know anything about the bUsi-
ness side of it. 1 knew the place
was entailed, Of course"
Tim considered for moment.
May I have a look at his letter %
he said presently.
Doctor Arlwright seemed I'M
willing. "He said he was writing
to YOU"
81 haven't heard. I'd like tC
know what idea he has got into
his head"
"All right. :. I think I've got
It on me-"
Tim quickly understood the rea.
son for Doctor Arkwright's re-
luctance to show him the letter
It was Neddy's first letter to Eng.
land after hearing the news Of his
sisters death. He was clearly
deeply distressed, but his grie1
took a rather brutal mode Of ex
preston. He did not appear t.
blame his uncle, but his one refer
es1ce in this connection to Tim wa!
unpleasant. 81 don't see how i
could possibly have happened i
her husband had looked after he:
properly. If he stood to gain any
thing I should suspect worse, bu
as it is suppose it's only crini
nal negligence"
'He was always a RECKLESS
young fool" said Doctor Ark
wright. His eyes had followe
Tins and he knew when h
reached the passage.
Eyes, I know" said Tim. H
read on. :. The part about TIL
Wilderness was brief enough. "It'
probably take me a couple G
months to round up things here
and I shall be pretty well brok
by the time get over. I suppos
the first step will be to cut TIL
entail and sell The Wilderness.
IF you're in London I'll be gla
If you'd talk to Marstons' abor
it. 1 suppose there'll be formal
ties. 1 should think I ought I
get $4,000, am writing to Ke1
nedy. l don't suppose he thinl
I'm going to provide him with FIRE
lodging for the rest Of his life, ba
you never know"
Tim handed back the lette
Its all nonsense" he said, wit
an unusual bitterness in his ton
LAS far as 1 can make out l
spent all his early life sponging {
his father, and now he's trying
bluff me. But he can't get awe
with it; he was very generous
treated by Esther and me, and he
got to stick to his bargain"
"Well, for your sake hol
you're right" said Doctor Az