Two Boys and a Fortune Part 42

"Only pretty fair, eh?" went on the other. "Keep at it, though. You're bound to win some time, as I have. Look here."

He put his hand in the side pocket of his coat and drew forth a great ma.s.s of chips, all covered with gilt paper.

A look of agony was on Miles's face. It was almost worse than finding no father at all, to find such a one as this.

"Don't you want to take my rod and fish a while, sir?" he said, feeling that it would be impossible for him to longer sit still.

"Thank you; you are very kind. I might take a single flyer."

Mr. Darley stepped around to take Miles's seat, but as the other rose they were face to face, and very close to each other for an instant.

Mr. Darley put out both hands and grasped the boy by the shoulders.

"What is your name?" he said in a tone that was quite different from the one in which he had hitherto spoken. It was much more decided, and firmer.

"Miles," answered the other, trying his best to keep his excitement down.

He could see Mrs. Fox standing just behind his father, her hands clasped together in an agony of suspense.

"Miles, eh! Well, you look as if your name ought to be Maurice. Great Caesar! doesn't he look like me, Mrs. Fox?"

He wheeled around so suddenly that the poor old lady was taken quite unawares. She dropped her hands quickly to her sides and had not a word to say.

"Don't he look like me?" Mr. Darley now appealed to Sydney, who managed to stammer out: "I certainly see a strong resemblance, sir."

"What is your last name, young man?" went on the other.

Miles hesitated an instant. He was about to say Darley, but some happy instinct prompted him to subst.i.tute "Morrisey."

Mr. Darley started.

"Morrisey, you say?" he exclaimed.

A swift change pa.s.sed over his features. He had dropped his hand from Miles's shoulders, but now reached forth and caught him by the arm.

"Come with me," he said quietly, and led him into the back room.

The others looked at one another without speaking. No one thought of the game. The fish lines, tangled up, were lying in the pasteboard pond.

Mrs. Fox had sunk down on the sofa, her head covered with her ap.r.o.n.

From the inner room came the subdued sound of voices.

"Do you suppose he has recognized him?" It was Rex who at length broke the silence, and he spoke in an awed whisper.

n.o.body made any reply, for footsteps were heard approaching from the rear. It was Miles. His face was handsomer than Rex had ever seen it.

It was lighted up with joy.

He came straight to Rex and put a hand on his shoulder, while he leaned over till his chin rested on the other's head.

"I want to tell you first, Rex," he said, "who have been the means of bringing me to this happiness. He knows me. His mind has come back to him. He called me Maurice, and he remembers giving me to the Morriseys to take care of for a while. Then his brain went back on him, and he thought I was dead."

"Where is he?" asked Rex.

"Lying down on the bed. He is utterly exhausted. I must go back to him now," and Miles hurried off again.

CHAPTER x.x.xIV

REX RISES TO THE OCCASION

"It's wonderful. I never heard anything like it." This was Mrs. Fox's exclamation when the four were left alone in the front room again.

"All the credit belongs to you, Mr. Pell," she went on, turning to Sydney. "It was you thought of this way of doing things."

"Oh, he might have recognized him any other way just as quickly,"

returned Sydney. "And now some one must tell him about Mr. Tyler's legacy," he added. "I want to get that off my mind."

"I guess he can't stand that to-night, Mr. Pell," returned the old lady. "You'd better leave it till tomorrow. I'll keep Miles here with him to-night-- there's room-- and then they can both go to see you to-morrow."

"Yes, that will be the best way," Sydney agreed. "But I had hoped to get it off my mind by this time. Come, boys."

"I trust I shall see you both again," said Mrs. Fox, as she shook hands with the twins.

Then the three Pells went out and homeward. It was only nine o'clock.

"Mother ought to know, don't you think so, Syd?" said Roy.

"Yes, she must know to-night. But I don't see how I can tell her. I don't see how I can. She trusts me so fully."

"Then let me tell her," suggested Roy.

"No, no. I must confess myself. I shall do it now as soon as we get home. Then I can be ready to put myself in Mr. Darley's hands to-morrow."

"Do you think he will-- will--" Rex began and came to a sudden stop.

"Send me to jail?" Syd finished for him. "He may. He has a right to do it. I deserve to go. Oh, boys, I wonder how you can bear to be with me."

"You did it for our sakes, Syd," responded Roy.

But Rex said nothing.

When they reached the house they found Eva and Jess in the parlor, entertaining company.

"Come in, boys," Eva called as they pa.s.sed the door.

Roy and Rex obeyed the summons, leaving Sydney to go up to Mrs. Pell in the library.

They found Mr. Keeler to be the caller. Rex started when he saw who it was.

"Why, where is Miles?" asked Jess.