“I found then stuck in the mattress,” he said. “They are papers in reference to the mining shares your father purchased from Randolph Fenton. From what you have told me, I believe Fenton swindled your father. As soon as your father is well enough to be left I would send for that Mr. Gaston and have the matter looked up.”
Matt examined the papers with keen interest. He became satisfied that Andy was right, and determined to act upon his suggestions.
Dr. Zabrinsky was true to his word. He did all that was possible for the sufferer, and between his 306 medical skill and Matt’s watchful care, Mr. Lincoln recovered rapidly. Once in a great while his mind would take on a flighty turn, but Matt was watchful and always calmed him down, and at the end of six months the man whose mind had been so strangely affected was as rational and well as ever.
Long before this time Matt made a trip to New York and called upon Ida Bartlett at her new place of business. They had a long conversation concerning Randolph Fenton and his methods of selling stocks and shares.
At the end of this talk Matt made inquiries concerning Mr. Gaston’s whereabouts. He learned that the former clerk was in Bridgeport, Connecticut, and telegraphed that he wished to see him without delay. On the following Friday morning Mr. Gaston presented himself at the hotel at which Matt was stopping.
The young auctioneer went over his entire story and produced the papers which had been in his father’s possession. He promised Gaston a liberal reward should they succeed in forcing Randolph Fenton to make proper restitution for a transaction that was undoubtedly criminal upon its face.
The old book-keeper at once consented to do what he could. He called in a lawyer of thorough experience, and several affidavits were made out, and a 307 search made for Mr. Lincoln’s rightful shares, for the ones Randolph Fenton had assigned to him had been some of a similar name but of far less value. Then all hands marched down to the broker’s office.
Randolph Fenton was somewhat surprised to see Matt, and he turned slightly pale when Gaston confronted him, accompanied by the lawyer and another man he knew was a private detective.
Without preliminaries, the lawyer explained the object of the visit. As he proceeded the broker grew paler and paler, and he clutched the arms of his chair nervously.
“You—you are mistaken!” he finally gasped out. “That transaction was perfectly legitimate. This is a plot on the part of that man and that boy to ruin my reputation!”