“His reply resembles a press dispatch.  He has tried to make himself thoroughly clear, and if there is anything left unsaid it is past our comprehension.  I am sorry to inform you, though, that he has paid the telegraph charges,” said Mr. Grant, smiling broadly.

“Is he rational about it?” asked Montgomery, nervously.

Mr. Grant gave his partner a quick, significant glance, and then drew from his desk the voluminous telegram from Swearengen Jones.  It was as follows: 

October 2.

Grant & Ripley,

Yucatan Building, New York.

I am to be sole referee in this matter.  You are retained as my agents, heir to report to me through you weekly.  One desire of uncle was to forestall grandfather’s bequest.  I shall respect that desire.  Enforce terms rigidly.  He was my best friend and trusted me with disposition of all this money.  Shall attend to it sacredly.  Heir must get rid of money left to him in given time.  Out of respect to memory of uncle he must take no one into his confidence.  Don’t want world to think S. was damned fool.  He wasn’t.  Here are rules I want him to work under:  1.  No reckless gambling. 2.  No idiotic Board of Trade speculation. 3.  No endowments to institutions of any character, because their memory would be an invisible asset. 4.  No indiscriminate giving away of funds.  By that I don’t mean him to be stingy.  I hate a stingy man and so did J.T.S. 5.  No more than ordinary dissipation.  I hate a saint.  So did J.T.S.  And both of us sowed an oat or two. 6.  No excessive donations to charity.  If he gives as other millionaires do I’ll let it go at that.  Don’t believe charity should be spoiled by indulgence.  It is not easy to spend a million, and I won’t be unreasonable with him.  Let him spend it freely, but not foolishly, and get his money’s worth out of it.  If he does that I’ll consider him a good business man.  I regard it foolish to tip waiter more than a dollar and car porter does not deserve over five.  He does not earn more than one.  If heir wants to try for the big stake he’d better begin quick, because he might slip up if he waits until day of judgment.  It’s less than year off.  Luck to him.  Will write you more fully.

S. Jones.

“Write more fully!” echoed Montgomery.  “What can there be left to write about?”

“He is explicit,” said the attorney, “but it is best to know all the conditions before you decide.  Have you made up your mind?”

Brewster sat for a long time, staring hard at the floor.  A great struggle was going on in his mind.

“It’s a gamble, and a big one,” he said at last, squaring his shoulders, “but I’ll take it.  I don’t want to appear disloyal to my grandfather, but I think that even he would advise me to accept.  Yes, you may write Mr. Jones that I accept the chance.”

The attorneys complimented him on his nerve, and wished him success.  Brewster turned with a smile.