crazy over the girl; and, to be honest, for
Phil's a likable young fellow, the girl was awfully in love with him.
Baronet's had her come clear out here to visit them. But, you'll excuse
me for saying it, Judge, Phil is a little fast. He got tangled up with a
girl of shady reputation here, and Rachel broke off the match. Now, last
October the Judge goes East. You see, he's well fixed, but that nice
little sum looks big to him, and he's bound Phil shall have it, wife or
no wife. But there's a good many turns in law. While Baronet was at
Rockport before I could get there, being detained at Washington" (my
father smiled a faint little gleam of a smile in his eyes more than on
his lip)--"before I could get to Rockport, Mr. Melrose dies, leaving his
wife and Rachel alone in the world. Now, I'm retained here as their
attorney. Tillhurst is going on to see to things for me. It's only a few
thousand that Baronet is after, but it's all Rachel and her mother have.
The Melroses weren't near as rich as the people thought. That will of
Ferdinand's won't hold water, not even salt water. It'll go to pieces in
court, but it'll show this pious Judge, who calls his neighbors to
account, what kind of a man he is. The money's been tied up in some
investments and it will soon be released."

Le Claire looked anxiously toward my father, whose face for the first
time that day was pale. Rising he opened his cabinet of private papers
and selected a legal document.

"This seems to be the day for digging up records," he said in a low
voice. "Here is one that may interest you and save time and money. What
Mapleson says about Ferdinand Melrose is true. We'll pass by the motives
I had in sending Phil East, and some other statements. When I became
convinced that love played no part in Phil's mind toward Rachel Melrose,
I met him in Topeka in October and gave him the opportunity of signing a
relinquishment to all claims on the estate of Ferdinand Melrose. Phil
didn't care for the girl; and as to the money gotten in that way" (my
father drew himself up to his full height), "the oxygen of Kansas breeds
a class of men out here who can make an honest fortune in spite of any
inheritance, or the lack of it. I put my boy in that class."

I was his only child, and a father may be pardoned for being proud of
his own.

"When I reached Rockport," he continued, "Mr. Melrose was ill. I hurried
to him with my message, and it may be his last hours were more peacefu