Lordship made a joke of
it; took up the matter as a brother ought; wrote himself to Kedge and
Reck to get it settled. Brothers quarrelled; day or two, and elder was
drowned, nobody seems to know how. Gorton stopped on, against orders from
Kimberly; said afterwards, by way of excuse, had been served with summons
to attend inquest. Couldn't say much at inquest, or _didn't_; was asked
if he witnessed accident; said 'No,' but some still think he did. Showed
himself at Hartledon afterwards trying to get interview with new lord;
new lord wouldn't see him, and butler turned him out. Gorton in a rage,
went back to inn, got some drink, said he might be able to _make_ his
lordship see him yet; hinted at some secret, but too far gone to know
what he said; began boasting of adventures in Australia. Loose man there,
one Pike, took him in charge, and saw him off by rail for London."
"Yes?" said Mr. Carr, for the speaker had stopped.
"That's pretty near all as far as Gorton goes. Got a clue to an address
in London, where he might be heard of: got it oddly, too; but that's no
matter. Came up again and went to address; could learn nothing; tracked
here, tracked there, both for Gordon and Gorton; found Gorton disappeared
close upon time he was cast adrift by Kimberly. Not in London as far as
can be traced; where gone, can't tell yet. So much done, summed up my
experiences and came here to-day to state them.
Pages:
346
347
348
349
350
351
352
353
354
355
356
357
358
359
360
361
362
363
364
365
366
367
368
369
370