“Had you any suspicion that your son was stolen?” asked Robert.
“Yes. In particular I suspected a cousin who would be my probable heir in case my boy died. But I could never prove anything, and the man expressed so much sympathy that I was ashamed to avow any suspicions. But Charles Waldo was a covetous man, insatiable in his greed of money and absolutely cold and unsympathetic, though his manner was plausible. He hoped that this second blow would kill me, but he has been disappointed.”
“If the boy is living, perhaps he knows where he is,” said Robert.
“If he abducted him—yes. He would not kill him, for he is too cautious a man and has too great fear of the law.”
“Where is Mr. Waldo now living?”
“In Ohio. He has a large farm and a moderate amount of money invested—some twenty thousand dollars perhaps—so that he is able to live at ease. He was disappointed because I would not give him the charge of my property, but with the lingering suspicion in my mind I could not make up my mind to do it. He also sought a loan of ten thousand dollars, which I refused.”
“How then does he expect to be your heir?” asked Robert.
“Two-thirds of my property is entailed and must be left to him if my boy is dead.”
“If he really stole your son, he must be a wicked man,” said Robert with boyish indignation at the thought.
“Yes, for he has wrecked two lives—mine and my boy’s.”