"Could I use any of this money with clean conscience?" I asked. "Could
it honorably be employed in the discharging of the debt Orme left on my
family?"
"A part of that debt you have already caused him to discharge," the old
doctor answered, slowly. "You would be doing a wrong if you did not
oblige him to discharge the rest."
I counted out and laid on the desk before him the amount of the funds
which my father's memoranda showed had been taken from him by Orme that
fatal night more than a year ago. The balance of the notes I tossed into
the little grate, and with no more ado we burned them there.
We concluded our conference in regard to my business matters. I learned
that the coal lands had been redeemed from foreclosure, Colonel
Meriwether having advanced the necessary funds; and as this now left our
debt running to him, I instructed Doctor Bond to take steps to cancel it
immediately, and to have the property partitioned as Colonel Meriwether
should determine.
"And now, Jack," said my wire-haired old friend to me at last, "when do
you ride to Albemarle? There is something in this slip of paper"--he
pointed to Orme's last will and confession--"which a certain person
ought to see.
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