Brewsters Millions | Page 7

of course."
"Have you forgotten, Peggy," he replied, with a hint of vexation in his
voice, "that we are to read 'Oliver Optic' this afternoon?"

CHAPTER IV
A SECOND
"You are both fortunate and unfortunate, Mr. Brewster," said Mr. Grant,
after the young man had dropped into a chair in the office of Grant &
Ripley the next day. Montgomery wore a slightly bored expression, and
it was evident that he took little interest in the will of James T.
Sedgwick. From far back in the recesses of memory he now recalled
this long-lost brother of his mother. As a very small child he had seen
his Uncle James upon the few occasions which brought him to the
home of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Brewster. But the young man had dined
at the Drews the night before and Barbara had had more charm for him
than usual. It was of her that he was thinking when he walked into the
office of Swearengen Jones's lawyers.
"The truth is, Mr. Grant, I'd completely forgotten the existence of an
uncle," he responded.
"It is not surprising," said Mr. Grant, genially. "Every one who knew
him in New York nineteen or twenty years ago believed him to be dead.
He left the city when you were a very small lad, going to Australia, I
think. He was off to seek his fortune, and he needed it pretty badly
when he started out. This letter from Mr. Jones comes like a message
from the dead. Were it not that we have known Mr. Jones for a long
time, handling affairs of considerable importance for him, I should feel
inclined to doubt the whole story. It seems that your uncle turned up in
Montana about fifteen years ago and there formed a stanch friendship
with old Swearengen Jones, one of the richest men in the far West.
Sedgwick's will was signed on the day of his death, September 24th,
and it was quite natural that Mr. Jones should be named as his executor.
That is how we became interested in the matter, Mr. Brewster."
"I see," said Montgomery, somewhat puzzled. "But why do you say
that I am both fortunate and unfortunate?"
"The situation is so remarkable that you'll consider that a mild way of
putting it when you've heard everything. I think you were told, in our

note of yesterday, that you are the sole heir. Well, it may surprise you
to learn that James Sedgwick died possessed of an estate valued at
almost seven million dollars."
Montgomery Brewster sat like one petrified, staring blankly at the 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 by a sudden
thought, he laid the paper down and turned once more to Brewster.
"It seems that Sedgwick never married. Your mother was his sister and
his only known relative of close connection. He was a man of most
peculiar temperament, but in full possession of all mental faculties.

You may find this will to be a strange document, but I think Mr. Jones,
the executor, explains any mystery that may be suggested by its terms.
While Sedgwick's whereabouts were unknown to his old friends in
New York, it seems that he was fully posted on all that was going on
here. He knew that you were the only child of your mother and
therefore his only nephew. He sets forth the dates of your mother's
marriage, of your birth,