IN WHICH PHIL CALLS UPON MR. LAMAR, AND DOES NOT FIND HIM.
I had heard nothing from Mr. Gracewood since my arrival in St. Louis.
He had in his possession all the moneyed property which had come to me
from the estate of Matt Rockwood. I had placed no little dependence
upon the fifteen hundred in gold, which I regarded as my inheritance;
and now an heir appeared, who certainly had a better legal claim than I
had.
"Nine hundred dollars!" exclaimed Morgan Blair again, and with as much
satisfaction as though this large sum was already in his own hands.
"And after his death we sold off wood and produce enough to amount to
over seven hundred dollars more."
"Better and better," added Blair. "Go on, Phil; perhaps you can make
it up to two thousand."
"I can't very easily make it any more," I replied.
"Well, I'm satisfied as it is. Now, can you tell me where this money
is?"
"A friend of mine has fifteen hundred dollars in gold, and I have his
note for it."
"Exactly so; and perhaps you won't object to handing the note over to
me, and telling me where I can find your friend."
"I must say that I do object."
"You do?"
"Certainly I do."
"But I am the last of the Rockwoods. Don't you think I look like my
uncle Matt?"
"I don't see it."
"Nor I; but my mother said I did. Be that as it may, you must see that
this money belongs to me, and not to you."
"I don't even see that."
"Don't be mean about it, Phil."
"I don't intend to be. I have told you the whole truth, and now I don't
care about talking any more on the subject."
"That's rather cool. You have my money, and you won't give it to me."
"Certainly not; I don't know anything about you. I never even heard old
Matt say he had a sister."
"That's nothing to do with me. He did have one, and I am her son."
"It's no use to say anything more about it. When Mr. Gracewood, who has
the money, arrives, I will speak to him about it."
"But I can't wait."
"You must wait."
"Couldn't you let me have a little of it?" persisted he.
"No, I could not. You haven't proved your claim yet."
"I will prove it."
"When you have done so, the money shall be paid."
"But I must go to Vandalia to obtain the proof; and I haven't money
enough to pay my expenses."
"I can't help that."
"Haven't you any money?"
"I have, and I intend to keep it for my own use."
"But the money is mine. I am the last of the Rockwoods. I know you have
nearly a hundred dollars; or you had before you went into that shop.
That money is mine, and when you spend a dollar of it you steal it.
That's what's the matter."
"I think you have said enough about it, and we will end up the matter
here," I replied, disgusted with his impudence, and wondering how he
knew that I had nearly a hundred dollars.
I refused to say anything more, and he threatened me with the terrors
of the law, and even with his individual vengeance. He teased me to
let him have fifty dollars on account, and declared he would have me
arrested if I did not comply. Finally I put on my cap, and he followed
me into the street, for I found I could get rid of him in no other way.
As soon as he was outside of the door, I made a flank movement upon
him, and returned to the house, shutting him out as I entered. He did
not trouble me any more that night, but I expected to see him again
soon.
I was inclined to believe that he was what he represented himself to
be, for I did not see how he could know anything about Matt Rockwood.
It was very singular that he had stumbled upon me so blindly, and I
regarded my fortune as already lost. I was sorry that Matt's heir had
appeared, for I had considered how convenient this large sum of money
would be when I began to look for my mother. I had thought, as soon as
my father's reformation was in a measure assured, of going to Chicago
to see my grandfather, Mr. Collingsby. My wages, even at six dollars a
week, would no more than pay my father's and my own board. But I was
fully determined to be honest; and, if the fifteen hundred dollars
belonged to Morgan Blair, he should have it, as soon as he satisfied
me that he was the "last of the Rockwoods," even without any legal
forms. The next day my father was a little better, and sat up a portion
of the time. Mrs. Greenough nursed him most tenderly, and insisted
that I should go to Sunday school and to church in the forenoon. I
dressed myself in my new clothes, and when my father saw me he smiled,
and seemed to be proud of his boy. I went to Sunday school at the
church which my landlady attended; and I realized all my pleasant
anticipations of the occasion. I was put into a class of boys of my own
age, and listened attentively to the instructions of my teacher, who, I
afterwards learned to my surprise, was one of the wealthiest merchants
in the city, though he was very plain in his manners and in his dress.
What was so new and strange, and withal so exceedingly pleasant to
me, is familiar to all my readers, and I need not describe it. Mr.
Phillips, my teacher, had an attentive scholar in me, and immediately
took an interest in me. He promised to call and see me some evening,
and presented me a class book for use in the school and at home. I
was astonished at his kindness and condescension, when Mrs. Greenough
told me who and what he was. The services in the church were not less
novel and interesting to me; and I am sure that I was deeply impressed
by the prayers, the singing, and the sermon. In the afternoon I staid
at home with my father, and Mrs. Greenough went to church. I read the
Bible and the library book I had obtained at the Sunday school to him,
and he was as much interested as I was. In the evening I went to the
prayer-meeting; and when I retired I felt more like being good and true
than ever before.
On Monday I was at the plane and plank again, and when night came I
was never so tired in my life, not even when I had tramped through the
woods for a day and a night. I did not go out; but Mr. Lamar and Mr.
Gray called to inquire for my father. As I had told them all about my
relations with Matt Rockwood, and that I had the money he had left, I
ventured to ask their advice in regard to the claimant who had appeared
in the person of Morgan Blair.
"Don't pay him a dollar," said Mr. Lamar, who was a very prudent man,
as I had learned before.
"I have no doubt he is the nephew of Matt Rockwood," I replied.
"If he is, he must prove his claim. Do nothing, Phil, without the
advice of your friends, especially Mr. Gracewood."
"As he has the money, I shall not be likely to do anything."
"The fellow may be an impostor," suggested Mr. Gray.
"I think that is impossible. He came to me simply to inquire about the
country on the upper Missouri, and said he had an uncle up there. Then
he gave me the name of Matthew Rockwood. If he were an impostor, he
could not have done that."
"Perhaps it is all right as you say; but don't pay him anything till we
have the evidence," added Mr. Lamar.
My friends left me, and the door had hardly closed behind them before
Morgan Blair called to see me. He pressed me to let him have fifty
dollars to enable him to go to Vandalia; but I continued to refuse, and
as before he waxed angry and threatened me.
"It's no use, Blair. I shall not let you have a dollar. I have
consulted Mr. Lamar and Mr. Gray, and I act under their advice. If you
want to do anything about it, go and see them."
"I don't know them, and don't want to know them. My business is with
you, and I will follow you till you give me that money. It belongs to
me, and I ought to have it."
"You can do as you think best; but following me won't do any good. If
you will wait till Mr. Gracewood comes, he will be able to settle the
question. He was with us when your uncle was killed. Perhaps Matt spoke
to him about his sister."
"Do you doubt my word?"
"No; but if I should pay this money to you, Matt's brother might come
after it."
"I tell you he is dead."
"That must be proved."
"I suppose I shall have to prove that I'm not dead myself, by and by."
"If you can prove the rest as easily, as you can prove that, you will
be all right. When I hear from Mr. Gracewood I will let you know."
"I can't wait."
"Very well; then go to work at once in the right way."
"What's that?"
"Go to the territory where your uncle lived and died, have an
administrator appointed, and he can legally claim the effects of Matt
Rockwood," I replied, rehearsing the information imparted to me by Mr.
Lamar.
"I can't go up there."
"Go to a lawyer, then, and he will advise you what to do."
"I haven't any money to pay a lawyer. I haven't a dollar left. I lost
nearly all I had."
"Lost it? Where?"
"At Forstellar's," he replied.
"Gambling?"
"Well, I played a little. I wanted to make a little money somehow."
"But you didn't make any?"
"Made it out of pocket."
"I should go to work if I were you."
His confession gave me a new revelation in regard to his character, and
I was the more determined not to let him have a dollar. He pleaded,
begged, and threatened; but I was firm, and he left me.
When I came home to dinner the next day, I found a letter from Mr.
Gracewood in reply to mine. With trembling hands I opened it. The
writer began by saying that he was very glad to hear from me, and that
he had worried a great deal about me. Mrs. Gracewood had been very
sick, but was now slowly improving. He did not think he should be
able to leave for St. Louis for two or three weeks. Ella was well, and
sent her regards to me. This was favorable news, and I was very much
rejoiced to receive the letter. I wrote immediately, giving him a full
account of what had happened to me since we parted, and sent the letter
by the next mail.
[Illustration: PHIL READING THE BIBLE TO HIS FATHER. Page 212.]
My father improved very slowly, but I was not sure that his illness
was not a blessing to him, for he was unable to go out of the house,
and the process of weaning him from whiskey was thus assisted very
materially. On Saturday night, after I had been paid off, I found a
letter at the house. I opened it, and looked first at the signature,
which was Pierre Lamar. He wrote that he wished to see me about the
money matter of which I had spoken to him, and desired me to call
at a place in Fourth Street which he designated. In a postscript he
requested me to bring the note which Mr. Gracewood had given for the
money.
After supper, with the note in my pocket, I hastened to the place
indicated. It appeared to be a dwelling-house, and I rang the bell at
the front door, which was presently opened by a man in a white jacket.
I asked for Mr. Lamar, and was assured that he was in his room. I was
conducted up three flights of stairs, and the man knocked at a door. I
thought Mr. Lamar ought to be able to afford better accommodations for
himself; but the door opened, and I entered the room.
I looked for my friend; but instead of him, I saw only Mr. Leonidas
Lynchpinne and Morgan Blair.