The Man from Brodneys | Page 5

plain words, to the
original owners, their heirs, share and share alike, all of which was set
forth concisely in a separate document attached. Wyckholme named Sir
John Allencrombie as one executor and Skaggs selected Alfred Bowen,
of Boston, as the other.
As Wyckholme was the first to die, Skaggs became sole owner of the
island and its treasures, and it was he who made the final will in
accordance with the original plans.
The island of Japat with its jewels and its ancient château--of modern
construction--represented several million pounds sterling. Its owners
had accumulated a vast fortune, but, living in seclusion as they did,
were hard put for means to spend any considerable part of it.
Wyckholme's dream of erecting an exact replica of a famous old
château found response in the equally whimsical Skaggs, who
constantly bemoaned the fact that it was impossible to spend money.
For five years after its completion the two old men, with an army of
Arabian retainers and Nubian slaves, lived like Oriental potentates in
the huge structure on the highlands overlooking the sea.
Skaggs seldom went from one part of his home to another without a
guide. It was so vast and so labyrinthine that he feared he might
become lost forever. The dungeon below the château, and the moat
with its bridges, were the especial delight of these lonely, romantic old
chaps. One of the builders of this rare pile was now sleeping peacefully
in the sarcophagus beneath the chapel; the other was lying dead and
undiscovered in the very heart of his possessions. Their executors were
sourly wondering whether the two venerable testators were not even
then grinning from those far-away sepulchres in contemplation of the
first feud their unprimitive castle was to know.
The magnificent plans of the partners would have been a glorious
tribute to romance had it not been for one fatal obstacle. The trouble
was that neither young Miss Ruthven nor young Mr. Browne knew that

their grandfathers lived, much less that they owned an island in the
South Seas. Therefore it is quite natural that they could not have known
they were expected to marry each other. In complete but blissful
ignorance that the other existed, the young legatees fell in love with
persons unmentioned in the will and performed the highly
commendable but exceedingly complicating act of matrimony. This
emergency, it is humane to suspect, had not revealed itself to either of
the grandfathers.
Miss Ruthven, from motives peculiar to the head and not to the heart,
set about to earn a title for herself. Three months before the death of Mr.
Skaggs she was married to Lord Deppingham, who possessed a title
and a country place that rightfully belonged to his creditors. Mr.
Browne, just out of college, hung out his shingle as a physician and
surgeon, and forthwith, with all the confidence his profession is
supposed to inspire, proceeded to marry the daughter of a brokerage
banker in Boston and at once found himself struggling with the
difficulties of Back Bay society.
A clause in the will, letter of instruction attached, demanded that the
two grandchildren should take up their residence in the château within
six months after the death of the testator, there to remain through the
compulsory days of courtship up to and including the wedding day.
Four months had already passed. It was also stipulated that the
executors should receive £10,000 each at the expiration of their year of
servitude, provided it was shown in court that they had carried out the
wishes of the testator, or, in failing, had made the most diligent effort
within human power.
"It is very explicit," murmured Mr. Hare, for the third time. "I suppose
the first step is to notify young Mr. Browne of his misfortune. His
lordship has the task of breaking the news to Lady Deppingham."
"You are assuming that I intend to act under this ridiculous will."
"Certainly. It means about $50,000 to you at the end of the year, with
nothing to do but to notify two persons of the terms in the will. If
they're not divorced and married again at the end of the year, you and

Sir John simply turn everything over to the Malays or whatever they
are. It's something like 'dust to dust,' isn't it, after all? I think it's easy
sledding for you."
Mr. Bowen was eventually won over by Mr. Hare's enthusiasm.
"Notifications" took wing and flew to different parts of the world,
while many lawyers hovered like vultures to snatch at the bones should
a war at law ensue.
Young Mr. Browne (he was hardly a doctor even in name) hastened
downtown in response to a message from the American executor, and
was told of the will which had been filed in