I had heard nothing from Mr. Gracewood since my arrival in St. Louis. He had in his possession all the moneyed property which had come to me from the estate of Matt Rockwood. I had placed no little dependence upon the fifteen hundred in gold, which I regarded as my inheritance; and now an heir appeared, who certainly had a better legal claim than I had.
"Nine hundred dollars!" exclaimed Morgan Blair again, and with as much satisfaction as though this large sum was already in his own hands.
"And after his death we sold off wood and produce enough to amount to over seven hundred dollars more."
"Better and better," added Blair. "Go on, Phil; perhaps you can make it up to two thousand."
"I can't very easily make it any more," I replied.
"Well, I'm satisfied as it is. Now, can you tell me where this money is?"
"A friend of mine has fifteen hundred dollars in gold, and I have his note for it."
"Exactly so; and perhaps you won't object to handing the note over to me, and telling me where I can find your friend."
"I must say that I do object."
"You do?"