CHAPTER XXXII. GEOFLREY FINDS A RELIC, AND MR HUNTRESS MAKES A PLEASING PROPOSITION.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 320, 28 November 1888, Page 6

CHAPTER XXXII. GEOFLREY FINDS A RELIC, AND MR HUNTRESS MAKES A PLEASING PROPOSITION .

(d.oiihhv Hi ntkusr. ai ti\ed in Santa Fe late one evening, and in the midst of a div ins: 'pfcorm, about a week after parting from Jack and Margery Honley. tic was glad to seek shelter in the neatest public-hous-e, which proved to be an adobe, and was kept by a good-natured Spaniard and his wife, both of whom could speak English passably well. Everything' was in the mo^t primitive j -style, yet comfortable, and the hout,e was a most acceptable lciugc from the 1 aging tempest without. Geoffrey slept well, and awo\ce to find a blight, beautiful morning breaking, and all I naturo fresh and attractive in its newly- [ washed attire. Re ate heartily of the savoury breakfast that had been prepared for him, and then started forth in search of the post-office to learn what he could regarding the history I of Lock Box 43. He was somewhat disappointed to find that the po^t-master was a man only about thirty-five years of age, and upon inquiry learned that he had served in that not more than five or six years?. Of course he knew at once that he could tell him nothing that he wished to know, and he began to fear that his journey hithti* had been all For naught. ' Who wtMo postmaster here h< fore you received your appointment ?' ho inquired, after making home general talk about the city. ' Old Abe Brown, sir, and L only hope I may be as lucky as he was ; he held it ior more'n fifteen years.' j Ucoliicy lelt hit* courage rise at this information. If he could only land old Abe Brown, doubtless ho could tell him (something 1 inteiehtinu about Lock Box 43. ' Is he living ?' he asked. ' \ es, sir, and halo and healthy, too," and going to the door, the obliging postmaster pointed out tin lude dwelling which his predecessor occupied. (Jeofirey at once bent his steps chillier and wai soon knocking at Mr Brown'b door. ' Come in,' was the somewhat gruff' but hearty in vital ion, and pushing open the door, which was already ajar, Geoffrey saw an old man of perhaps sixty, seated on a i ude bench, weaving hats trom a bundle of tough grass thao lay bfbide him, while h\h wife, a woman somewhat younger, sat near him sewing bands around and putr ting coarse linings into a pile of finished hat--. k ' Come in, stranger, come in !' repeated the man, as Geoffrey paused upon the threshold ; , ' don't stand on ceremony, 'cause ice cunt, for we've got to get this case of hate off before dinner, and we'll have to work right smart to do it, too. ■Have a chair, sir ; guess, though, you don't 'belong to these paits,' and the old roan gave the younger one a searching glance horn a pair of keen eyes that gleamed beneath his sihucrgy, overhanging brows. ' TSTo, sir, I do not belong Here ; 1 am a stranger,' Geotirey ansueied, as he entered the room and took the chair indicated., ' I was directed hither to make inquiries re*gaiding some circumstances connected \vi4,h ■your services as postmaster several* years ago- . - 'Eh!' ejaculated Mr Brown, in an hsfeonishod tone, and suspending his employment to eye his visitor with an indignant glance, 1 while his wife turned a pale, startled face" to him. . < Geoffrey smiled, 'as .he realised that they imagined he had come in an official capacity. ' My inquiries are of a strictly private nature, and relate to a gentleman foi 1 whom I am .searching,' he explained to relieve their anxiety. ' ' All right ; fire* away then, lad,' teturnod Mr Brown, coolly resuming his work. % I thought if them chaps at Washington had sent anyone down here at (his late day to l'akfc o\'er old coals,- it was mighty queer, for there wasn't a single dis-crip-ancy from 1 the time I -went into the office till 'l came' tout. Old ' Abe Brownus honest if he ain't handsome,' he concluded, with a merry twinkle in his eye. * ' ' '1 do not doubt it, sir,' Geoffrey* replied, with^'r^iet laugh' 1 , ' but' J wished to ask you if youremember a man who hired ' Lock Box 43 ' for several'years' in succession ( dur|i»K.yourteW),, and who 1 Ms*letW«, or at least ibniis of them, directed simply "Hvi'th' that inscription ?' •"«■•'".. •■ «

■. > * t Yes, ,6m-, . I''6Zo,',j'emcm|3ei;*hiiii,- ? ja 4 fcWll, handsome chap, with blue^ eyes, brcnVn "hair, and he had the finest; beard E.ovor'&aw on a -man, the first fcimel sawUiim.;; ho hart il a,ll, (shaved off, though, after ,a while. Jj say, stranger, I reckon he must have been something to you, for I'm blesd'd If s you don't? look like him !' ' ' The man dropped his hal upon his<dibcovery, and leaned forward for a better view of Geoffrey. '<<'o on, if you plea.se,' the- young man said, briefly. ' Well, as I said, I remember him— l don't oflon for wet anybody that I've ever had any dealings with ' Mr Brown resumed, 'He was a gonoious follow, too — had plenty ot money, find scattered it right and left like a prince, it was a curious conceit, though, hU having his letters sent jubfc to the box — some of 'em ; they didn't all come that wov.' 'Mo?' cued' Geoffrey, eageily. 'To whom were they directed ? What was bis name ?' ' Well, now,' H.iid the old man, again laying down hid hat, and scratching hi-j head meditatively. * I shouldn't wonder it you'd *>ct me tVnN time. I'm pretty good at .spotting 1 a face, l>ut when it corner to names and tiguivM — unless somebody happens to be owing me,' — he interposed, v ioh a sly Mnile, ' I don't amount to much. Pcai,-> to me, though, his tn^l name w,'i= William— William—hum ! i d^n't know — William something ; and there waV a general or captain — I cant remember which — tacked on to it besides.' ' Was his hibt name Dale, do \uu think ?' Geofiiey asked. Mr Brown shook his head doubtfully. ' 1 couldn't swear twat, or 'tn^u't,' ],c said. '{Somehow, that don't btiikc me as pounding jusfc natural — I've a notion there was more to it.' 'I am very nnxiou^ to know it, and would 1 be willing to give a great deal to be sure of it. Could you find out in any way what it mi-f the youngavjan inquired, anxiously. 'L don't believe there's a single soul in Santa I^e to-day who was here a*? long ago as that, except my v\iie here. Maria, do you' remember that handsome gentleman who used to have Lock Box 43?' the old man asked, turning fco his wile. ' 1 used to bee him now and then when I helped you in the office, but I've forgotten his name, if I ever heard it,' the woman replied, in a quiet tone. 'But,' she added, a moment later, as if some thought had suddenly oecuircd to her, ♦ didu'c you iind something once that he lost/ ' Lor' ! yes ; so I did ! But J'd nevoi thought ot it again if you hadn't mentioned if, and there's something marked on it, coo. Perhaps that'll tell the young man what he wants to know ' Mr Brown laid' down his work, and, rising, turned toward an ol'l secretary that stood in one corner ot the room But he suddenly stopped, and looked search ingly at Geoffrey. 1 1 hope, it y^u find out \rhat you want to know heie, it ain't fjo'nir to get the gentleman into any tiouble,' he said ; 'he was a £ood friend to me, and T should bate to do him an ill turn." • You need not feir," Geo'hov aiiMveied, thinking it best to deal frankly with theibe honest people ; 'theiuuu was my father — r<t least. I have strong reasons for believing so ; he disappeaicd seves \l years ago, aui my object in coming to you is timply to try, to get f-ome clue that will help me to trace' him ' ' I'm ah aid, sit, you've come to a poor' plnce to find oat very much,' Mr Brown remarked, and apparently satisfied with his visitor's-, explanation. ' ' r ' He proceeded to the secretary, opened one of it-, drawers, and took'an old leather wallet from it. Unstrapping this-, ho laid it open before him, and, after ?eai'chiti^ home time in its various pockets, ho drew forth somethirig wrapped in biown papM. ,>..., n v3Jia i Tins he carried tJ Geoffrey, and laid it in hi* hand. 'There you have it, and it* the best I can do ior you," lie ' ' ~ The young man quickly removed the paper, and lound a portion of a golden charm or emblem -in the totm of a knighttemplars' orot*. - vci y handsomely enamelled and engraven. It had been broken diagonall}' across, the left and lower aims com priting,the portion which the postmaster had found. Geoffrey turned it over and found the name ' William' — all but the last letter — engraved on the back, something after the fashion of the accompanying diagiara. The 'm,' and piooably the surname of the owtiei, was to be found on the other half of the cro&s, wherever that might be. The young man sighed wearily, tor if this was all the information which he was to obtain fiom hi" \ipit to (Santa Fe, he would be as much in the daik as eve] 1 . ' Where did you find this?" he asked at length, tinning to M«" Broun. ' On the floor, just under his box.' ' Was- he in the habit of wearing an emblem of this kind ?' ' Yet-, «ir ; he had a fine one on his watch chain, but it wa-n't like that.' said Mr Brown. ' Then how do you know that he lost this? It might have belonged to someone else.' 'No ; lam Mire it was his, tor I found itjust after he'd been into the office to look alter hit* letters, and there hadn't been anothei houl in the ioam for nigh an hour. I reckon it was one of them things like what ho wore, that had been broken and he tucked it into hid pocket and if. fell out when he took out hi& ll r ey& to unlock his box,' Mr Brown expl-iin^d. 'That might have been the May of it/ Geoffrey thoughtfully. ' I went to «the door to call him back, 1 the old gentleman continued ; * but he'd got out of sight, so 1 put it away thinking I'd give it to him the next time he came, and, if you'll Jbelieve it, I've never set eyes on him "from that day to tine' ' Did he never come agian ?' Geoffrey asked, surprised. ' Yes, twice, though there was a good while between ; but, a? it chanced, i was away both times, and of course the boy I hired to help me and take my place at such times — the same one that's there now — didn't know him. The last visit he made he gave up his keys.' ' How long ago was that ?' ' That must have been as many as fifteen years ago, I should say ; I can't just .remember though,' replied Mr Brown. Geoffrey reasoned that probably his father had visited the, place while on his way back from California, after he had been to make inquiries regarding his own mysterious disappearance, and having despaired of ever gaining any knowledge of him through Lock Box 43, had surrendered his keys. * Did he ever reside here in 'Santa Fe ?' he asked. , - - > f > •' 'I don't, think he did, sir-^-he, always looked as if he came from a,distance, an# he didn't come regular, .eitheV. > I used' to think he was up among the .mines', in "the mountains.' , , " * r % " >\ ' Di,d he receive many" letters through | this office ?' ' '„. - ■; ;;; /•*; ; j • At first he did,Jbuv not. moreen' thrp^' am four the last year or two. and if was

themaasr*jinfcil|fcji%^yore conle for, /f WhefP this country altogefch^r^'^ 1 'la is very strange,' rniisod Geoffrey, us be>^ntftuSing|lsverPnat Utopia piece ,of gold and enamel. ,j 'It ib could bub speakV'he thought, ' all my trouble and search^wpuld be over.' ' Will you sell me this little relic ?' he asked/ a-t'^lasti'sturhing fco t^e ex-post-ma.ster. {i( r - % ,»■£' - ' Bless you ! no/sir. ■Jh» shouldn't bhink of selling ib to^h'riybody f* lput if you're that man's son, as you say, -it's -yours by l'ighb and you can havejb and weltfome." .Geoffrey thanked, the old gentleman beat oily for it a&d his kindness in answering his inquiries, and then arose to take his leave. Ho picked up one of the hats bhab Mrs Brown had juufc completed, asking 1 if she would make him one and have it read* for the time he gob around to Banta Fe again. .She sf.id .she would, and at his request named the price. Geoffrey dropped a 'golden coin into her hand, remarking, with a smile, that she could give him the change- when he came for the hat, or, if he didn't come by the end of feix weeks she would be entitled to the w hoi eof it. He took this way to make these j good people a little present without woundI ing oheir feelings, tor he had no intention I dt ever returning to Santa Fe, j lie was very much depressed by his 1 Uiluro to obtain any definite information regarding his father, and he tonnd ib hard to be reconciled to the fact that' bhe ex-post-nmstei could not remember the name which it wa.s so important he should learn. He abbached very little .significance to the finding of the broken eros&, for it proved nothing-; still he put ib carefully away, lesolving to keep it as a curious relic. But it was destined, insignificant as it seemed, to play an important part in the chain of evidence that was eventually to prove his identity. It was the middle oi September when he reached Saratoga again, where he found Mr and Mrs Huntress and Gladys, all impatient over his long absence and overjoyed at hi& return. They had remained., bhere fat beyond the date they had intended, and they had only waited for his coming to go home. They left immediately and arrived in Brooklyn the twentieth of bhe month, and were till delighted to be beneath their own ' vi.iv arid iig tree ' once more. Wh.Mi Geoffrey told Mr Hunbre&s how J'-uitleSb had be^n his s arch, except for what lie had leai-ned from the Henley, he replied, as he laid his hand affectionately on the young man's shoulder : ' For your .sake, Geofl, lam sorry, for J know that you aie sensitive regarding the subject of your parentage ; but for my part, my boy, I am content, tor I am free to own that 1 should fesl a tiiile jealous of any other man who should claim you and occupy the place of a father towards you.' All this \\r-f very pleasant to Geofttey, but ho knew tluit nothing would ever s-atisry him until he could learn bhe whole .seciet — and he was. now convinced that bhere was a carefully guarded secret legarduig his birth. The week following the return of the | family to Brooklyn. Mr Huntress came j home from hu> office somewhat earlier than usual, and, drawing Geoffrey into the libraiy, he taid : ' Gooff, you have had a good deal to say about business this summer — how would you like to get into something right away?' The young man's face was instantly all aglow. I ' First rate,' he replied, eagerly. ' I don't care how .soon I begin to do .some thing for myself. I've been an idler long enough.' ' 'An idler ' ! good gracious ! Geoff, I wonder what your idea of work ib if you ha\e been idle during the last four years I' exclaimed Mr '.Huntress with elevated I brows. ' Well, I mean that I've been dependent long enough,' Geoffrey corrected. 'Now, my boy, you couldn't hurt me worse' than to talk like that. 1 have been paid a dozen times over, for all you ha^e co&b me, in the pride I've taken- in you,' his friend replied, reproachfully. 'My debt is a heavy one all the same, Uncle August — one that I can never pay — though I shall never cease to be. grateful for your kindness. But about -this business prospect, what is ib V ' Well, you see the firm wants me to go to Europe,' began Mr Huntress, ' to look after some of our interests there, which | have been causing us oorae anxiety of late ; i but I have a perfect horror of the tea, and I can't make up my mind to take the voyage. I No one else can be spared, a">d so, if I cannot get a substitute, I suppose I shall have to screw my courage up to it, somehow. Now any man of ordinary intelligence ran I transact the business- the chief requisites : a;re energy, hone&ty, and interest — and 1 want j'ou to yo in my place, Geoff. Tour business career and your salary shall commence from the moment you «ive me your decision. ' Geoffrey was all enthusiasm ab bhe proposition, most delightful to him both as regarded busine&s and the Euiopean trip, which had always been a coveted pleasure. ' I should like the trip, and, more than all, I should like the busme?s, if you think me competent to transact it,' he said. ' Hero I have been racking my brains all •summer to 'try to think of something to set myself about, and now it comes to me without an effort.-! ' you'll find that it ,\vill require efiort enough before you .get- through," returned ■Mr* Huntress, smilirjg-, ' but it is a great relief fco my" mind to have you willing, fco undertake it. ' The only, drawback, 5 he added, growing serious,,, "is that Glad\s may object to your running off in this unceremonious style, and for Mich a long trip ; it would take? live o"r>six months to do all >wewan-tr done.' Geoffrey's face fell at this. In bhe enthusiasm of -the moment over having some * real business he had not thougnt of this separation, and he knew well enough that Gladys would be very unreconciled to'it.'^" N •'•* ' True,' he began, and then stopped. 1 'Gladys will surely appose it with all "her will,' paid Mr Huntress, observing him closely. Geoffrey made no reply, he was schooling himself' to do his duty. He believed that he had no right to refuse this golden opportunity. 'I wonder,' mused Mr Huntress, a sly smile curling the corners of his mouth, ' how it would do to let Gladys go . with yon ; she has always been sighing for European travel.' 1 Geoffrey sat erect in. his chair, as if suddenly galvanised, and shot a look of astonishment at his companion. • Uncle August ! you know bhab wouldn't do at all, unless — Aunt Alice should accompany us,' he said in confusion. Mr Huntress burst into a hearty laugh. '3 imagine ib could be managed without depriving me" of" my wife, as well as my daughter, 'How Would it do to have that young lady go 'along as— as Mrs Geoffrey Dale Huntress ? ' j i ' '{To be Continued.),,

going to London to fpr a satisfactory trans-