Part 46 (1/2)
”Why haven't you claimed the fortune before?”
”Because I had to prove that my wife had been drowned, and had also to prove that you were either alive or dead. Had you been dead, I could have taken the fortune for my own. But you are not dead, and so I am willing you shall have your share.”
”Where is this fortune?”
”Never mind about that now. I will give you my word that, if all goes well, you shall have your full share.”
”And how much will that be?”
”Not less than fifty or sixty thousand dollars. The whole fortune is worth over a hundred thousand dollars.”
It must be confessed that our hero was staggered for a moment. The sum was certainly a large one--a good deal more than the Ruthven plantation was worth.
”It's a lot of money,” he said, at last.
”Indeed it is, my boy. We can be happy on that amount for the rest of our lives.”
”But you haven't proved to me that you are my father,” went on Jack abruptly.
The crafty face of the surgeon fell, and he bit his lip.
”What more proof do you require?” he said coldly. ”Do you suppose I would wish to divide that fortune with a stranger?”
”I presume not, nor would I wish to divide any fortune that was coming to me with a stranger.”
”Ha! what do you mean?” gasped the medical man.
”I mean just this: That fortune may be coming to me, and you may be trying to gain possession of it by palming yourself off as my father.”
The shot told, and Dr. Mackey staggered back and turned pale.
”Jack, you think you are smart, but you don't know what you are saying,”
he stormed.
”Perhaps I do, Dr. Mackey. One thing I do know--you are not to be trusted.”
”What? This to my face?”
”You took the part of Gendron, when you knew he was nothing but a guerrilla and a horse-thief.”
”I know nothing of the kind. Gendron has a good record behind him. He was shot, and that may have hurt his brain.”
”I don't believe that fairy tale. To my mind, you sided with him because you were afraid he would expose you.”
”Boy, you are growing more bold. Don't you realize that you are in my power?”
”Am I?”
”Yes, you are--absolutely in my power. And you have got to do as I wish, or you'll take the consequences.”
As Dr. Mackey spoke, he began to walk up and down the cabin nervously.