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About Hesperian student / (Lincoln [Neb.]) 1872-1885 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 1, 1877)
Tim Unknown Hums, on Tin: Coktksted Inheiutanck. 80 y, r i . " r k. i if. i r THE UNKNOWN HEIRS, Oil TUB CONTESTED INHERITANCE. CHAPTER VI ccncludcd.) " So ho docs not know mo," thought tho old man to himself, nt thu sumo time nsk ig, " Then yon do not know whether your parents hud tiny brothers or sisters?" " I do not," ufllrincd John. "Then I may as well tell you of the mission that sent me hither," said the old man, who ther explained the purpose of his visit to Meredith. "I saw you hero yesterday," lie said in conclusion, "and recognized you us my grandson. I have seen you several times heretofore, but was myself unknown to you. The person who so nearly robbed mo yesterday told mo of you, but I hud then no confidence in you, and had given up all hopes of ever clearing my other grandsons. Since last night, however, I have changed my resolution. I am now satisiled of your intentions, and I feel that I would not bo doing my duty unless I take you under my care. You are- tho on. ly grandson I now have left me. "Will you go home with mo and till tho place which has been so lung vacant? Only my nephew, Dudley Fleming, lives with mo. When I left home, I resolved to amend mv conduct. Tho character of your past life has been owing to me. I will do all that I can to make reparation. Let us try to overlook the past. Will you como with mo ?" "Yes, dear grandfather," said tho de. coiver, as ho grasped the old man's prof, forcd hand. " I will go, and will do all I can to mako jou happy. I will try to keep tho ground Unit I have gained." It is needless to dwell longer upon this scene. On" tho very same day the deceiver and tho deceived started for home. Thus far the plotter had been entirely success, ful, but was it destined to happen that he should long enjoy his ill-gotten prosperity, and his innocent cousins linger in dis grace ? CHAPTER VII. A IMBOLOSUKK. The feeling of Stephen, now that an op. pnrlunity seemed at hand for clearing up tho villainous plot, of which ho was u victim, can bo better imagined than do scribed. But soon tho thought occurred to him that his enemies might have dis covered his presence in tho village, and that tho letter was tho llrst step in a scheme for entrapping him. "After all," ho concluded, "there can bo no harm in going to the post olllcc, but I must use caution in dealing with him." With this determination, ho went to the post otllco which was simply a small apartment in a grocery. At the appointed time, a person entered, wearing a black cap of a somewhat uncommon pattern. Observing that Stephen was scrutiniz ing him closely, ho approached him and spoice in a low, guarded tone. "Did some person," lie enquired, "put a letter without a signature into your pock et not long ago?" " Yes, sir," was Stephen's answer. " 1 put it thero myself," said tho strang er. "And now, will you not go with mo to my room, just above the adjoining store V" Stephen hesitated a moment, but as ho had particularly noticed the store and the tradesmen who occupied it, ho silent ly assented, and the two passed out of the olllce, ascended an external stairway, and entered a small room in the second story. This room was humbly and scantily furnished. Tho stranger struck a light, meanwhile inviting his guest to bo seated. Ho then seated himself, drawing his chair near to Stephen, who now noticed that tho apparel of the stranger was old threadbare .and patched, but in his face ho could detect no indication of treachery whatever his past life might have been. " I will now toll you my name," he said, " and when I announce that it is Sam Slack, and thnt 1 have been an accomp lice to John Kelley, alias Daniel Johnson, you will know, perhaps, what my busi ness with you is." WW