CHAPTER XXVI
TWO IMPORTANT DISCOVERIES
Charles Waldo was the name of the hermit's cousin, who was suspected ofkidnapping the boy who stood between him and the property. It was tofind this very man that Robert was sent out by Gilbert Huet.
Robert felt that he was fortunate in so soon running across this man anddecided that as long as Mr. Waldo remained in the hotel it was hispolicy 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 didnot wish to attract Mr. Waldo's suspicions, but took care to keep him inview.
The next morning he observed Mr. Waldo in the reading room at the rearof the hotel talking with another person--rather a pretentious-lookingman, with black whiskers and a jaunty air.
At the news stand he bought a copy of a morning paper and took a seatsufficiently near to hear what was said.
Though Waldo and his companion spoke in low tones, neither wasapprehensive of being heard, as it was hardly to be presumed that anyone within hearing distance would feel an interest in what they had tosay.
"As I was saying"--this was the first sentence which Robert heard fromMr. Waldo--"it is entirely uncertain when I shall derive any advantagefrom 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 aslong as I do. There can't be more than five years' difference in ourages."
"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 estatewould 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 Ever since his son's death he has acted in an eccentric way--madea hermit of himself and withdrawn from society. You know grief broodedover often terminates in insanity. Then there was his wife's terribledeath, 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 hiscompanion dryly.
"It hasn't done me any good yet and may not. These hermits are likely tolive long. Their habits are regular and they are not tempted to violatethe laws of health. I tell you, Mr. Thompson, it's a tantalizing thingto 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 Ican't."
"How much does the estate amount to probably?" asked the other withinterest.
"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 askme, 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 layup 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 ordersfrom him?"
"Suppose you find him?"
"Then," said Charles Waldo significantly, "I shall raise the question ofhis sanity. It won't be a difficult matter to prove him insane. It onlyneeds a certificate from a couple of doctors. I think I can find twoparties who will oblige me."
"I say, Waldo, you're a cool, calculating fellow!" Thompson was about touse another word, but checked himself. "I wouldn't like to stand in yourway."
"Nonsense! I only want to do what is right."
"And it very conveniently happens that you consider right what is toyour 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 placeI might have been tempted."
"I know nothing about the boy's disappearance," said Waldo hastily; "butlet us drop that. I sent for you because I saw that you could serveme."
"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 willspeak 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 ofGilbert 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 Iwill communicate further with you."
The two left the reading room and Robert was left to digest theimportant information he had received.
"What a rascal that man is!" he reflected. "After stealing Mr. Huet'sboy, he wants to put him in a madhouse. I must let him know, so that hemay be on his guard. I don't believe they will think of looking for himat Cook's Harbor."
By a curious coincidence the room assigned to Robert was next to thatoccupied by Mr. Waldo, and when the boy was about entering it, somehours later, he saw the gentleman going in just ahead of him.
As the latter placed one hand upon the door he drew his handkerchieffrom his coat pocket, and in so doing brought out a letter, which fellupon the floor, without his seeing it.
Passing into his room, he slammed the door, leaving the missive lying inthe hall.
"It is a mean thing," laughed Robert as he stooped down and picked itup, "to examine a letter not intended for me, but he is such a scampthat I'll do it in this case, hoping to learn something that will helpme find this poor boy."
And so, without any compunctions, Robert took the letter--which had beenopened--into his room and read, with feelings which may possibly beimagined, 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 wasreading
this letter. He felt sure that this poor boy, who was so cruellytreated, was the unfortunate son of his friend, the hermit, who ought tobe enjoying the comforts of a luxurious home. As it was, he was thevictim of a cruel and unscrupulous relative, influenced by the mostmercenary motives.
"I will be his friend," Robert resolved, "and if I can I will restorehim to his father."
He looked for the date of the letter and found it. It had been writtenin 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 beimportant evidence in case of need.
He could not understand how Mr. Waldo could be careless enough to mislayso important a document, but this did not concern him. It was hisbusiness to profit by it.