Tim Unknown Hums, on Tin: Coktksted Inheiutanck.
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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
