old lawyer, who could say startling things in a level voice.

"He owned gold mines and ranches in the Northwest and there is no
question as to their value. Mr. Jones, in his letter to us,
briefly outlines the history of James Sedgwick from the time he
landed in Montana. He reached there in 1885 from Australia, and he
was worth thirty or forty thousand dollars at the time. Within
five years he was the owner of a huge ranch, and scarcely had
another five years passed before he was part owner of three rich
gold mines. Possessions accumulated rapidly; everything he touched
turned to gold. He was shrewd, careful, and thrifty, and his money
was handled with all the skill of a Wall Street financier. At the
time of his death, in Portland, he did not owe a dollar in the
world. His property is absolutely unencumbered--safe and sound as
a government bond. It's rather overwhelming, isn't it?" the lawyer
concluded, taking note of Brewster's expression.

"And he--he left everything to me?"

"With a proviso."

"Ah!"

"I have a copy of the will. Mr. Ripley and I are the only persons
in New York who at present know its contents. You, I am sure,
after hearing it, will not divulge them without the most careful
deliberation."

Mr. Grant drew the document from a pigeon-hole in his desk,
adjusted his glasses and prepared to read. Then, as though struck