Two Boys and a Fortune | Page 7

silence they ate the broth which the housekeeper placed before them.
Then when she had gone out Sydney said:
"You know how much Mr. Tyler is worth, Roy, do you?"
"He told me something like $500,000. I didn't know whether to believe
it or not That's a great sum of money, Sydney. I feel awfully queer
about the whole thing. Does it seem all right to you that he should leave
it all to mother just because of the little thing I did for him this
afternoon? I don't want to seem to feel that she oughtn't to have it. But
the whole thing seems so odd."
"Not nearly so queer as a great many wills that are made every day,"

rejoined Sydney. "But don't worry over it, Roy," he added with a laugh.
"You look as if you had been convicted of some crime. Remember you
haven't got the money yet, and may not have it for a great many years
to come."
"It isn't my money, Syd. It's to be left to mother."
"Well, if it hadn't been for you she wouldn't have it. But by the way,
you had better get home as soon as you can. I think mother is inclined
to worry about you from what Jess said. I can stay with the old man as
long as it is necessary."
"And I shan't say anything about that will, Syd. I'd rather you wouldn't
either, just yet."
"No, it is best to keep it as quiet as we can. It seems strange that the old
man should have talked so freely about it as he did."
The meal was soon finished, and the two starting to enter the bedroom,
met the doctor in the doorway.
"He's in a bad way," he whispered to Sydney. "I shall come back again
this evening. Come, Roy, are you going down? I'll take you along with
me in the carriage."
"Yes, you'd better go, Roy," urged Sydney. "You look worn out. Tell
mother I'll stay here as long as I'm wanted."
"Good-by, Mr. Tyler," said Roy, stepping into the bedroom and
extending his hand to the old man.
"Good-by, Roy Pell. You have made me think better of my kind to-day.
In fact I think you have made a changed man of me. Would you--
would you mind coming up to see me to-morrow?"
"No, of course I wouldn't mind. I'll come. I hope you'll be better in the
morning. Good-night," and Roy went off with the doctor.
"Well, Roy," said the latter, as they drove away, "you are to be

congratulated. You have brought your family into a nice little
inheritance if all our miserly old friend says is true."
"Perhaps it isn't," returned Roy, "so please don't congratulate me or say
anything about it just yet."
Roy was so tired when he got home that he did not give very spirited
answers to the questions his family showered upon him. He went to bed
very shortly and was asleep before Rex came to take his place beside
him.
All in the household were locked in slumber when Sydney let himself
in with his key about eleven. He did not retire. He went into the library,
got out some law books, and sitting down at the table, appeared as if
about to do some work. But he did not pick up the pen. He sat there, his
head sunk on his chest, with a look of misery on his face that was
pitiable to see.
CHAPTER IV
THE TWIN BROTHERS
The Pells breakfasted early so that Sydney might catch the 7:30 express
for the city. On the morning following the events narrated in the
preceding chapter the entire family were gathered at the table with the
exception of Rex, who was invariably late, and Sydney himself.
"It's very strange," remarked Mrs. Pell "He is always on time. He can
barely catch his train now. I wish you, Roy, would run up to his room
and see what is the matter. He may be ill."
Roy soon ascended the two flights of stairs to the apartment with the
dormer window that had always been Syd's. The door was open and the
room was empty. The bed had been slept in, but the suit Syd had worn
the day before was not about. He had evidently dressed and gone.
"I wonder if he can be up at Mr. Tyler's?" thought Roy.

He returned to the dining room with his report.
"It is very odd," remarked Mrs. Pell. "It is not like Sydney to go off in
that way, but he will explain when he comes home to-night. He may
have been obliged to go to town at seven on business for Mr. Tyler."
"That's so; what did the old gentleman want with Syd,"