Page 199 - In A New World

CHAPTER XXXVI.

A HEART-BROKEN RELATIVE.

Late in the afternoon, John Fox knocked at the door of Benjamin Howard,
in the town of Ferguson. It was a hundred miles distant from Colebrook, his

own residence, and he grudged the three dollars he had spent for railroad
fare; still he thought that the stake was worth playing for.

"I am John Fox of Colebrook," he said, when Mr. Howard entered the
room. "You may have heard of me."

"I have," answered Mr. Howard, slightly smiling.

"I am the only living relative of Harry Vane, that is, I and my family."

"I have heard Harry speak of you," said Mr. Howard, non-committally.

"Yes, poor boy! I wish he were alive;" and Mr. Fox drew out a red
bandanna handkerchief and covered his eyes, in which there were no tears.

"What do you mean?" asked Mr. Howard, startled.

"Then you haven't heard?"

"Heard--what?"

"That he sailed in the ship Nantucket, which was lost, with all on board, in

the Southern Ocean?"

It so happened that Mr. Howard had received a letter from Harry after his

arrival in Australia, and so knew that Harry was not lost. For a moment he
thought Mr. Fox might have later information, but saw that it was not so.

He decided to draw Mr. Fox on, and ascertain his object in calling.

"I hope that this is not so," he said gravely.