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Robert Coverdale's Struggle; or, On The Wave Of Success, a novel by Horatio Alger |
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Chapter 26. Two Important Discoveries |
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_ CHAPTER XXVI. TWO IMPORTANT DISCOVERIES Charles Waldo was the name of the hermit's cousin, who was suspected of kidnapping the boy who stood between him and the property. It was to find this very man that Robert was sent out by Gilbert Huet. Robert felt that he was fortunate in so soon running across this man and decided that as long as Mr. Waldo remained in the hotel it was his policy to remain also. He did not see how he was to find out anything about the missing boy, but resolved to watch and wait in the hope of obtaining a clew. He did not wish to attract Mr. Waldo's suspicions, but took care to keep him in view. The next morning he observed Mr. Waldo in the reading room at the rear of the hotel talking with another person--rather a pretentious-looking man, with black whiskers and a jaunty air. At the news stand he bought a copy of a morning paper and took a seat sufficiently near to hear what was said. Though Waldo and his companion spoke in low tones, neither was apprehensive of being heard, as it was hardly to be presumed that any one within hearing distance would feel an interest in what they had to say. "As I was saying"--this was the first sentence which Robert heard from Mr. Waldo--"it is entirely uncertain when I shall derive any advantage from my cousin's estate. During his life he holds it." "How is his health?" "I suppose he is well. In fact, I don't know but he is likely to live as long as I do. There can't be more than five years' difference in our ages." "That is a discouraging outlook." "I should say so! But there is one chance for me during his life." "What is that?" "He may be declared insane. In that case the management of the estate would naturally be transferred to me as the direct heir." "But is there any ground for assumption that he is insane?" "Yes. Ever since his son's death he has acted in an eccentric way--made a hermit of himself and withdrawn from society. You know grief brooded over often terminates in insanity. Then there was his wife's terrible death, which had a strange effect upon him. "I did not understand that the boy died." "Well, he disappeared. He is undoubtedly dead." "It is his being out of the way that makes you the heir, is it not?" "Of course," answered Waldo. "Then all I can say is that it was mighty fortunate for you," said his companion dryly. "It hasn't done me any good yet and may not. These hermits are likely to live long. Their habits are regular and they are not tempted to violate the laws of health. I tell you, Mr. Thompson, it's a tantalizing thing to be so near a large fortune and yet kept out of it." "I suppose you pray for your cousin's death, then?" "Not so bad as that, but, as he don't enjoy the property, it is a pity I can't." "How much does the estate amount to probably?" asked the other with interest. "Well, it can't be less than two hundred thousand dollars." "Whew! That's a great fortune!" "So it is. If I get it, or when I get it, I won't mind doing as you ask me, and setting you up in a snug business." "You could do it now, Mr. Waldo. You are a rich man," said Thompson. "You are mistaken. I may have a competence, but nothing more." "You've got a fine farm." "That don't support me. Farming doesn't pay." "And money in stock and bonds." "Enough to make up the deficiency in my income. I assure you I don't lay up a cent. I can't do it." "May I ask what is your errand in New York?" "I want to speak to you about that. I want to find my cousin." "Don't his bankers know where he is?" "If they do, they won't tell. I suppose they are acting under orders from him?" "Suppose you find him?" "Then," said Charles Waldo significantly, "I shall raise the question of his sanity. It won't be a difficult matter to prove him insane. It only needs a certificate from a couple of doctors. I think I can find two parties who will oblige me." "I say, Waldo, you're a cool, calculating fellow!" Thompson was about to use another word, but checked himself. "I wouldn't like to stand in your way." "Nonsense! I only want to do what is right." "And it very conveniently happens that you consider right what is to your interest. I say, have you any idea how the boy came to disappear?" "Of course not! How should I?" answered Waldo uneasily. "I don't know, but as he stood in your way, I thought----" "You think too much," said Waldo. "Oh, I don't mean to censure you. I suppose if I had been in your place I might have been tempted." "I know nothing about the boy's disappearance," said Waldo hastily; "but let us drop that. I sent for you because I saw that you could serve me." "Go on; if there's money in it, I am your man." "I shall pay you, of course; that is, I will pay you fairly. We will speak of that hereafter." "What do you want me to do? Is there anybody you want to disappear?" "Hush! You go too far, sir. I want to find out the whereabouts of Gilbert Huet. It is important for me to know where he is." "Can you give me a clew?" "If I could I should not need to employ you. Come up to my room and I will communicate further with you." The two left the reading room and Robert was left to digest the important information he had received. "What a rascal that man is!" he reflected. "After stealing Mr. Huet's boy, he wants to put him in a madhouse. I must let him know, so that he may be on his guard. I don't believe they will think of looking for him at Cook's Harbor." By a curious coincidence the room assigned to Robert was next to that occupied by Mr. Waldo, and when the boy was about entering it, some hours later, he saw the gentleman going in just ahead of him. As the latter placed one hand upon the door he drew his handkerchief from his coat pocket, and in so doing brought out a letter, which fell upon the floor, without his seeing it. Passing into his room, he slammed the door, leaving the missive lying in the hall. "It is a mean thing," laughed Robert as he stooped down and picked it up, "to examine a letter not intended for me, but he is such a scamp that I'll do it in this case, hoping to learn something that will help me find this poor boy." And so, without any compunctions, Robert took the letter--which had been opened--into his room and read, with feelings which may possibly be imagined, the following letter:
"You told me I might be strict and harsh with him, and I am. He says he has the headache about half the time, but I don't pay no attenshun to that. If I did, I wouldn't git any work done. One day he fainted away in the feald, but it's my opinyun he brought it on a-purpose by not eatin' much breakfast. "I tell you, Mr. Waldo, it is very aggravatin' to have such a shifless boy. Now, what I want to ask you is, if you can't allow me a dollar, or a dollar and a half a week to make it square. I'm willin' to take care of the boy, but I don't want to lose money by it. I kno you give him his clo'es, but that don't cost you much. He ain't had a suit for a year, and he needs one bad. "I'm sure you will see the thing the way I do, if you are a reasonable man, as I have no reason to doubt you are; and so I remain yours to command, NATHAN BADGER. "To MR. CHARLES WALDO."
"I will be his friend," Robert resolved, "and if I can I will restore him to his father." He looked for the date of the letter and found it. It had been written in the town of Dexter, in Ohio. Where this town was Robert did not know, but he could find out. "I won't wait for Mr. Waldo," he said to himself. "I know all I need to. I will start for Ohio to-morrow." As for the letter, he resolved to keep it, as it might turn out to be important evidence in case of need. He could not understand how Mr. Waldo could be careless enough to mislay so important a document, but this did not concern him. It was his business to profit by it. _ |
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