“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: