denoted the schemer; a malicious smile was constantly upon his lips; and he bore himself in domineering fashion.
Of the two, Wilbur would have been the more formidable in physical combat, but Zachary appeared to be the cleverer.
“Nothing important down there, Zach,” growled Wilbur. “It riles me to think that the beastly cad is living so close to us. I had hoped that he was gone to stay.”
“Yes?” questioned Zachary with an ugly laugh. “You’re counting too much on hope, Wilbur. Now that Harvey is back, you can be sure that he is here to stay - and we might as well make the best of it.”
“Make the best of it?”
There was a significance in Wilbur’s echo that showed he had caught the import of his younger brother’s words. Zachary laughed again and sprawled himself in a reclining chair below the high parapet of the terrace. Wilbur seated himself and looked dubiously toward his brother. It was plain that he expected Zachary to offer some sound advice.
“LISTEN, Wilbur,” declared Zachary. “While you’ve been spending your time looking through those glasses and cursing to yourself, I’ve been doing some constructive thinking. More than that, I’ve been acting.”
“How?”
“In a very efficient manner. Following hunches - using my head as well as my eyes. Figuring how the present situation can be turned to our advantage.”
“I don’t see anything to our advantage,” protested Wilbur. “Harvey is back. Pearson has walked out of the picture. There’s no way for us to work things the way we want them. Harvey will patch matters up with the old man and that will be the end of it.”
“Yes?” Zachary’s tone was sarcastic. “Well, Wilbur, I was younger than you when Harvey went away. You were the chief cause of his going. I helped to make matters unpleasant for him, but at that time, I followed your lead. Now that he is back, it is my turn to do the heavy work.”
Wilbur Chittenden nodded. He was a stubborn fellow, who held an intense hatred toward his favored brother Harvey, but Wilbur was unquestionably blunt in method, and he recognized Zachary’s subtle superiority.
“Wilbur,” said Zachary, in a low tone. “I’ve been preparing for trouble ever since I knew that Harvey was coming back. I didn’t tell everything to you, because I wanted to watch developments. But you can believe me when I tell you that affairs are turning favorably to us. There’s just one factor that you have failed to consider.”
“Which is -“
“That Harvey is a Chittenden - just as set in purpose as the rest of us. He has come back here looking for trouble. He is going to find it, and that will prove his undoing.”
Wilbur Chittenden was listening intently; but his impatience showed itself in his next words.
“Trouble for Harvey?” he demanded. “I can’t see how that is developing. We have tried to convince the old man that he ought to cut off Harvey, but he always insisted that there would be a reconciliation. He sent Pearson to arrange it and Pearson didn’t get far, I’ll admit. But now” - Wilbur paused speculatively - “just where is Pearson? How can we work on the old man while his lawyer is missing?”
“Pearson,” responded Zachary calmly, “was our greatest obstacle. He represented the family for years. He was a stickler for precedent. He had no luck when he tried to make friends with Harvey. That proved my point - that Harvey is short-tempered. But Pearson would be keeping on with his friendly efforts still - except for the fact that Pearson is no longer here.”
“I’m puzzled about that,” persisted Wilbur.
“Why be puzzled?” questioned Zachary softly. “Why should you care? It has left us the opening that we need. You knew how fussy our esteemed father has become. He’s worrying night and day about Pearson. He has lost confidence in a lawyer who departs for places unknown.
“That, in my mind, is very much to our advantage. Before Pearson returns” - Zachary smiled shrewdly - “if Pearson ever does return, Galbraith Chittenden will have a new attorney. I have arranged for that.”
WILBUR clapped his fist upon his open hand. He was unrestrained in his admiration of his brother’s craftiness.
“A great idea, Zach!” he exclaimed. “We get the new lawyer in; then we start again about the will. Our man sides with us. The old man capitulates. Harvey will be cut off - with only Lower Beechview in his grasp.”
“Exactly,” returned Zachary. “Galbraith Chittenden will have two sons - Wilbur, the elder; Zachary, the younger - just as we have so often planned it. Provided that Harvey helps.”
“That Harvey helps?” asked Wilbur incredulously.
“Certainly,” said Zachary. “He began to help when he antagonized Pearson. That was not sufficient. But with our lawyer on the job, all that remains is for Harvey to clash with us as he did with Pearson. That will turn our father’s mind completely against him.”
“Very good,” said Wilbur. “Very, very good. You are getting there, Zach. But what is going to start all this strife? As far as I can see it, Harvey never leaves Lower Beechview. There has to be a cause of war, you know.”
“There already is a cause,” said Zachary, in a confidential tone. “If you spent less time admiring Harvey’s bride through those glasses, and looked over some of the other people on the place, you might know more than you do now.”
“The others?” asked Wilbur, in surprise. “You mean that middle-aged bird who came on ahead to watch the workmen - Craig Ware, I heard his name is - the one who sits around all day -“
“Not Ware,” said Zachary, with an evil smile. “I’m thinking of the gawky gentleman in overalls - the chief workman. He lives at Lower Beechview, too. His name is Jessup. ”
“Jessup?” quizzed Wilbur. “How did you find that out?”
“I’ve looked him over uptown,” said Zachary. “I’ve seen him other places, too. Particularly, around here.”
“Around here? You mean that Jessup is spying on us?”
“Exactly. But I haven’t stopped him. He’s a good snooper, that fellow. I’ve seen him watching you; I’ve seen him watching me; but I haven’t let on.”
“How did you learn about him? What is he?”
“A pretty tough customer,” said Zachary. “He used to do contracting work, out West. That’s probably where Harvey met him. He came East, went broke, and tied up with a racket. New York City isn’t such a healthy place for Mr. Jessup, right now.”
All this appeared to be surprising news to Wilbur Chittenden. He stared open-mouthed at his brother and waited for further information. Zachary took his time in divulging. He liked the effect that he was creating.
“I’m no simple-minded soul,” declared Zachary. “Long Island Sound is a mighty profitable place for racketeers, especially when the rum-running is in season. Those boys like to know the home folks. I’ve made a few useful acquaintances.”
Wilbur nodded. Zachary had said something of this before, but Wilbur had paid but little attention to it. Now, however, with a Harvey Chittenden connection, Wilbur could see where Zachary’s questionable friends might play a part.
“Gangsters,” resumed Zachary, “are easily spotted by those who know them. I figured this fellow Jessup was more than a mere workman. So I pointed him out to some of the - some of my friends. They recognized him. It looks very much as though those workmen who are with him are others of his same kind.
“Now what is Jessup’s purpose? He’s working for Harvey. Retired from the phony racket business? Perhaps” - again Zachary’s tone became ironical - “and perhaps not. If Harvey anticipates trouble” - again the sarcasm - “or if Harvey is making trouble, Jessup would be mighty useful to him.”
“What are we going to do about it?” asked Wilbur anxiously.
“You mean,” returned Zachary, “what have I done about it? Well, brother Wilbur, while you have been mooning through your glasses and father has been doing nothing, I have been attending a bit to affairs on Upper Beechview. For one thing, I have hired some extra help.”
“Three men, yes,” agreed Wilbur. “I didn’t see why we needed them around the place, with two hired men already on the -“
