But
when it came to trial Dixwell Hardley did not appear, and, though
I won a technical victory over him, I never got any money."
"Where was he during the trial?" asked Tom.
"At sea, I believe."
"At sea?"
"Yes, he was mixed up in some South American revolution, I
heard."
"A South American revolution!" exclaimed Tom, and a great light
came to him.
"Yes," went on Mary's uncle. "He was always that kind--mixing
up in anything he thought would produce money. He didn't make out
very well in the revolution business, so I understood. The
revolutionary party was beaten, or they lost their shipment of
arms, or something like that. At any rate, Dixwell Hardley had a
narrow escape with his life when a ship went down, and from then
on I've been trying to get him to restore my rights to me."
"Did he have the papers that would prove you were entitled to a
half share in the oil wells?" asked Tom.
"He certainly did!" said the sick man, who was obviously being
weakened by this long and exhausting talk. "At first I was not
sure of what happened, but now I am positive he stole the papers
and took them to sea with him.
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