Argosy All-Story Weekly, Vol. 123, No. 4 — page 169: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

MOORS END. “ Nothing at all, except. that in your let- ter you suggested that one of us should be your heir. I want to say now, that while I’m giad I came down and was able to be of some help to you, if I had known how things were going to turn out, otherwise, I should never have done so. “This whole idea of trying to get your money is abhorrent to me,_and if it wasn’t “for my sister, Ethel, and her need, I should never have done it.” The relief of saying what I really thought was so great that I was more emphatic than I had intended. Uncle Gregory was silent so long that I began to be afraid lest I had hurt him, since after all he was my only relative and I had grown to have quite a liking for him. . “T hope you understand, sir,” I added, “that it is not because I don’t appreciate your asking me—only I’d rather be here on a different basis.” “Tell me about your sister Ethel,” he said abruptly, paying no attention to my “ She’s my half-sister. My mother mar- ried twice, you know, and Ethel was nearly killed by losing her husband a year ago. She is threatened with consumption, and as she and little Carl have no one else to look after them, it’s up to me. ~ “] had a good job on the Planet; but it wasn’t enough, so I came here. If you can spare me now, I think I’ll run back to-day and look up another job. I’m awfully glad I’ve got to know you, sir, and I hope you'll let me come again and visit you.” “T asked ygu to come down for two weeks,” said Uncle Gregory coldly. “If you leave before that time, you certainly know what to expect. Don’t be a fool, Carlos, and throw away all your chances because you have Quixotic notions about not competing with a girl. Isn’t your sister more to you than Shirley?” I dared not think how true his words were. neath his coldness there was a real interest. “ Let’s consider the matter closed, uncle,”’ I answered quickly. ‘“ Only I’d like to part © friends if possible.” %. Before he could answer, Peter came m with the mail which he had rowed over to It seemed to me, also, that under- 675 the village for. He handed me three letters which I opened eagerly, glad of some com- munication with my old life at last. There was a brief note from Ethel, telling how much she had improved and that an- other month’s stay would see her almost well. I hated to think how the money was to be had, but had it must be. The next was a line from my chum, Carter Coleman, saying that they missed me in the shop and that if Uncle Gregory proved stoney, I might be able to get my old job back again, provided I returned inside of a week, This was better than nothing, at least, and I blessed the good old chap’s thought- fulness. I decided I would wire him to-day that I was coming. ee The third letter was quite bulky, and the handwriting totally unfamiliar. I opened it with some curiosity. “ My pear NEPHEW CARLOS: You and I were in such close companion- ship for the past three days that it seemed almost rude to leave you in the hasty way in which I did. But no doubt, by this time you will have found your Great-Uncle Gregory and amderstand the extent to which I was obliged to deceive you. I make no apologies for it. When, after my first encounter with you in the night, I at- tempted to get away and discovered that my boat was wrecked and the bridge down, I de- cided that, unless ] wished to starve or freeze while waiting for the storm to subside, I must do something quickly. You would not recog- nize me, I knew, but it would be difficult to explain just how I happened to be in the house. I could have knocked you on the head, perhaps, but that was too crude—lI dislike crudeness. Yet I meant to stay in the house. Fortunately, a happy idea came to me by which I could avoid killing you and yet have freedom for my search. It is always wise to make a man work for you than against you,’ I’ve found. I always carry a make-up box with me, as I find it very useful in such emer- gencies. I had already used it, while ing \ as a fisherman on a near-by island for the three weeks, maturing my plans, and decided to use it again. There wa8S enough resem- blance between my uncle and me to enable me to successf@ly pass myself off with you and Shirley as your Great-Uncle Gregory. Shirley, I hoped, would not recognize me, andgyou proved to have a confiding nature— of which I fear I rather took advantage. It was not to my interest that you and Shirley should be too good friends, so I fomented Original fro ~ i i er tus | _ f £ YCOME Oo