CHAPTER XXV.
GOOD NEWS AT LAST.
It was on the morning following this adventure that Uncle John receiveda bulky envelope from the city containing the result of theinvestigation he had ordered regarding the ownership of the Bogue tractof pine forest. It appeared that the company in which he was so largelyinterested had found the tract very valuable, and had been seeking forthe owners in order to purchase it or lease the right to cut the timber.But although they had traced it through the hands of several successiveowners the present holders were all unknown to them until Mr. Merrick'sinformation had furnished them with a clue. A year ago the company hadpaid up the back taxes--two years overdue--in order to establish a claimto the property, and now they easily succeeded in finding the record ofthe deed from a certain Charles Walton to Jonas Wegg and WilliamThompson. The deed itself could not be found, but Uncle John consideredthe county record a sufficient claim to entitle the young folks to theproperty unless the ownership should be contested by others, which wasnot likely.
Uncle John invited Ethel and Joe to dine with him that evening, and Marywas told the occasion merited the best menu she could provide. The youngfolks arrived without any idea of receiving more than a good dinner andthe pleasure of mingling with the cordial, kindly household at the farm;but the general air of hilarity and good fellowship pervading the familycircle this evening inspired the guests with like enthusiasm, and noparty could be merrier than the one that did full justice to Mary'ssuperior cookery.
One of the last courses consisted of iced watermelon, and when itappeared the three girls eyed one another guiltily and then made franticattempts to suppress their laughter, which was unseemly because no onebut themselves understood the joke. But all else was speedily forgottenin the interest of the coming ceremony, which Mr. Merrick had carefullyplanned and prepared.
The company was invited to assemble in the room comprising the spaciousright wing, and when all were seated the little gentleman coughed toclear his throat and straightway began his preamble.
He recited the manner in which Captain Wegg and Will Thompson, havingmoney to invest, were led into an enterprise which Bob West hadproposed, but finally preferred another venture and so withdrew theirmoney altogether from the Almaquo tract.
This statement caused both Joe and Ethel to stare hard, but they saidnothing.
"Your grandfather, Ethel," continued the narrator, "was much impressedby the value of another timber tract, although where he got hisinformation concerning it I have been unable to discover. This piece ofproperty, called the Bogue tract, was purchased by Wegg and Thompsonwith the money they withdrew from Almaquo, and still stands intheir name."
Then he recounted, quite frankly, his unjust suspicions of the hardwaredealer, and told of the interview in which the full details of thistransaction were disclosed by West, as well as the truth relating to thedeath of Captain Wegg and the sudden insanity and paralysis of oldWill Thompson.
Joe could corroborate this last, and now understood why Thompson hadcried out that West's "good news" had killed his father. He meant, ofcourse, their narrow escape from being involved in West's supposed ruin,for at that time no one knew the report of the fire was false.
Finally, these matters being cleared up, Uncle John declared that thePierce-Lane Lumber Company was willing to contract to cut the timber onthe Bogue property, or would pay a lump sum of two hundred thousanddollars for such title to the tract as could be given. He did not addthat he had personally offered to guarantee the title. That was anunnecessary bit of information.
You may perhaps imagine the happiness this announcement gave Joe andEthel. They could scarcely believe the good news was true, even when thekindly old gentleman, with tears in his eyes, congratulated the youngcouple on the fortune in store for them. The Major followed with a happyspeech of felicitation, and then the three girls hugged the littleschool teacher rapturously and told her how glad they were.
"I think, sir," said Joe, striving to curb his elation, "that it will bebetter in the end for us to accept the royalty. Don't you?"
"I do, indeed, my boy," was the reply. "For if our people make an offerfor the land of two hundred thousand you may rest assured it is worthmuch more. The manager has confided to me in his letter that if we areobliged to pay royalties the timber will cost us nearly double what itwould by an outright purchase of the tract."
"In that case, sir," began Joe, eagerly, "we will--"
"Nonsense. The company can afford the royalty, Joe, for it is making aheap of money--more than I wish it were. One of my greatest trials is totake care of the money I've already made, and--"
"And he couldn't do it at all without my help," broke in the Major."Don't ye hesitate to take an advantage of him, Joseph, if ye can getit--which I doubt--for Mr. Merrick is most disgracefully rich already."
"That's true," sighed the little millionaire. "So it will be a royalty,Joe. We are paying the same percentage to Bob West for the Almaquotract, but yours is so much better that I am sure your earnings willfurnish you and Ethel with all the income you need."
They sat discoursing upon the happy event for some time longer, but Joehad to return to the hotel early because he was not yet strong enough tobe out late.
"Before I go, Mr. Merrick," he said, "I'd like you to give me mymother's picture, which is in the secret drawer of the cupboard. Youhave the keys, now, and Ethel is curious to see how my mother looked."
Uncle John went at once to the cupboard and unlocked the doors. Joehimself pushed the slide and took out of the drawer the picture, whichhad lain just beneath the Almaquo stock certificates.
The picture was passed reverently around. A sweet-faced, sad littlewoman it showed, with appealing eyes and lips that seemed to quiver evenin the photograph.
As Louise held it in her hand something induced her to turn it over.
"Here is some writing upon the back," she said.
Joe bent over and read it aloud. It was in his father's handwriting.
"'Press the spring in the left hand lower corner of the secret drawer.'"
"Hah!" cried Uncle John, while the others stared stupidly. "That's it!That's the information we've been wanting so long, Joseph!"
He ran to the cupboard, even as he spoke, and while they all throngedabout him thrust in his hand, felt for the spring, and pressed it.
The bottom of the drawer lifted, showing another cavity beneath. Fromthis the searcher withdrew a long envelope, tied with red tape.
"At last, Joseph!" he shouted, triumphantly waving the envelope over hishead. And then he read aloud the words docketed upon the outside:"'Warranty Deed and Conveyance from Charles Walton to Jonas Wegg andWilliam Thompson.' Our troubles are over, my boy, for here is the key toyour fortune."
"Also," whispered Louise to her cousins, rather disconsolately, "itexplains the last shred of mystery about the Wegg case. Heigh-ho! what achase we've had for nothing!"
"Not for nothing, dear," replied Patsy, softly, "for we've helped maketwo people happy, and that ought to repay us for all our anxietyand labor."
* * * * *
A knock was heard at the door, and Old Hucks entered and handed Mr.Merrick a paper.
"He's waiting, sir," said he, ambiguously.
"Oh, Tom--Tom!" cried Joe Wegg, rising to throw his arms around the oldman's neck, "I'm rich, Tom--all my troubles are over--and Mr. Merrickhas done it all--for Ethel and me!"
The ever smiling face of the ancient retainer did not change, but hiseyes softened and filled with tears as he hugged the boy close tohis breast.
"God be praised. Joe!" he said in a low voice. "I allus knew theMerricks 'd bring us luck."
"What the devil does this mean?" demanded Uncle John at this juncture,as he fluttered the paper and glared angrily around.
"What is it, dear?" inquired Louise.
"See for yourself," he returned.
She took the paper and read it, while Patsy and Beth peered over hershoulder. The following w
as scrawled upon a sheet of soiled stationery:
"John Merrak, esquare, to Marshall McMahon McNutt, detter.
"To yur gals Smashin' 162 mellings at 50 cents a one .....................$81.00 Pleas remitt & save trouble."
The nieces screamed, laughing until they cried, while Uncle Johnspluttered, smiled, beamed, and then requested an explanation.
Patsy told the story of the watermelon raid with rare humor, and itserved to amuse everybody and relieve the strain that had preceded thearrival of McNutt's bill.
"Did you say the man is waiting, Thomas?" asked Uncle John.
"Yes, sir."
"Here--give him five dollars and tell him to receipt the bill. If herefuses, I'll carry the matter to the courts. McNutt's a rascal, and afool in the bargain; but we've had some of his melons and the girls havehad five dollars' worth of fun in getting them. But assure him that thissquares accounts, Thomas."
Thomas performed his mission.
McNutt rolled his eyes, pounded the floor with his stump to emphasizehis mingled anger and satisfaction, and then receipted the bill.
"It's jest five more'n I 'spected to git, Hucks," he said with a grin."But what's the use o' havin' nabobs around, ef ye don't bleed 'em?"
* * * * *
This story is one of the delightful "Aunt Jane Series" in which arechronicled the many interesting adventures in the lives of thosefascinating girls and dear old "Uncle John." The other volumes can bebought wherever books are sold. A complete list of titles, which isadded to from time to time, is given on page 3 of this book.
(_ Complete catalog sent free on request._)
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