CHAPTER XVIII.
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 mefrom the estate of Matt Rockwood. I had placed no little dependenceupon the fifteen hundred in gold, which I regarded as my inheritance;and now an heir appeared, who certainly had a better legal claim than Ihad.
"Nine hundred dollars!" exclaimed Morgan Blair again, and with as muchsatisfaction as though this large sum was already in his own hands.
"And after his death we sold off wood and produce enough to amount toover seven hundred dollars more."
"Better and better," added Blair. "Go on, Phil; perhaps you can makeit 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 moneyis?"
"A friend of mine has fifteen hundred dollars in gold, and I have hisnote for it."
"Exactly so; and perhaps you won't object to handing the note over tome, 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 myuncle Matt?"
"I don't see it."
"Nor I; but my mother said I did. Be that as it may, you must see thatthis 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'tcare 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 oldMatt 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 hasthe 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 moneyenough 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 havenearly 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 matterhere," I replied, disgusted with his impudence, and wondering how heknew that I had nearly a hundred dollars.
I refused to say anything more, and he threatened me with the terrorsof the law, and even with his individual vengeance. He teased me tolet him have fifty dollars on account, and declared he would have mearrested if I did not comply. Finally I put on my cap, and he followedme 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 uponhim, and returned to the house, shutting him out as I entered. He didnot trouble me any more that night, but I expected to see him againsoon.
I was inclined to believe that he was what he represented himself tobe, 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 Iregarded my fortune as already lost. I was sorry that Matt's heir hadappeared, for I had considered how convenient this large sum of moneywould be when I began to look for my mother. I had thought, as soon asmy father's reformation was in a measure assured, of going to Chicagoto see my grandfather, Mr. Collingsby. My wages, even at six dollars aweek, would no more than pay my father's and my own board. But I wasfully determined to be honest; and, if the fifteen hundred dollarsbelonged to Morgan Blair, he should have it, as soon as he satisfiedme that he was the "last of the Rockwoods," even without any legalforms. The next day my father was a little better, and sat up a portionof the time. Mrs. Greenough nursed him most tenderly, and insistedthat I should go to Sunday school and to church in the forenoon. Idressed 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 thechurch which my landlady attended; and I realized all my pleasantanticipations of the occasion. I was put into a class of boys of my ownage, and listened attentively to the instructions of my teacher, who, Iafterwards learned to my surprise, was one of the wealthiest merchantsin 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 tome, is familiar to all my readers, and I need not describe it. Mr.Phillips, my teacher, had an attentive scholar in me, and immediatelytook 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. Iwas astonished at his kindness and condescension, when Mrs. Greenoughtold me who and what he was. The services in the church were not lessnovel and interesting to me; and I am sure that I was deeply impressedby the prayers, the singing, and the sermon. In the afternoon I staidat home with my father, and Mrs. Greenough went to church. I read theBible 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 theprayer-meeting; and when I retired I felt more like being good and truethan ever before.
On Monday I was at the plane and plank again, and when night came Iwas never so tired in my life, not even when I had tramped through thewoods 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 myrelations with Matt Rockwood, and that I had the money he had left, Iventured to ask their advice in regard to the claimant who had appearedin 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 theadvice 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 thecountry on the upper Missouri, and said he had an uncle up there. Thenhe gave me the name of Matthew Rockwood. If he were an impostor, hecould not have done that."
"Perhaps it is all right as you say; but don't pay him anything till wehave the evidence," added Mr. Lamar.
My friends left me, and the door had hardly closed behind them beforeMorgan Blair called to see me. He pressed me to let him have fiftydollars to enable him to go to Vandalia; but I continued to refuse, andas before he waxed angry and threatened me.
"It's no use, Blair. I shall not let you have a dollar. I haveconsulted Mr. Lamar and Mr. Gray, and I act under their advice. If youwant to do anything about it, go and see them."
"I don't know them, and don't want to know them. My business is withyou, and I will follow you till you give me that money. It belongs tome, and I ought to have it."
"You can do as you think best; but following me won't do any good. Ifyou will wait till Mr. Gracewood comes, he will be able to settle thequestion. He was with us when your uncle was killed. Perhaps Matt spoketo him about his sister."
"Do you doubt my word?"
"No; but if I should pay this money to you, Matt's brother might comeafter 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 e
asily, as you can prove that, you willbe 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 anadministrator appointed, and he can legally claim the effects of MattRockwood," 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 lostnearly 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, andI 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. Thewriter began by saying that he was very glad to hear from me, and thathe had worried a great deal about me. Mrs. Gracewood had been verysick, but was now slowly improving. He did not think he should beable to leave for St. Louis for two or three weeks. Ella was well, andsent her regards to me. This was favorable news, and I was very muchrejoiced to receive the letter. I wrote immediately, giving him a fullaccount of what had happened to me since we parted, and sent the letterby the next mail.
PHIL READING THE BIBLE TO HIS FATHER. Page 212.]
My father improved very slowly, but I was not sure that his illnesswas 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 verymaterially. On Saturday night, after I had been paid off, I found aletter 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 themoney matter of which I had spoken to him, and desired me to callat a place in Fourth Street which he designated. In a postscript herequested me to bring the note which Mr. Gracewood had given for themoney.
After supper, with the note in my pocket, I hastened to the placeindicated. It appeared to be a dwelling-house, and I rang the bell atthe 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 wasconducted up three flights of stairs, and the man knocked at a door. Ithought Mr. Lamar ought to be able to afford better accommodations forhimself; but the door opened, and I entered the room.
I looked for my friend; but instead of him, I saw only Mr. LeonidasLynchpinne and Morgan Blair.