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a hermit of himself and withdrawn from society.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:
“DEAR SIR: I feel oblidged to rite to you about the boy I
took from you. You told me he would work enough to pay for
his keep, and did not want to pay me anything for my
trubble. Now, Mr. Waldo, you are mistaken. The boy ain’t
tuff nor strong, and I can’t got more’n half as much work
out of him as I ought. He don’t eat much, I kno, but the
fact is I need a good strong boy, and I shall have to git
another, and have two to feed, if things go on so.
“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.”
Robert could hardly express his excitement and indignation when he was
reading this letter. He felt sure that this poor boy, who was so cruelly
treated, was the unfortunate son of his friend, the hermit, who ought to
be enjoying the comforts of a luxurious home. As it was, he was the
victim of a cruel and unscrupulous relative, influenced by the most
mercenary motives.
“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.