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—Y HAPPY
DAYS e—
NECK AND NECK
By JAS. D. MONTACUE.
CHAPTER I. .
A STRANGE WILL—THE TWO COUSINS,
“So Uncle Josh is dead !”
“Yes, the old miser’s gone at last,”
The news of Joshua Seton's death had
traveled fast, and whenever two of his
neighbors met it was in this fashion they
talked.
‘The old man had lived for thirty years
in the upper part of New York City, near
Fordham, previous to which his life had
been spent in the West. .
Miser Seton everybody called him, so it
may be inferred from this that he was
wealthy, People are not usually termed
miserly unless they have money,
“Flow did he die?” asked one neighbor,
i He suffered from ita
long time,” replied the other, “ Lawyer
Sparks found him dead in his chair when
he called at the cottage to day.”
“Supposing he shouldn’t be wealthy af-
ter al
**Pshaw! Ephraim Sparks has been call-
ing at his house two or three times a week
and lawyers don’t
‘0,
ig Uncle Josh will a
big tigure, mark my, words.”
“And where will the money gof’
“Where? Why to_his_two nephews,
Harry Seton and Bradley James for sure.”
““Jie never spoke to them ?”
“He never spoke to anyb
Sparks, but blood’s thicker than water an
the boys will divide his wealth between
hem.”
cut up
“We shall see,” said the other, doubt-
fully, as he wished his friend good-day and
It will be seen that Uncle Josh had not
been a pleasant man, He never took any
notice of either of his nephews, nor had he
been known to assist them in any way, .
The boys were totally distinct in their
characters, but there was one similarity
between them. They were both orphans,
Ilarry Seton was ina merchant's oflice
in New York working for his living,
radley James was possessed of some
money left him by his parents and follow-
ed no occupation, He looked down upon
his cousin and hardly noticed him when
they met. His life was devoted wholly to
amusement, much of it, so it was said,
being of a questionable nature, and he de-
spised the poor cousin, who toiled indus-
triously from day to day.
The funeral was over, and Uncle Josh
was laid to rest. .
Then the nature of his will became the
uppermost topic. .
“T shall get the stuff,” said Bradley
James, puffing smoke from his cigarette as
he talked to his chum, Dick Dexter,
“*I don’t see what reason you have for
saying that, Brad,” answered Dick. ‘Ie
always treated you as if you were a
stranger.”
“That may be, but my mother
favorite, Everybody knows that.
“That's a poor foundation to build on.
As if such an old wretch would have any
favorites. Say, Brad, supposing he should
leave his harity. Ha! Hal
yras his
Bradley James’ face darkened,
“Fean't think that,” hegrowled. “ Why
it’s absurd,” h dded, brightening up.
“The old fellow never gave away a cent
in his life, so it’s not likely he would de-
vote any money to charity.”
“He might,” laughed’ Dick, “just to
disappoint his dear nephews,”
A tap was heard at the door,
Come in,” cried Bradley, without ris-
ing.
** Are you Bradley James?” asked a boy
who made his appearance,
“Mister Bradley James,” remarked Dick
Dexter, mockingly. .
** Yes, Lam,” answered the othersharply.
“What of it?”
“I've a letter for you. Here, take it,”
The boy tossed it on the table in a care-
less manner, turned round quickly, and
walked away.
Bradley tore it open eagerly. He knew
by the address on the envelope who it was
fi
rom,
Dick, watching him, saw his face flush.
“* What is it?" he cried.
“From Lawyer Sparks, Listen: ‘ Brad-
ley James, Esquire. Dear Sir—Please be
at my office at one o'clock to-day on busi-
ness connected with the estate of my late
client, Joshua Seton.’”
“Ilarrah !* shouted Dick, springing to
his feet.
“Didn't I tell you so, Dick? Who's go-
ing to have the money now ?””
- “You are, Brad.”
“* Yes, I guess he'll read the will to me.”
“ There’s not a doubt of it. Calling you
‘esquire’ shows that. Lawyers know how
to flatter when it pays them to do so,”
** Now let my worthy cousin look out. If
he interferes with me I'll crush him!”
hissed Bradley savagely, as he rose from
his seat,
SI
ody except
d
“Harry Seton?”
“Of course, I have no other cousin,
thank goodness,”
“But what's he been doing, Brad? Any-
thing new?”
“Yes, You know Jack Wood?” .
“Yes, but I'm more interested in his
sister Alice, She's a nice girl.” .
““Well, you'd better cease to take an
interest in her, Dick Dexter, or there will
be trouble. Now, that fellow Seton
down at the Wood cottage too often to
suit me.”
“And you think Alice is the attraction?
Pshaw!~ When you have the money she
won'tlook at llarry Seton again, Besides,
you are better looking than he.”
Bradley glanced at himself in the mir-
ror and his reflection satisfied him,
He was certainly handsome, with a dark
complexion and well-cut features, b
€ was a cruel look about his mouth
that excited distrust. He was thin and
wiry, but well made, and though he was
not seventeen he looked much older,
“One o'clock’s the time, Brad,” said
Dick Dexter, looking at his watch, ‘and
t is not far from that now, Lawyer
Sparks did not give much notice. Geta
move on you, Brad,”
The two lads, for Dick was about the
same age as his chum, left the house to-
gether, laughing and joking as they went
own the street to the law offi 0
Ephraim Sparks, They were in high spir-
its, and everyone who passed themsaw in
a
ign that he was his uncle’s heir,
Lawyer Sparks met them in his outer
“Lve brought my friend, Dick Dexter,
with me, Mr, Sparks," said Bradley. “I
hope you have no objection.”
“ Not the slightest, Walk right in, gen-
tlemen,” answered Mr. S i
showing the way into his private room,
radley, entering, started as if he had
tred upon a venomous reptile.
here, in front of him, he saw the curly
blonde head of his cousin, Harry Seton,
“You here?” he cried aneri ye
“You here?” answered the other laugh-
>
sly.
‘The two cousins shook hands in a cold
inanner, and Bradley and Dick sat down
near the lawyer's table at some distance
from Ilarry, .
The latter seemed amused at his cousin’s
evident rage.
His bright, merry face had not a cloud
to the other of these two g00d-looking
ys, realized that one was to be trusted
and the other feared, -
awyers waste little time in useless
talk, and Mr. Sparks went straight to
usiness,
“It is in reference to your uncle's will,”
he said, ‘that I have sent for you. Here
it is,” he added, producing a bulky docu-
ment, ‘If you will give me your atten-
tion I will read it to you.”
is not necessary to set out in detail
the earlier part of the will. This consisted
of a long explanation ot the reasons that
had induced Joshua Seton to lead the life
ofa miser, and seclude himself from every-
‘0 8
a
the fact that the
woman he loved had deceived him,
‘* Now we come to the important clause,”
said the lawyer, and the three boys showed
keen interest now, leaning forward so as
not to lose a word that was sai
id, a
*‘T have deposited the great bulk of my
wealth,” the will stated, “in the Sierra
Nevada Mountains, near Sonora, in the
State of California, Iwill
nephews, Harry Seton and Bradley James,
an equal chance of obtaining it. They wil
each start from For the ‘same
time, on the same day, on bicycles, and
e one who arrives at the secret hiding-
place first is to have the money,”
radley James was too astounded to
speak,
“Is thatall?’ asked Dick Dexter,
his voice,
“Not quite,” said the lawyer, in un-
moved tones. “ The race is to be run under
conditions contained in a separate docu-
ment in my possession, duly signed by the
testator, Joshua Seton,”
“ Please read those conditions, sir,”
“‘There is no occasion to read them, as
Bradley James and Harry Seton will each
be supplied with a perfect copy.
stance of them is that the two wheelmen
must pass through a specified route,
tain towns are named, and in each of these
a report must be made at a place indicated,
This is to prevent either of you taking the
train or other mode of travel except your
wheel. Don't attempt to do such a thing,
for that means instant disqualification,
and all the estate goes to the other,”
“This is outrageous |!" shouted Bradley
James, springing to his feet with flashing
eyes and face livid with passion. “If m
uncle made such & willas that I say he was
mad. I will contest the will and break it.”
“Try,” said the lawyer, with a quiet
smile on his face. ‘ But take notice that
if you fail to do so you will have no chance
finding
S
=e
the smiling face of Bradley James a sure }_
uponit, and Mr, Sparss, glancing from one | i
give each of my |e
to compete in the race, The money will
all go to the nephew who accepts the con-
itions,” ~ .
Dick Dexter leaned over towards his
chum, .
“KXeep quiet, Brad,” he. whispered.
“Shouting won't do any good, Fighting
won't pay, for the chances are all against
ou. :
“Do
you accept the conditions?” asked
M.: re Sparks.
Oh, yes,” said Harry Seton, gayly. “I
should think so, The ride wil be great
fun anyway, whether I win or lose.
“And you, Mr, James?”
““T suppose I must,” growled Bradley
ames sulkily. “I call it a shame, but
what else can I do? Now let us know
when we start,” .
“*T was about to ask that question,” said
arry. .
Mr. Sparks handed each of the boys an
nvelope,
“You will find everything you want in-
side, gentlemen, everything. Your uncle
was a most methodical man; he thought
jod-day,
. A pleasant
journey,” said the lawyer, showing them
“Tf I was a betting man,”
continued Mr, Sparks, as he looked after
the two lads, “I should put my money on
radley James; he’s dangerous.” .
And then he went slowly back to his
room to see his next client,
2
CHAPTER Il,
DICK DEXTER'S PROPOSAL—THE START FOR
GREAT RACE, - .
Ilarry, instead of going home, went at
once to his friend, Jack Wood's house.
Jack had just Jeft school, and was about
to enter-his father’s office in New York,
ut as he was now taking a vacation, he
passed most of his time in Fordham,
e was lying in a hammock under the
trees in front of tthe house as Harry came
you,” he shouted, ‘* Who's the millionaire,
you or your cousin?”
“ Neither,
“What! Was Uncle Josh worth noth-
ing then? Has he been deceiving every-
“It's a long story, Jack,” said Harry,
seating himself in a rocker, “And ‘a
strange one, too, Would you like to hear
itz”
"
ie never
“Of course I would, Fire awa
Jack was so interested that
finished.
“Well,” he cried, when Harry had
stopped speaking, “‘your Uncle Josh was
clearly an original. But what does Brad-
ley think about it?”
“He’s mad. He threatened to fight the
will, but Dick Dexter advised him not to
80,
Dick was right, No saner man
than Uncle Josh ever lived, and he knew
what he was doing, After all, Marry, it’s
not so very bad. You ought to beat Brad-
elieve you will,”
ese are the conditions of the race,”
g Jarry, tearing open the envelope
which Mr, Sparks had given him, is
face brightened as he drew an inclosure
from ry t th h
. ingo! they've thought of every-
Tere’ a big check to cover
“And n
t as a corkscrew, I
{ d uncle has selected
with great care the very worst roads in the
ountry,
“What if he has? It’s the same for each
Ho! a visitor. Dick Dexter's
coming up the road, and I expect he's
bound for this house. Yes, I was right,
e's stopped at the gate. Wonder what he
wants with us,”
1 Dick did not leave the two boysin doubt
ong.
““A very absurd will,” said Dick. “Don’t
you think so, Wood 2”
“A strange one, certainly, though I sup-
Pose a man has a right to do what he
Pleases with his own money.” .
“That's doubtful. { don’t believe the
will would be upheld by a cotrt of law,
but neither party can afford to fight it.
Tell you what, you and Bradley are cous-
ns, Seton,”
“ Which he seems to forget by the litfle
notice he has always taken of me,”
“Oh, he doesn’t mean anything by that.
Brad's rather peculiar, Now, why should
you and he squabble about the division of
the money? I don’t suppose you want it
all, and I'm sure he doesn’t.”
“That's not true,” muttered Jack Wood,
“I know Bradley James better than that,”
“ But we have to race for the money.”
“Certainly,” said Dick, with a cunnin,
look, ‘*and we will; but there’s no nee
for you to kill yourselves in getting from
here to California, You had better make
an arrangement,”
De
“Well, old fellow, am I to congratulate 8
once interrupted his friend until he had | to
“What kind of one?” .
““Why,to divide the money in certain
proportions, whichever. of you happen to
come in first. Then, instead of being a
race, it will be a pleasant summer out-
ing.” .
“ Let's hear your proposition,” cried Jack
4
ood.
“You shall. First of all, Bradley's a far
better rider than Harry,”
“IT don’t admit that,” put in Jack.
“It’s a fact all the same, so, of course,
Brad’s bound to win, We propose, there-
fore, that the money shall be divided in
this way—Harry to have a quarter. and
Bradley the other three-quarters,’
“Ha, ha, ha!” roared Jack Wood. .-
“Well, what do you say to it?” asked
Dick Dexter, looking amazed.
“Say! I don’t say anything, Dick,”
cried Jack. “I can’t, it’s toofunny, Hal
ha! Isaw a burlesque at the theater last
night, but.the funny man wasn’t in it .
with you.” .
“I’ve made a fair proposal,” said Dick
Dexter, hotly, “and I ought to have an
answer,
“And I'll give you one,” retorted Harry
Seton. ‘I mean to show your friend,
Bradley James, that Iam better than he.
Let him ride his best, and [ll ride mine.
Ifhe wins he can have the money. I
win, it comes
motto is, all or none |”
“
cap in the air, “that’s the way to talk.”
“Very well,” said Dick, rising. ‘The :
chance you've had won’t come to you
again. ‘ou can blame yourself for what-
ever happens.’ .
“ Well, that beats the deck, Harry,” said
Jack, looking after the retreating’ figure,
“what impudence! Still, we must work
hard to beat them.” .
“Wer?
“Sure, you didn’t suppose I was going
oO let yougo alone, Harry, did you? I
shall ride with you.” ~
“
tasping his hand,
* And I want to go, too!
The boys looked iu amazement at the
speaker,
She was a pretty girl of fifteen, and she
popped her head out from behind the
trunk of the tree under which the boys
were sitting, showing a laughing, mis-
chievous-looking face, - oe
This was Alice Wood, Jack’s sister.
“You !” her brother cried.
“Yes, why not? Lean ride a wheel as
wellas either of you, I've heard every-
thing and I mean to go, for I want Harry
win.”
“ Seems to me you want him to lose,
ice,
“Why?
“ Because he certainly will if he and I
havea girl to look after. You would do
tha idea out of your head without delay.”
We will let you know from
time to time how the race goes on.”
The girl looked disappointed, but she -
said nothing further, walking away to the
ouse.
“What wheel shall you ride, Harry ?”
“A *Happy Days,’ of course.”
“That's a good plan. When do we
start?”
“* To-morrow.” -
“ By jingo | that’ssudden, Do you think
Bradley will play us any trick?”
*“What kind ?”
“Why, taking the train.” .
‘Iie dare not, e won't run such a
risk. It would mean losing the money if
e was found out, and, depend upon it,
Mr. Sparks has taken more precautions
an we know of,” .
“I'm glad to hear you say so. Now I
know we shall arrive first.”
There was much to do that day, and the
two boys were very busy, Jack readily
gained his father’s assent, as to which he
had had no doubt from the firs
Road maps were purchased, and the
route was traced and carefully marked
ut?
Then at four o'clock in the morning, just
as the sun rose, before the inhabitants of
ordham were astir, the start was made ~
Mr. Sparks was the only person present
to see them go,
radley greeted his consin very coldly,
though he was very civil to Jack Wood, on
account of his being Alice's brother.
“You going, Wood?” he cried, in sur-
rise, -
Yes, wh:
ter? Isn't he going along
“Thank you, I can take care of myself,”
said Bradley, with a sneer. “I don’t re-
quire a nurse,” .
“Now, gentlemen,” said Mr, Sparks, «
“you: have read the conditions, and, as
derstand them; the slightest breach of
them means disqualification. Ride fair,
lads, and may the best'man win, Go!"
t last they were off,
to me, Dick Dexter, my ~-
Thanks, old fellow,” replied Harry, :
Bravo!” shoute@ Jack, throwing his *
us no good, only handicap us in fact, so get _
ynot? But where's Dick Dex:
~
they are very plain, you cannot fail to un- ~
Neck and neck they rode fora mileat the