The three of us were closeted for fully an hour. What took place will be told hereafter.
At the end of the interview my uncle was very weak. The doctor was called in and he revived him, but it was not for long. He died at sundown.
His funeral, three days later, was a large one, made up, not only of mourners, but also of those who came out of curiosity to see the remains of the man who had lived such a double life.
CHAPTER XXXI.
CONCLUSION.
My uncle's deathbed revelation was a strange one. In brief, it was as follows:
At the time my father and mother were killed he was in a sore financial strait, and needed money to keep himself from failing and losing every dollar he possessed.
He had applied to my father for relief, and my parent was about to grant him considerable assistance when the fatal catastrophe occurred.
Mr. Stillwell had immediately taken a steamer for England, and on arriving there, took entire charge of my father's affairs, though not without some difficulty with the English bankers, who held my father's funds in trust.