ll a smile. There were tears in her eyes as she looked at him.

"It's a confounded puritanical prejudice, Peggy," he said in futile
protest, "and you know it."

"You have not seen the letters that came for you this morning. They're
on the table over there," she replied, ignoring him.

He found the letters and resumed his seat in the window, glancing
half-heartedly over the contents of the envelopes. The last was from
Grant & Ripley, attorneys, and even from his abstraction it brought a
surprised "By Jove!" He read it aloud to Margaret.

September 30.

MONTGOMERY BREWSTER, ESQ.,

New York.

Dear Sir:--We are in receipt of a communication from Mr. Swearengen
Jones of Montana, conveying the sad intelligence that your uncle, James
T. Sedgwick, died on the 24th inst. at M-- Hospital in Portland, after
a brief illness. Mr. Jones by this time has qualified in Montana as the
executor of your uncle's will and has retained us as his eastern
representatives. He incloses a copy of the will, in which you are named
as sole heir, with conditions attending. Will you call at our office
this afternoon, if it is convenient? It is important that you know the
contents of the instrument at once.

Respectfully yours,

GRANT & RIPLEY.

For a moment there was only amazement in the air. Then a faint,
bewildered smile appeared in Monty's face, and reflected itself in the
girl's.

"Who is your Uncle James?" she asked.

"I've never heard of him."

"You must go to Grant & Ripley's at once, 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 forgo