Two Boys and a Fortune Part 38

It was with difficulty the old lady kept her tones within bounds.

"But you cannot be sure it is the same," she went on.

"No. I cannot be certain, but I am pretty sure."

"Perhaps he looks like his father. Wait, I think I can find a picture of him in the dark."

"But I cannot see it in the dark."

"By holding it close to the window you can get the ray from the lamp on it There! here it is, I think."

Mrs. Fox took the portrait to the front of the room, and parting the curtains a little, held it for Sydney to look at.

"Yes, it is very like," he said. "This picture must have been taken when Mr. Darley was quite young."

"He sat for it before he was married. But where is this boy?"

"Living at a little town out in New Jersey. He wants to find his father."

"How comes it he isn't dead?" the old lady wanted to know.

Sydney told the story of Miles Harding as he had heard it from Rex.

"Do you know why he was compelled to give up the child?" he added.

"Poverty, I suppose. You know he was very sick once, and he lost everything. That was what unsettled his reason. But to think he should have given out that the child was dead!"

"Did you ever hear him speak of the Morriseys?"

"No, I never heard the name before. But I should like to see this boy.

Does he know that his father is living?"

"No, not yet; you see I did not hear of it until tonight. But I must not stay longer. My brothers are waiting for me in the carriage. We must arrange what we are going to do."

"I don't know what to say. The boy ought to have his rights. Can't we fix it all quietly some way? I don't think you meant to do wrong."

"Yes, I did. I did everything with my eyes open. I ought to suffer for it. The only trouble is that those I love will suffer with me. But don't you think the restoration of fortune will bring back Mr.

Darley's mind?"

"I don't know. I can't tell about that. He is very queer."

"Do you have a doctor for him?"

"Oh, no. I'd be afraid they'd want to take him away. I expect I'm selfish about it. But bring the boy here. He is old enough. We can talk it over with him, and maybe his father will recognize him."

"I can come any time, then?" said Sydney.

"Yes, now I know who you are."

"Good night, then. I shall see you soon again. I feel better than when I came."

Sydney rose and walked to the door without a.s.sistance. As soon as the boys saw him they hurried out to help him into the carriage. Within three minutes they were driving towards home and a church clock near by chimed one-- for half past twelve.

"Boys," began Sydney, "I have something to tell you. I was not glad before that I was not your own brother. I am glad of it now, because-- I am a criminal."

There was a pause. No one spoke. There was no sound but the rattle of the wheels. It was too dark to see the expression on the faces of the twins. Rex was leaning partly forward, one hand gripping Roy's knee.

He could think of nothing save the night Mr. Keeler had spent with them and the horror they had had of him before they found out that it was his brother whose picture was in that book.

CHAPTER x.x.xI

THE CONFESSION TO THE BOYS

The carriage had gone two squares before the silence in it was broken.

Then Roy spoke.

"What is it, Syd?" he said. "I am sure you are worrying yourself needlessly over something-- are magnifying it from a molehill into a mountain."

"Needlessly? Oh, boys, would that I were! But as soon as I tell you, you will understand it all. And I shall tell you now-- in a minute.

But just give me your hand, each of you, that I may feel the warm pressure of your confidence before-- before you know the worst of me."

Roy and Rex instantly put out their hands. Syd took one in each of his and held them tight for an instant. Then he dropped them quickly and began to speak rapidly.

"Do you remember, Roy, the night last July you went home in Dr.

Martin's carriage and left me alone with Mr. Tyler? The will that left all his money to mother had been signed and witnessed; you know what it contained. I felt so rejoiced for you all, although I had no idea then that there was a chance of your so soon coming into possession.

"I sat talking to the old man for an hour or so, about his investments and the various savings banks in which his money was deposited.

Finally he appeared to grow restless.

"'Have you got that will I made, Sydney?' he asked.

"I pointed it out to him where it lay on the table.

"'I can make another one, can't I?' he went on.

"'As many as you please,' I told him.

"'Then write out this one and I'll sign it,' he said, and he dictated a doc.u.ment that left every penny of his fortune, except the five thousand to Ann and a thousand he left to you, Roy, to Maurice Darley, if living, or his heirs if dead.

"'You and Ann can witness it,' he told me, and I called her in, and she wrote her name under mine.

"He named myself and Dr. Martin as executors just as before, and said that I could probably find Maurice Darley without much trouble. He turned over in bed then and I asked him where Darley was when he last heard from him, but he did not answer. I went over to the bed and looked at him, and found that he was dead.

"Then the temptation flashed into my mind.

"'What a shame,' I thought, 'that owing to the caprice of a foolish old man these people who have been so good to me should be deprived of the fortune which had just been left to them. This Darley is undoubtedly rich. He has behaved contemptibly to the man who did so much for him. Why should he get the money?'

"Then I recollected that you had gone into the kitchen, Roy, earlier in the evening, to get Ann to sign the first will, and then the doctor had told you that it was not necessary. I reasoned that she would undoubtedly suppose that the will she did sign was the only one that had been made, because I was sure she had not read it.