"And you----" began Jack.
"I did forgive him. It was hard, but how could I refuse a dying man?"
"You did right," returned the young machinist. "But, oh, Mont, I'm so sorry for you! Did he tell you how it came about?"
"Yes. He used to be my father's clerk, and avarice led him to steal. By some means he imagined my father knew of his doings, and was about to have him arrested. Half crazed by this fear, he went on board my father's yacht one night and cast her adrift while my father was sleeping in the stateroom. The yacht went over the falls, and turned up where we found her."
"And your father?"
"Was found dead in the cabin. He said my uncle suspected him, but as Mr. Felix Gray was trying to rob me of my share of the tool works property, he turned the tables, and threatened not only to expose him, but to implicate him in the murder as well. My uncle has been paying him money for years to keep him quiet, but part of this went to Mosey and Corrigan as 'hush money,' so Pooler said.
"It's a strange story," mused Jack.
"But that isn't all," continued Mont. "Before he died Pooler proved to me that about one-half of his treasure belonged really to you."
"To me!" ejaculated the young machinist, in utter astonishment.
Mont nodded.