"I hardly know what to do," I replied.
And to tell the truth, my mind was in a whirl of excitement. The unexpected turn of affairs bewildered me.
While we were discussing matters there was a knock on the door, and Mr.
Mason came in.
"What, Foster, back already! I knew you were coming, but did not expect you so soon."
"Did you receive Mr. Ranson"s letter?" I asked.
"Yes; and came to have a talk with Mr. Stillwell. Where is he?"
In a few words I told him what had happened. The lawyer was much surprised.
"This will change things a great deal, especially if your uncle does not recover," he said. "I think we ought to go up to the house and see him."
"But he is very ill----" I began.
"All the more reason we should see him. He may have something to say before his death, if this stroke is fatal."
I could not help but shiver at the words. It seemed awful to me that my uncle should die, at such a time, when he was least prepared!
"I"ll do whatever you think best, Mr. Mason," I replied.
"Then come. We will go at once. Delays are always dangerous."
In a moment more we were on the way. While seated in the Elevated car he asked me to tell him my whole story, and I did so, just as I have written it here.
"Will you let me see that letter from London?" he asked.
I did so. He read it carefully.
"I believe this Nottington is right," he said. "I have found that he is a gentleman in good standing, and that counts for much."
"I wish Mr. Banker had been my guardian from the start," I replied.
When we arrived at my uncle"s home I found that he had been brought in but ten minutes before. The entire household was in a great state of alarm in consequence.
We met my aunt in the lower hall. No sooner did she catch sight of me than she swooped down upon me.
"You are to blame for all this, Luke Foster," she cried in her shrill voice.
"I can"t see how," I replied as calmly as I could.
"You are. You upset him by robbing the safe and then running away."
"I don"t think the boy is guilty, madam," put in Mr. Mason. "We all make mistakes, and----"
"There is no mistake here. If my husband dies this boy will be the sole cause."
And without waiting for a reply Mrs. Stillwell swept by us and up the stairs.
I took Mr. Mason into the parlor, a room that I hardly knew, although I had lived in the house about two years. Presently Gus came down the stairs.
"You here!" he exclaimed. "What brought you? Haven"t you done harm enough?"
"I don"t want to do harm. I thought I might just see your father, and then go away."
"Well, he just asked for you," was Gus"s unexpected reply. "But ma said you weren"t to be let up."
"If he asked I"m going," I said with a sudden determination.
I ran up the stairs at once. At the head I met Mrs. Stillwell.
"Where are you going?" she asked coldly.
"To see Uncle Felix."
"Well, I guess you are not!"
"Gus says he asked for me."
"I don"t care. You shall not see the poor man."
"Excuse me, madam, but I will," I replied, and brushed past her and on to the door of my uncle"s room.
She caught me by the arm.
"You just march downstairs!" she cried.
"Is that Luke?" came a feeble voice from within.
"Yes, Uncle Felix," I hastened to reply.
"Let him come in, dear; I must see him."
With a very bad grace Mrs. Stillwell allowed me to enter. At first she was about to follow, but her husband motioned her away, and she was forced to withdraw.
My uncle lay on the bed. His face was deadly white and awfully haggard.
He held out his hand.
"I"m glad you"ve come, Luke," he said, with something that sounded like a sigh. "The doctor tells me I cannot last long."
"Oh, Uncle Felix!"
"Never mind, it is for the best. I have done wrong, and death is better than public disgrace. Did you come alone?"
"No, sir; Mr. Mason is with me."