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About Hesperian student / (Lincoln [Neb.]) 1872-1885 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 1, 1877)
40 The Unknown Heiiis, on The Contested Inhemtancb. 44 I do," nfllrmcci Stephen. 44 1 saw you looking closely nncl rather peculiarly ut Mr. Bonnet nnil John Kol lcy to-day, and coupling that with what I knew of you, I suspce'ed that you were Stephen Bennct and were ferreting out John's plot. Then I am correct? " 44 Yea, Sir," again alllrmed Stephen. 44 Then I will at once proceed to make a disclosure to you. I will begin with my Bclf. I was born at Easton, in this State and lived there until three years ago, when I came here. I had received con siderable schooling, but being of a wild turn, and as little restraint was laid upon me at home, I gradually plunged into all kinds of rascality. I have a brother, Jack, who is older than I, much less edu cated, and, if anything, worse. 44 One of my bosom friends there was John Kelley, an orphan, and a son of a daughter of Mr. Bennct. Ho is, therefore, your cousin. He often told me of his grandfather, and wanted very much to be acknowledged his heir, but the old man knew too much of him, and John found this out indirectly. Some five years ago. he went to Boston but never forgot me, and about two years later wrote to me, asking me to comn here and spy on Mr. Fleming, lie agreed to pay me Ave dol lars a month and to give me a good slice of the property, if ever he got possession of it. 44I came, got a situation in the mansion, and spied to 1113' utmost, facilitating this by some of the closets, passage ways, etc Last March, I overhead a very important conversation between Mr. Fleming and his nephew. The old mn relented of his past conduct and resolved to look up you and your brother I immediately wrote to Sohn, who kept a constant, watch on the mails. He then concocted a scheme to throw some crime on you, and, by play ing a part, to work himself Into tho favor of the old man. as you must be familiar with the events that transpired at Mere dlth and vicinity last year, I need say but little on that point. "John employed Jack, and kept him self in the background. Hearinp that you and your brother were going to Mere dith for ho kept a watch on you as well he went to Moultonborough, hired out, and lived to all appearances blamelessly. Jack stole the articles which were found in your cellar and put them there. John himself warned Mr. Sykes He had meanwhile caused an article to be insert ed in a Boston newspaper taken by Mr. Bennct. 44 It had tho desired ctlcct, yet had it failed John would have tried a more eflec tive way, for I had informed him of Mr. Beimel's weak points, He came, and you know the rest. The assault upon Mr. Ben. net in the woods was a part of the scheme. Jack was tho one who carried Mr. Bennct to Moultonborough. The case was strong, cr against you than John intended that it should bo. He was less particular about you than your brother, knowing that it would be all the same in Mr. Beimel's eyes. 44 1 had wormed myself pretty well into tho good graces of Mr. Bonnet, and having behaved well, was thought much of. Kel ley did not like this at all. It was perhaps natural, but of course Mr. Bennct knew nothing of our previous relations. Kelly at once, though very cautiously, set to work to get me ousted. At last, Mr. Ben net was persuaded that it was unnecessa ry to employ me, and so I was dismissed. I thought that I would not go to a dis tance, and so I am staying here on a scun ty allowance. 44 You may think it strange that he should treat mo in this way, knowing that unfair treatmont of me would provoke his exposure, yet such is the case. I know that he is restive under the burden that I have been to him, and wishes that I were out of his way. As yet, he and Jack are harmonious, and they keep the other side of the fence toward me. 44 During the past year, I have been awakening up to a full sense of tho wick, edncss of my past life. They suspect d !JWWW