Part 41 (2/2)

She told her story well and Mr. Westcote was keenly interested not only in what she told him, but in the animated look in her eyes and the varying shades of expression which pa.s.sed over her fair face. He considered Jasper a lucky fellow in having such a beautiful woman striving so hard for his release.

When Lois had finished, Mr. Westcote turned to his desk and drew the telephone toward him.

”What you tell me, Miss Sinclair,” he said, ”is very valuable, and I must see my lawyer at once. Excuse me a moment.”

After he had called up the lawyer and asked him to come at once to his office, he hung up the receiver and sat for a few seconds lost in deep thought.

”Yes, we had better do it at once,” he remarked as if to himself. ”It will not do to run any risk.”

”Do what, Father?” Margaret enquired.

”Have that Bramshaw detained. I have received some additional information to-day, and with what Miss Sinclair has just told me it should be enough to arrest any man. Now, I must come to the question I wish to speak to you about,” and he turned to Lois. ”You have told me your story and in return I shall relate one perhaps of a more startling nature.”

”In connection with this same affair?” Lois eagerly asked.

”It has a direct bearing upon it. It has to do with the mystery which has been surrounding the life of old David.”

”And does it clear it up?”

”Wait, please, until I am through, and you can judge for yourself,” Mr.

Westcote smilingly told her.

”I shall be as patient as Job,” Lois replied, as she settled herself in her chair as comfortably as possible.

”My story might seem strange to you,” Mr. Westcote began. ”In fact, it has always seemed strange to me, and sometimes I think that I shall wake up and find it nothing more than a dream. Well, without going into details, which would not interest you, it is sufficient to say that I came to this country over two years ago on one of the strangest commissions ever given to man. I was handed two sealed papers numbered 1 and 2, with strict orders to break the seal of paper Number 1 only upon my arrival in Canada, and then I should find my instructions in reference to Number 2.”

”What were the instructions?” Lois eagerly asked, as Mr. Westcote paused for a few seconds as if considering how to proceed.

”That will come later,” he replied. ”I must tell you about Number 1 first. You promised to be patient, you know.”

”Excuse me, I know I did,” Lois smilingly confessed, as she glanced at Margaret, whose eyes were twinkling with amus.e.m.e.nt.

”I was naturally anxious to know what my orders were,” Mr. Westcote continued, ”and shortly after my arrival here, I broke the seal of Number 1. Then I learned that I was to search for an old man who was living in this country under the name of David Findley. No effort or expense was to be spared. Money would be provided without stint through one of the city banks. When the old man was found he was to be kept in complete ignorance of the fact that I had been searching for him. The hard part was that I should undertake to a.s.sist him in such a way that he should not have the slightest idea that anything was being done on his behalf. There was not to be the least semblance of charity, and whatever was done for him had to appear to be the natural payment for value received. If the old man had any special hobby or scheme, no matter how wild, so long as it was legitimate, I was to undertake to see that it should be carried out, no matter what the expense. If the scheme proved feasible, so much the better, and strict business methods were to be used to make it pay. But if not, the old man's every lawful wish was to be gratified. One of the strict instructions was that he should be induced as soon as possible to make his will. This was to be done in such a way as to arouse no suspicion, but that he should consider it as a matter of business detail, so that his fond scheme, or whatever it might be, would not suffer in case of his death.

”You can readily understand, Miss Sinclair, the magnitude of the undertaking. At first I thought that I had been made the victim of a madman, and was tempted to return to England at once, and have nothing to do with the affair. But the amount of money placed at my disposal in the bank settled all scruples and started me forth upon my strange quest. I even began to enjoy the adventure of the whole thing, and the mystery attached to it lured me on. I searched far and wide for David Findley and at last, owing to an accident to my auto, located him at Creekdale, living as a pauper. By the description given in paper Number 1 I knew that he was the man for whom I had been searching.

After that, matters moved along very smoothly. He had a fond scheme, too, which served my purpose splendidly. He was wrapped up in the idea of converting the water of Break Neck Falls into light and power for the benefit of the entire community. I consulted with the best engineers, and they said the scheme was most feasible, and so we began work. David was paid a sum of money for his plans, which satisfied him, and he was made Honorary President of a company which has never really existed. The money at my disposal made everything easy. You know the rest, and why should I go further into details? It would be unnecessary for me to tell you of the faithful and excellent work of Mr. Randall. He has been of great a.s.sistance to me, and without his aid my task would have been much harder than it has been.”

When Mr. Westcote paused Lois looked enquiringly into his face.

”May I speak now?” she asked. ”I have been very patient, have I not?”

”Indeed you have, Miss Sinclair,” and Mr. Westcote smiled. ”You may ask anything you like.”

”Surely you have not told me all. I thought you had merely begun when you stopped. Who was David Findley, anyway, and what does paper Number 2 contain? I am most curious to know the end of this strange story.”

”Oh, I forgot to tell you a very important thing,” and Mr. Westcote laughed. ”My instructions in paper Number 1 told me not to open Number 2 until after the old man's death. Then I should learn all about him and the mystery of my strange commission would be solved.”

”Do you know yet?” Lois eagerly asked. ”Have you broken the seal?”

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