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attention to my letters。〃
〃Letters！〃 repeated Tim； opening his eyes。 〃My dear chap； I've had no
letters。〃
〃Addressed as usual to your New York bankers。〃
Tim laughed softly。 〃Where they are； with my last two quarters'
allowance。 I especially instructed them to send me no mail。 One
spends no money in this country。〃 He paused； pulling his moustache。
〃I'm truly sorry you had to come so far；〃 he continued； 〃and if your
business is； as I suspect； the old one of inducing me to return to my dear
uncle's arms； I assure you the mission will prove quite fruitless。 Uncle
Hillary and I could never live in the same county； let alone the same
house。〃
〃And yet your uncle； the Viscount Mar； was very fond of you；〃
ventured Case。 〃Your allowances〃
〃Oh； I grant you his generosity in MONEY affairs〃
〃He has continued that generosity in the terms of his will； and those
terms I am here to communicate to you。〃
〃Uncle Hillary is dead！〃 cried Tim。
〃He passed away the sixteenth of last June。〃
A slight pause ensued。
〃I am ready to hear you；〃 said Tim soberly； at last。
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The barrister stooped and began to fumble with his bag。
〃No； not that！〃 cried Tim； with some impatience。 〃Tell me in your
own words。〃
The lawyer sat back and pressed his finger points together over his
stomach。
〃The late Viscount；〃 said he； 〃has been graciously pleased to leave you
in fee simple his entire estate of Staghurst； together with its buildings；
rentals； and privileges。 This； besides the residential rights； amounts to
some ten thousands pounds sterling per annum。〃
〃A little less than fifty thousand dollars a year； Harry；〃 Tim shot over
his shoulder at me。
〃There is one condition；〃 put in the lawyer。
〃Oh； there is！〃 exclaimed Tim； his crest falling。 〃Well； knowing my
Uncle Hillary〃
〃The condition is not extravagant；〃 the lawyer hastily interposed。 〃It
merely entails continued residence in England； and a minimum of nine
months on the estate。 This provision is absolute； and the estate reverts in
its discontinuance； but may I be permitted to observe that the majority of
men； myself among the number； are content to spend the most of their
lives； not merely in the confines of a kingdom； but between the four walls
of a room； for much less than ten thousand pounds a year。 Also that
England is not without its attractions for an Englishman； and that
Staghurst is a country place of many possibilities。〃
The Honourable Timothy had recovered from his first surprise。
〃And if the conditions are not complied with？〃 he inquired。
〃Then the estate reverts to the heirs at law； and you receive an annuity
of one hundred pounds； payable quarterly。〃
〃May I ask further the reason for this extraordinary condition？〃
〃My distinguished client never informed me；〃 replied the lawyer；
〃but〃and a twinkle appeared in his eye〃as an occasional disburser of
fundsMonte Carlo〃
Tim burst out laughing。
〃Oh； but I recognise Uncle Hillary there！〃 he cried。 〃Well； Mr。 Case； I
am sure Mr。 Johnson； the owner of this ranch； can put you up； and to…
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morrow we'll start back。〃
He returned after a few minutes to find me sitting' smoking a moody
pipe。 I liked Tim； and I was sorry to have him go。 Then； too； I was
ruffled； in the senseless manner of youth； by the sudden altitude to
which his changed fortunes had lifted him。 He stood in the middle of the
room； surveying me； then came across and laid his arm on my shoulder。
〃Well；〃 I growled； without looking up； 〃you're a very rich man now；
Mr。 Clare。〃
At that he jerked me bodily out of my seat and stood me up in the
centre of the room； the Irish blazing out of his eyes。
〃Here； none of that！〃 he snapped。 〃You damn little fool！ Don't you
'Mr。 Clare' me！〃
So in five minutes we were talking it over。 Tim was very much
excited at the prospect。 He knew Staghurst well； and told me all about
the big stone house； and the avenue through the trees； and the hedge…row
roads； and the lawn with its peacocks； and the round green hills； and the
labourers' cottages。
〃It's home；〃 said he； 〃and I didn't realise before how much I wanted to
see it。 And I'll be a man of weight there； Harry； and it'll be mighty good。〃
We made all sorts of plans as to how I was going to visit him just as
soon as I could get together the money for the passage。 He had the
delicacy not to offer to let me have it； and that clinched my trust and love
of him。
The next day he drove away with Tony and the dapper little lawyer。 I
am not ashamed to say that I watched the buckboard until it disappeared in
the mirage。
I was with Buck Johnson all that summer； and the following winter； as
well。 We had our first round…up； found the natural increase much in
excess of the loss by Indians； and extended our holdings up over the Rock
Creek country。 We witnessed the start of many Indian campaigns；
participated in a few little brushes with the Chiricahuas； saw the beginning
of the cattle…rustling。 A man had not much opportunity to think of
anything but what he had right on hand； but I found time for a few
speculations on Tim。 I wondered how he looked now； and what he was
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doing； and how in blazes he managed to get away with fifty thousand a
year。
And then one Sunday in June； while I was lying on my bunk； Tim
pushed open the door and walked in。 I was young； but I'd seen a lot； and
I knew the expression of his face。 So I laid low and said nothing。
In a minute the door opened again； and Buck Johnson himself came in。
〃How do；〃 said he； 〃I saw you ride up。〃
〃How do you do；〃 replied Tim。
〃I