daughter had married a London artist named Ruthven. The Ruthvens in turn had one child, a daughter. Wyckholme's wife and his daughter died when this grandchild was eight or ten year

e property to him, but it was definitely set forth that at the death of hi

ad left behind a son and heir. This son, Robert Browne, was in school when the joint will was desi

ar after the death of the surviving partner. The penalty to be imposed upon them if the conditions were not complied with-neither to be excusable for the defection of the other-lay in the provision that the whole industry and its accumulated fortune, including the land (and they owned practically the e

ner of the island and its treasures, and it was he who m

put for means to spend any considerable part of it. Wyckholme's dream of erecting an exact replica of a famous old chateau found response in the equally whimsical Skaggs, who constantly bemoaned the fact that it was imp

e 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 o

uch 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 legate

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

o 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 th

pose the first step is to notify young Mr. Browne of his misfortune.

I intend to act under

n 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

ns" took wing and flew to different parts of the world, while many lawye

he will which had been filed in England, the home land of the testator. To say that this debonair, good-looking young gentleman was flabbergast

can I do, Mr. Bowen?"

rney," advised M

ime halfback on his college eleven. "Break

it, Bobby. I'

est will-breaker you know, please? S

the situation. Now if you

slands in the universe. That's settled. Y

ost delightful one. Your co-legatee also possesses a block, perhaps not so delicate, but I daresay she feels the same about hers as you do about yours.

the K---- building. Two minutes afterward he was laying the ca

at from the chaff of Browne's remarks. "You can't take hers away from her and she

ind him at home a miserable young woman with red eyes and choking breath

er, but she wondered all afternoon if he really meant it. It never entered her head to wonder if Lady Deppingham was old or young, pretty or ugly

the will in his hand. He l

rock of Gibraltar,"

brow, his six feet of manhood shrinking perceptibly as he looke

ese old gentlemen to have been insane, but the tw

unreas

mean, sir?"

humps must have been trying to prove their grandchildren insane when they mad

to love a person in less time and still retain your mental balance, you know, especially if she we

hey weren't capable. Why didn't they consider the poss

I fancy of the two they loved the islanders more. At any rate, they left a beautiful opening for the very complications which now conspire to give

ess it has,

ground according to schedule. You must go to the island, wife or no wife, and there's not much time to be lost. Lady Deppingham won't let the grass grow under her feet if I know anything about the needs of English nobility, and I'll bet my hat she's packing her

do you

hat you may become a w

possible!" gasped Bobby Browne,

s impossib

ting on you can count me out, I w

he time comes. You go to the island at once. Take your wife along if you like. You'll find her ladyship there, and she'll need a woman to tell her troubles to. I'll have the papers ready for you to sign in three days, and I don'

o that confounded island," wailed Browne. "T

to handle this c

ur

get somebody else's money you have to do a good many things yo

stion that my wife will be

s in law. Give the lawyers a chance. We'll see what we can do. Besides, it would be unreasonable to expect his lords

rs push me off,

and I'll tell you ju

ility of existence, and eventually reached the side of the anxious y

y jolly," she cried, instead

it and him at the same time. The beautiful and fashionable Lady Deppingham, once little Agnes Ruthven, came as near to having hysteria as Englishwomen ever do, but she called in a lawyer instead of a doctor. For three days she neglec

sand good-byes, a cast-off season, and the Deppinghams were raci