The Gerrard Street Mystery and Other Weird Tales | Page 4

my
uncle's retirement I had engaged in one or two little speculations on my
own account, which had turned out fairly successful, but I had not
devoted myself to any regular or fixed pursuit. Before any definite
arrangements had been concluded as to the course of my future life, a
circumstance occurred which seemed to open a way for me to turn to
good account such mercantile talent as I possessed. An old friend of my
uncle's opportunely arrived in Toronto from Melbourne, Australia,
where, in the course of a few years, he had risen from the position of a
junior clerk to that of senior partner in a prominent commercial house.
He painted the land of his adoption in glowing colours, and assured my
uncle and myself that it presented an inviting field for a young man of
energy and business capacity, more especially if he had a small capital
at his command. The matter was carefully debated in our domestic
circle. I was naturally averse to a separation from Alice, but my

imagination took fire at Mr. Redpath's glowing account of his own
splendid success. I pictured myself returning to Canada after an
absence of four or five years with a mountain of gold at my command,
as the result of my own energy and acuteness. In imagination, I saw
myself settled down with Alice in a palatial mansion on Jarvis Street,
and living in affluence all the rest of my days. My uncle bade me
consult my own judgment in the matter, but rather encouraged the idea
than otherwise. He offered to advance me L500, and I had about half
that sum as the result of my own speculations. Mr. Redpath, who was
just about returning to Melbourne, promised to aid me to the extent of
his power with his local knowledge and advice. In less than a fortnight
from that time he and I were on our way to the other side of the globe.
We reached our destination early in the month of September, 1857. My
life in Australia has no direct bearing upon the course of events to be
related, and may be passed over in a very few words. I engaged in
various enterprises, and achieved a certain measure of success. If none
of my ventures proved eminently prosperous, I at least met with no
serious disasters. At the end of four years--that is to say, in September,
1861--I made up my account with the world, and found I was worth ten
thousand dollars. I had, however, become terribly homesick, and
longed for the termination of my voluntary exile. I had, of course, kept
up a regular correspondence with Alice and Uncle Richard, and of late
they had both pressed me to return home. "You have enough," wrote
my uncle, "to give you a start in Toronto, and I see no reason why
Alice and you should keep apart any longer. You will have no
housekeeping expenses, for I intend you to live with me. I am getting
old, and shall be glad of your companionship in my declining years.
You will have a comfortable home while I live, and when I die you will
get all I have between you. Write as soon as you receive this, and let us
know how soon you can be here,--the sooner the better."
The letter containing this pressing invitation found me in a mood very
much disposed to accept it. The only enterprise I had on hand which
would be likely to delay me was a transaction in wool, which, as I
believed, would be closed by the end of January or the beginning of
February. By the first of March I should certainly be in a condition to

start on my homeward voyage, and I determined that my departure
should take place about that time. I wrote both to Alice and my uncle,
apprising them of my intention, and announcing my expectation to
reach Toronto not later than the middle of May.
The letters so written were posted on the 19th of September, in time for
the mail which left on the following day. On the 27th, to my huge
surprise and gratification, the wool transaction referred to was
unexpectedly concluded, and I was at liberty, if so disposed, to start for
home by the next fast mail steamer, the Southern Cross, leaving
Melbourne on the 11th of October. I was so disposed, and made my
preparations accordingly. It was useless, I reflected, to write to my
uncle or to Alice, acquainting them with the change in my plans, for I
should take the shortest route home, and should probably be in Toronto
as soon as a letter could get there. I resolved to telegraph from New
York, upon my arrival there, so as not to