The Argosy, Vol. 82 No. 4 — page 29: what you’re looking at

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

A SECRET OF continued Mr. Kendry, ‘‘for it will all come out in court. I have sent a man to Olean to interview the Brakers, and if necessary, to summons them here. “Mrs. Braker was your mother’s nurse. But I am getting ahead of the horse I’m driving. I found that Lemuel Batterson, the father of Thomas Batterson, was your grandfather’s man—handy man, or valet, whatever you wish to call it, and your grandfather, Samuel Fanning, owned, and lived in, the house on Throggs Neck, now supposed to be owned and actually oc- cupied by Thomas Batterson—our Batter- son, himself. “Now, I did not propose to permit my daughter to marry into a false position. Of course I did not know then that Samuel Fanning was your grandfather. You never came to my mind at all. Even the fact that I had heard Tom speak of you did not bring you to my mind. I set capable in- vestigators at work. ‘Well, the valet got the old man’s money, by some hook or crook, which we shall thresh out in court. The money that sup- ported you till you were sixteen was paid by Thomas Batterson’s father. He died when you were sixteen, and Thomas would not continue the payments, and _ the Brakers cast you off.” “Then—then it was Batterson’s father whose face I dimly remembered!” ex- claimed Fanning. “My investigators finally reached the point where they declared that the true heir to Samuel Fanning’s estate was Boardman Fanning, grandson, who was brought up by Mr. and Mrs. Braker of Olean. I knew every word you told me to-night six months ago. I wanted to know if you did. “The case is clear, and the papers lack but one thing, the agreement made between the Brakers and Lemuel Batterson for your keep. This I shall have in a few days. Now you need keep the secret no longer, for I shall begin proceedings to-morrow.” Fanning could say nothing. “When I learned,” Mr. Kendry went on, “that the heir was my son’s old classmate and very» good friend, I had you investi- gated, and was so pleased with what I found out that I resolved to restore to you what had been taken from you by fraud. There are several parcels of real estate, the one on Throggs Neck, some unimproved property in Fordham, the house in Washington Ave- nue where you were born, a building on THE BRONX. 595 McKinley Square, and a large personal estate. Also a big office building in Man- hattan. : “Samuel Fanning, your grandfather, was a large importer of silk. He was also a thrifty man, and a wise investor. All the result of his labor and investment was wrested from your father, who was not a business man, and did not look out for his rights. He died, anyway, before Samuel, his father, and im some way you were proven dead to the old man. “That’s the story, crudely and briefly stated, but it will be a long and complete story told before a supreme court judge. I have absolutely no fear of losing, so con- gratulate you in advance, as your counsel.” He took Fanning’s hand. It was limp, cold, moist. Fanning tried to say thank you, but did not know what he said. Flashing like a meteor across his vision went a recurrence of his dream on the deck of the Sapphire — now, very evidently, a possibility. CHAPTER IX. SHORT AND ALMOST PEREMPTORY, “THE amazement caused by the repetition to the other members of the family of Mr. Kendry’s revelations may well be im- agined and need not be recorded here. Really, except for the fact that since Bat- terson was good as dead from that day to all of them, and Fanning was a present friend, the matter of an exchange of for- tunes made little difference. They congratulated Fanning, and ex- pressed some regrets for Batterson. All but Tom. “Serves him right,” he said. ‘Now it’s all explained. I told you that fellow in the Jaunch wasn’t crazy.” “But he was an awful bungler,” remarked Fanning. “Bully good thing for you he was. You, at the bottom of Long Island Sound, wouldn’t amount to much as your grand- father’s heir.” Joyce’s comment was brief and shyly given. “T hope it will come out all right, for your sake,” she said. Mrs. Kendry held up her hands and ex- claimed: “That shows how little we know,” which observation might apply to the canals in COmiCOoOokKks CON