CHAPTER XIX

WHAT UNCLE JIM KNEW

“Of course you are, Frank! Don’t I know what an interest you’ve taken in this affair?”

Ralph looked into the face of his friend as he spoke, and there was sincere affection in his expression.

“But tell me what happened, for I’m just wild to know, Ralph.”

The other had looked around several times while they walked away from the field that had so lately been the arena for that fiercely-fought battle of the bats.

“There’s some one following us, Frank,” he said, uneasily.

“Oh! come, you’re nervous after all this strain, and imagining things. I guess it’s only some fellow who happens to want to go the same way we do.”

But when Frank had turned his head, to the surprise of his comrade he gave vent to an exclamation.

“Well, I declare if I don’t believe it is him!” he ejaculated, and his face took on an expression of pleasure.

“Who is it?” asked Ralph, eagerly.

“Why, who but my uncle Jim!” was the reply.

Ralph went a little white. Really things were happening very rapidly, once they had taken a start. He observed with deepest interest the big man who was breathing hard as he managed to overtake them; and Ralph took especial note of the fact that he seemed to have a very genial face.

“Hello! there, Frank; I thought it was you; but you boys walk so fast I had more or less trouble in overtaking you, and as to getting through that crowd to speak to you on the field, it was utterly impossible! How are you, my boy?” and the big man from New York held out his hand to his nephew.

“Glad to see you, Uncle Jim. And it’s plain that you are just as fond of baseball as ever. Sorry you saw Columbia go down in defeat, though,” said Frank.

“Oh! that comes to every club sooner or later; and in this case it was one of those accidents that can never be avoided. I saw the last few innings, and that triple play took my breath away. I give you my word that contest was the equal of any I’ve seen this year among the big leagues. And isn’t this the game little pitcher who held them down so well?” with a curious glance at Frank’s companion.

“Sure it is, and he would have won his game only for that streak of tough luck. Uncle Jim, let me introduce to you my friend, Ralph West!”

The lawyer started and looked closer than ever at the second boy.

“Glad to meet you, Ralph. And, to tell the honest truth, it was to see you that I’ve journeyed up here just at a very busy time in my practice.”

He still kept his eyes fastened on the face of the boy, which of course he could see had gone white.

“I’m glad to meet you, sir; and it’s mighty nice for you to say such kind things about my work. I’m green at it yet, but hope to do better after more practice,” Ralph managed to say.

“No doubt of that, not a bit. You’ve got all the earmarks of a ‘comer’ in that line. But, Ralph, I wish I were bringing you better news than I am able to. I’ve been convinced by my brother that it is only right to tell what little I know in connection with that money, regardless of my promise. I’m only sorry I happen to know so little, that’s all. But it may start you along the right road.”

“Thank you, sir. Every little must help. I’ve been fortunate enough to-day to meet a man who seems to know something about the mystery of my life; and he’s promised to tell me all this very night. So that good luck seems to be swinging around my way just now.”

“Yes, Ralph seems to have been able to have done this man a great favor. As near as I can make out he found a little child in the woods with her hand crushed. She was crying bitterly. Ralph was on his way by a roundabout route to the ball-grounds when this happened; yet he carried that child a long distance to her father. And it seems that the man recognized Ralph, or on hearing his name, I don’t know which, only that he promised to tell him something to-night,” remarked Frank, eagerly.

“Fine! couldn’t be better all around,” said the lawyer, enthusiastically. “I see that to have been of any assistance I should have turned up earlier. But I had some very important cases on the docket; and was not quite sure that I ought to break my word until I received an urgent letter from Frank’s father here. I can tell you just what I know in a very few words, if you want me to, Ralph?”

“I am wild to hear, sir, and was just wondering how I could hold out several hours until night came along. Please start right now, Judge Allen!” exclaimed the boy.

“Well, I am a man of very few words, which you will admit is singular in a member of the legal profession. The facts in the case are these: Last summer there walked into my office a gentleman whose card I have here with me.”

Ralph glanced at the bit of pasteboard, and was strangely thrilled to read the name “Arnold Gregory Musgrove.”

“Musgrove!” he repeated to himself several times, as though it seemed to find a singular response somewhere in the cells of his brain. Oh! could it be possible that his name was the same as that of the mysterious gentleman?

The keen-eyed lawyer knew instinctively what must be passing in his young mind, for he shook his head seriously.

“It may be just possible, Ralph, but until you hear what this other party has to say I wouldn’t build up too many hopes in that direction. What I have to tell you will not put you in possession of the positive facts. But to resume. This gentleman first of all asked me if, in the line of my business, I would undertake a little charitable work for him, and I, of course, said I was there for any position of trust connected with estates or otherwise; for you know, Frank, that much of my income consists of remuneration received from the care of property, as I am what is called an estate lawyer.

“Well, he told me that he had had a dear friend who had died in abject poverty years back, and left a boy who had been taken to the poorhouse away up in the country. The truth had only come to him of late, and he wanted to do something for that lad, but secretly, so that his name might never be known in connection with the matter.”

Ralph gripped the hand of Frank convulsively at hearing this; but he did not utter one word, only kept his glowing eyes fixed upon the lawyer’s sympathetic face.

“Upon investigating he had found that the lad had been taken into their home by a couple named West, living in the village of Scardale. He also seemed to know that the boy was keenly desirous of securing an education, from which he was now debarred by the lack of means of his supposed parents.

“And so after binding me to secrecy he explained his plan of action. I was to act as his intermediary, sending a stated sum the first of every month, and never letting a single hint fall as to whence it came. Sitting there at my typewriter, Mr. Musgrove himself wrote those few lines accompanying the first remittance. And I have never seen him since that day, though I learned he was in Europe traveling with a widowed sister.”

Ralph sighed heavily.

“I wonder if it can be true? And if it is, why shouldn’t he want to tell me just who my father and father were? If I could only meet him face to face I would ask him that, and expect an answer,” he said, slowly.

“Well,” said the lawyer, with a little laugh, “from what I saw of this Musgrove I’m afraid you wouldn’t meet with great success. I didn’t wholly like his looks. There was something shifty in his eye, although he was rather a handsome gentleman, and evidently accustomed to the best in the land.”

Frank spoke up just then.

“I can guess that you’ve been considering the whole strange affair since you got my letter, Uncle, and have arrived at some sort of conclusion yourself. Won’t you tell us what you suspect, please?” he said, urgently.

“That’s a hard thing to put up to a lawyer, accustomed to dealing only in stern facts, and eliminating fiction from his figuring. But since meeting Ralph here I’ve made up my mind to turn to his side of the case. In fact, before coming up I wrote to the address Mr. Musgrove left me, informing him that I must throw up his affairs, since business was too pressing. That leaves me free-handed; and I can assist your young friend, Frank, without stultifying myself.”

“I knew you would, Uncle Jim. And now tell us what you think!” cried Frank.

“Just this: I have a suspicion that Mr. Arnold Musgrove may have had a hand in some business in the past that would not bear inspection. In other words, that he was responsible for that boy being left at the door of the poorhouse! That is a bold assertion to make, without positive proof, and I would hardly like to stand sponsor for it in court; but I am only telling you this in secret.”

“Yes, go on, please,” said Frank, throwing an arm again around Ralph’s shoulders, for he knew the other was trembling violently with emotion.

“And as the years rolled on he must have kept informed about what happened, for he knew all about how Ralph had been adopted by the Wests; yes, even to his ambition for an education. I imagine the man’s conscience has begun to reproach him as he grows older; and that it has finally forced him to do something to compensate in a small way for his action!”

After the lawyer had ceased talking there was silence for a full minute, broken finally by Frank, saying:

“Well, perhaps he may know it all to-night. I’ve got my suspicions already, but I’m not going to say anything yet. But I tell you I won’t sleep a wink to-night until I’ve heard what Ralph has to report. By the way, did you ever find out what the name of Mr. Musgrove’s widowed sister was?”

“Yes, I had that much curiosity. It is Mrs. John Langworthy, and her husband was a very smart and wealthy lawyer years ago,” replied Uncle Jim, with a knowing smile.

“H’m; Langworthy, eh?” and Frank looked meaningly at Ralph, as he echoed the name.