Had it not been for his watchful care, I
would long ago have been stripped of all I have been able to accumulate,
and have been in my grave at the hands of Mowbray. But of this latter I
am in constant dread, and I feel such will yet be my fate. If my dead
body is found with marks of violence on it, and my house robbed, it will
have been the work of said Mowbray. Therefore, in the way of a tardy
reward for the loyalty, care, protection, and love given me by my
brother, Frederic Caruthers, I leave to him the bulk of my property,
personal and real, in mining stocks, jewels, money, and the turquoise
beds in New Mexico, as well as the San Fernando Ranch. I especially
charge my brother John Stairs Caruthers to find his brother, and to
defend him and clear his name, should it be necessary, and to put him in
full possession of his property.'"
As the major finished reading he looked at Ted inquiringly.
"Well, what do you make of it?" he asked. "I confess it puzzles me."
"I can see through it. But you have your work cut out for you, major."
"In what way?"
"You will find this fellow Mowbray a hard customer."
"Pshaw! I am not afraid of him."
"Neither am I, for that matter; but it is not he alone that is to be
feared in this matter."
"What do you mean?"
"Just this: Mowbray evidently is an archvillain, but he could not do all
his dirty work alone.
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