Part 64 (1/2)

The litigants appeared to be numberless. Disputes arose over boundaries.

Part of the property appeared to be in Pennsylvania and part in Ohio.

Different States had different laws. The findings of one court were rejected by another. So the fight went on in a fitful and desultory way year after year. Some of the claimants died and their heirs dropped the struggle. Others had their claims allowed. Others who never had any real case gave up the contention. But there were a few who held on like grim death. They had no real claim, but they hoped for a good deal, and in the end they succeeded in the case being hung up indefinitely.

In time it was practically forgotten. New judges were appointed.

Important questions came before them which demanded immediate attention.

The papers relating to the Sterne property grew yellow in their pigeon-holes. The rents acc.u.mulated, but the mineral wealth remained undeveloped.

One of the first discoveries Rufus made was that there had been no distribution of profits.

”There must be some mistake,” he declared.

But the court was positive. There had been some inquiries lately through a New York solicitor, but beyond that there was no record of any kind for several years, but certainly no money had been paid.

Rufus felt bewildered. Why should Mr. Graythorne send him five thousand dollars on such a pretence? Why should anybody be so generous? Who was there in the whole of America who knew him or cared two straws whether he lived or died? As a matter of fact, he did not know a single soul on all that broad continent. But stop----

All the colour left his face in a moment. He did know one person.

Madeline Grover was in America. Had she done this?

He felt himself trembling from head to foot; the very suggestion meant so much.

That night he lay awake for hours thinking. He recalled the night after his return from Tregannon--the long walk he had with Madeline Grover across the downs, the frank confession he made to her of his toils and struggles, the generous sympathy she had extended to him. It was their last walk and talk. He remembered now he had told her how his father's savings had been lost at Reboth, and how they had long given up hope of recovering a penny of it.

”I must get to know somehow,” he said to himself. ”Bless her! If she has done this she is the n.o.blest woman on earth.”

Rufus was not long in getting his father's case reopened. There were only two men left to be dealt with. The claims of the others had gone by default. The court was anxious that the case should be disposed of once for all.

Rufus employed the cleverest lawyer he could find, and together they struggled through the whole case from the beginning.

”Look here,” said the lawyer; ”if these fellows are ugly it may last years longer.”

”Well, Mr. Mason, what do you advise?” Rufus questioned.

”Come to terms with them.”

”They may not be reasonable.”

”Or they may be. They don't appear to have the ghost of a claim, but they may keep the thing hanging on for ever and ever.”

”There can be no harm in making the attempt,” Rufus said.

”Then I will see their solicitors at once.”

Rufus hung about Reboth two months longer, hoping, expecting, sometimes despairing. But in the end all the parties agreed that a bird in the hand was worth two in the bush. So terms were accepted and ratified by the court.

”Now,” said Mr. Mason, ”you can begin to develop your property.”

”You think it is valuable?”