Allan Roscoe sat at the breakfast table with Guy opposite him. ThoughMr. Roscoe was not altogether free from anxiety since he had learned ofHector's expedition to California, he had taught himself to believe thatthere was little chance of the boy's ferreting out the imposition he hadpracticed upon him. He had been a poor and struggling man most of hislife, having, when quite a young man, squandered his inheritance, andhis present taste of affluence was most agreeable. He felt that he couldnot part with Castle Roscoe.
"But I am safe enough," he said to himself; "even if Hector discoveredanything, something might happen to him, so that he might be unable toreturn."
"Father," said Guy, who had just dispatched an egg, "I want ten dollarsthis morning."
"Ten dollars!" said his father, frowning. "How is this? Did I not giveyou your week's allowance two days since?"
"Well, I've spent it," answered Guy, "and I need some more."
"You must think I am made of money," said his father, displeased.
"It's pretty much so," said Guy, nonchalantly. "Your income must be tenthousand a year."
"I have a great many expenses. How have you spent your allowance?"
"Oh, I can't tell exactly. It's gone, at any rate. You mustn't becomemean, father."
"Mean! Don't I give you a handsome allowance? Look here, Guy, I can'tallow such extravagance on your part. This once I'll give you fivedollars, but hereafter, you must keep within your allowance."
"Can't you make it ten?"
"No, I can't," said his father, shortly.
Guy rose from the table, and left the room, whistling.
"The old man's getting mean," he said. "If he doesn't allow me more, Ishall have to get in debt."
As Guy left the room, the mail was brought in. On one of the envelopes,Mr. Roscoe saw the name of his lawyer. He did not think much of it,supposing it related to some minor matter of business. The letter ranthus:
"ALLAN ROSCOE, ESQ.:
"DEAR SIR: Be kind enough to come up to the city at once. Business ofgreat importance demands your attention.
"Yours respectfully, TIMOTHY TAPE."
"Mr. Tape is unusually mysterious," said Allan Roscoe to himself,shrugging his shoulders. "I will go up to-day. I have nothing to keep meat home."
Mr. Roscoe ordered the carriage, and drove to the depot. Guy, noticinghis departure, asked permission to accompany him.
"Not to-day, Guy," he answered. "I am merely going up to see my lawyer."
Two hours later Mr. Roscoe entered the office of his lawyer.
"Well, Tape, what's up?" he asked, in an easy tone. "Your letter wasmysterious."
"I didn't like to write explicitly," said Mr. Tape, gravely.
"The matter, you say, is of great importance?"
"It is, indeed! It is no less than a claim for the whole of your latebrother's estate."
"Who is the claimant?" asked Allan Roscoe, perturbed.
"Your nephew, Hector."
"I have no nephew Hector. The boy called Hector Roscoe is an adopted sonof my brother."
"I know you so stated. He says he is prepared to prove that he is thelawful son of the late Mr. Roscoe."
"He can't prove it!" said Allan Roscoe, turning pale.
"He has brought positive proof from California, so he says."
"Has he, then, returned?" asked Allan, his heart sinking.
"He is in the city, and expects us to meet him at two o'clock thisafternoon, at the office of his lawyer, Mr. Parchment."
Now, Mr. Parchment was one of the most celebrated lawyers at the NewYork bar, and the fact that Hector had secured his services showed AllanRoscoe that the matter was indeed serious.
"How could he afford to retain so eminent a lawyer?" asked Allan Roscoe,nervously.
"Titus Newman, the millionaire merchant, backs him."
"Do you think there is anything in his case?" asked Allan, slowly.
"I can tell better after our interview at two o'clock."
At five minutes to two Allan Roscoe and Mr. Tape were ushered into theprivate office of Mr. Parchment.
"Glad to see you, gentlemen," said the great lawyer, with his usualcourtesy.
Two minutes later Hector entered, accompanied by Mr. Newman. Hectornodded coldly to his uncle. He was not of a vindictive nature, but hecould not forget that this man, his own near relative, had not onlydeprived him of his property, but conspired against his life.
"Hector," said Allan Roscoe, assuming a confidence he did not feel, "Iam amazed at your preposterous claim upon the property my brother leftto me. This is a poor return for his kindness to one who had no claimupon him."
"Mr. Parchment will speak for me," said Hector, briefly.
"My young client," said the great lawyer, "claims to be the son of thedeceased Mr. Roscoe, and, of course, in that capacity, succeeds to hisfather's estate."
"It is one thing to make the claim, and another to substantiate it,"sneered Allan Roscoe.
"Precisely so, Mr. Roscoe," said Mr. Parchment. "We quite agree withyou. Shall I tell you and your learned counsel what we are prepared toprove?"
Mr. Roscoe nodded uneasily.
"We have the affidavits of the lady with whom your brother boardedin Sacramento, and in whose house my young client was born. We have,furthermore, the sworn testimony of the clergyman, still living, whobaptized him, and we can show, though it is needless, in the face ofsuch strong proof, that he was always spoken of in his infancy by Mr.and Mrs. Roscoe as their child."
"And I have my brother's letter stating that he was only adopted,"asserted Allan Roscoe.
"Even that, admitting it to be genuine," said Mr. Parchment, "cannotdisprove the evidence I have already alluded to. If you insist upon it,however, we will submit the letter to an expert, and--"
"This is a conspiracy. I won't give up the estate," said Allan,passionately.
"We also claim that there is a conspiracy," said Mr. Parchment,smoothly, "and there is one circumstance that will go far to confirmit."
"What is that?" demanded Allan Roscoe.
"It is the attempt made upon my young client's life in San Francisco byan agent of yours, Mr. Roscoe."
"It is a lie!" said Allan, hoarsely, shaking, nevertheless, with fear.
At a sign from Mr. Parchment, Hector opened the door of the office togive admission to Reuben Pearce.
At a sight of this man Allan Roscoe utterly collapsed. He felt that allwas lost!
"Gentlemen," he said, "I will give up the estate, but for Heaven's sake,don't prosecute me for this!"
There was an informal conference, in which it was agreed that AllanRoscoe should make no resistance to Hector's claim, but restore theestate to him. Hector promised, though this was against his lawyer'sadvice, to give his uncle, who would be left penniless, the sum of twothousand dollars in cash, and an allowance of a hundred dollars permonth for his life. He appointed Mr. Newman his guardian, being a minor,and was once more a boy of fortune. He resolved to continue his studies,and in due time go to college, thus preparing himself for the highposition he would hereafter hold.
As for Allan Roscoe, he and his son, Guy, lost no time in leaving theneighborhood. Guy was intensely mortified at this turn of the wheel,which had again brought his cousin uppermost, and was quite ready toaccompany his father to Chicago, where they are living at present. Buthe had formed extravagant tastes, and has been a source of trouble andsolicitude to his father, who, indeed, hardly deserves the comfort of agood son.
Hector lost no time, after being restored to his old position, inre-engaging Larry Deane's father, who had been discharged by his uncle.
He paid him his usual wages for all the time he had been out of place,and considerably raised his pay for the future.
"Larry shall never want a friend as long as I live," he assured Mr.Deane. "He was a friend to me when I needed one, and I will take careto give him a good start in life." He redeemed this promise by securingLarry a place in Mr. Newman's employ, and voluntarily allowed him aslarge a weekly
sum as the merchant paid him in addition, so that Larrycould live comfortably in the city. I am glad to say that Larry hasshown himself deserving of this kindness, and has already been promotedto an important and better paid position.
A word about Smith Institute. It never recovered from the blow that ithad received at the time when Hector found himself forced to leave it.One after another the pupils left, and Mr. Smith felt that his race asa schoolmaster was run. He advertised the institute for sale, and who doyou think bought it? Who but Hector Roscoe, who probably paid more forit than anyone else would.
My readers will hardly suppose that he wanted it for himself. In acordial letter he presented it to Mr. Crabb, the late usher, when he hadfinished his engagement with Walter Boss, and the name was changed to"Crabb Institute." It was not long before it regained its old patronage,for Mr. Crabb was not only a good scholar, but was fair and just tothe pupils, ruling them rather by love than fear. He has married thedaughter of a neighboring clergyman, who is a judicious helper andcontributes to the success of the school.
As for Jim Smith, the last heard of him was to this effect: He hadstrayed out to St. Louis, and, after a few months of vicissitude, hadsecured the position of bartender in a low liquor saloon. He has verylittle chance of rising higher. The young tyrant of Smith Institute hasnot done very well for himself, but he has himself to blame for it.
To return to Hector. I think we are justified in predicting for him aprosperous future. He behaved well in adversity. He is not likely to bespoiled by prosperity, but promises to grow up a good and manly man, whowill seek to do good as he goes along, and so vindicate his claim to theexceptional good fortune which he enjoys.
THE END.
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