unsaid it is past our
comprehension. I am sorry to inform you, though, that he has paid the
telegraph charges," said Mr. Grant, smiling broadly.

"Is he rational about it?" asked Montgomery, nervously.

Mr. Grant gave his partner a quick, significant glance, and then drew
from his desk the voluminous telegram from Swearengen Jones. It was as
follows:

October 2.

GRANT & RIPLEY,

Yucatan Building, New York.

I am to be sole referee in this matter. You are retained as my agents,
heir to report to me through you weekly. One desire of uncle was to
forestall grandfather's bequest. I shall respect that desire. Enforce
terms rigidly. He was my best friend and trusted me with disposition of
all this money. Shall attend to it sacredly. Heir must get rid of money
left to him in given time. Out of respect to memory of uncle he must
take no one into his confidence. Don't want world to think S. was
damned fool. He wasn't. Here are rules I want him to work under: 1. No
reckless gambling. 2. No idiotic Board of Trade speculation. 3. No
endowments to institutions of any character, because their memory would
be an invisible asset. 4. No indiscriminate giving away of funds. By
that I don't mean him to be stingy. I hate a stingy man and so did
J.T.S. 5. No more than ordinary dissipation. I hate a saint. So did
J.T.S. And both of us sowed an oat or two. 6. No excessive donations to
charity. If he gives as other millionaires do I'll let it go at that.
Don't believe charity should be spoiled by indulgence. It is not easy
to spend a million, and I won't be unreasonable with him. Let him spend
it freely, but not foolishly, and get his money's worth out of it. If
he does that I'll consider him a good business man. I regard it foolish
to tip waiter more than a dollar and car porter does not deserve over
five. He does not earn more than one. If heir wants to try for the big
stake he'd better begin quick, because he might slip up if he waits
until day of judgment. It's less than year off. Luck to him. Will write
you more fully.

S. JONES.

"Write more fully!" echoed Montgomery. "What can there be left to write
about?"

"He is explicit," said the attorney, "but it is best to know all the
conditions before you decide. Have you made up your mind?"

Brewster sat for a long time, staring hard at the floor. A great
struggle was going on in his mind.

"It's a gamble, and a big one," he said at last, squaring his
shoulders, "but I'll