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LIGHT OF THE ATMA – THE SPARK WITHIN
Peter argued his case. “Judge, you above all know I’m perfectly capable of taking care of myself. You’ve often said it enough. I’m not a child anymore, and I resent everyone treating me like one.”
“I know you think you can manage your own affairs like a man Peter, but the fact is, you’re only fourteen, and that’s a fact the Court cannot ignore!”
“Oh, really? Who was it you came to when you wanted advice on some investments when my father was off on one of his business jaunts? And how many times during that year did you consult me? If I am such an incapable child, how exactly did I lead you to earning $225,000 dollars at that time? And you have the nerve to stand there and tell me I’m not capable of handling my own affairs?
I will in fact go and live with my grandfather in Boston before I’ll ever submit to going to England, and I’ll insist on it.”
The judge took an authorative stance. “And I’ll slap you with a contempt order! The Court feels your grandfather would not be an ideal guardian for you under the circumstances.”
“And Mr. Crogg is??? Stop playing games Your Honor. You’re the man behind the court… behind the interpretation of the laws. So, why exactly is it you don’t think my grandfather is a good choice?”
“That’s privileged information,” the judge claimed, “I can’t divulge that to you!”
“Or you simply have no real reason, right Judge?” the judge looked a little edgy as Peter continued, “I’m no stranger to subterfuge. So, if you stonewall me there, then I’ll go live with my, uncle in Mexico. You’re not the only judge in town. Judge LaBelle says my uncle’s character is sterling.” the judge’s eyes shifted with uncertainty, so Peter remarked,” So you, and your court can put that in your pipe, and smoke it!”
“Don’t be sarcastic with me!” the judge snapped. “You’ll do as the Court orders, or else!”
“Stop trying to rule over my life, Your Honor. I will do what I want.”
“I can have you placed you in a juvenal institution until you come to your senses!”
“You know Judge, after everything my father has done for you, I wonder why you’d want to. But, I offer for you to go ahead and just try!” and then building on what Judge LaBelle alluded to, “After I’m done talking to the press I’m sure they’ll have a lot of questions for you, and your dealings with Mr. Crogg behind the scenes of my father’s company.”
Peter didn’t really know anything, but he knew how to bluff with the rest of them, and this statement of his, made it appear to the judge as though he knew more than what he did. “And here’s some privileged information for you Your Honor, you can’t stop me from doing what is right for me. I know my rights, and I have the right to be put into the hands of a reliable, honest, upright relative, and my uncle stacks high in Judge LaBelle’s score book!”
Judge Walker thought for a minute. His eyes roved around as though he was looking for something he lost. “I’ll tell you what! I’ll assign a new governess to you, just until the Court can review all the facts, and options at my disposal. The Court wants to be fair! No! More than fair. This way you can be free of the yoke, Mr. Crogg has put on you.”
“What do you mean the yoke he put on me?”
The judge’s eyes reeled when he heard that he slipped. He mumbled and groaned, and finally ended up fumbling over his words, uttering gibberish and double-talking to get himself out of the hole he just placed himself in. “The rules Mr. Crogg was forced to follow, as set by the Court which were determined by the articles in the Will.”
“STOP!” Peter protested, “I don’t need your stuttering’s, and I don’t want a governess!”
The judge hit a breaking point, and ranted and yelled at the top of his lungs: “You’ll do as I say or else I’ll put you in detention until I can sort this all out, and you’ll stand before me in my Court!!!”
Seeing something was feverishly wrong, Peter tactically relented, “All right Your Honor. I’ll accept your decision about another governess.”
“That’s better!” the judge declared. “Now you go about your business, and I’ll see what can be done to get you settled somewhere that will be compatible to both you, and the Court!”
“Yes, the Court,” Peter said under his breath, as if the Court were anyone but him. “What about my mansion then?”
The judge turned around to look at the place, then back to Peter. “For the time being, you can stay here; I’ll see to that. But I caution you, no more rough stuff!”
The judge glanced back to see Crogg coming out of the mansion. As Crogg reached them, the judge pulled out his pocket watch. It chimed a little tune as he opened it.
“Now if you’ll both excuse me, I have an appointment I must keep.” He clicked his watch shut, tucked it back into his pocket, neatened the gold chain that draped across his silk vest, then walked toward his carriage.
Peter looked at Crogg, and without a word, stepped up the front stairs, and disappeared into his mansion.
rogg had his eyes on the judge. His stare was as burning as the sun when it’s concentrated in a magnifying glass. He walked over to the judge’s carriage, and sent his driver for a walk.
“I don’t mean to hold you up Judge, but I’m glad I caught you before you left. What did you say to the boy?”
“He doesn’t trust you, Elmer. The boy has good instincts, you know that?!”
“Get to it Walker, what did you tell him?”
“The boy irks you, doesn’t he?”
“You’re pushing me!”
“Oh? What are you going to do, punch me? Out here, where everyone can see?”
Crogg took a cigar from his vest pocket, and lit it. “All right, you’ve got something to say, get it off your chest!”
“You know what you did this time, Elmer? You bit off more than you could chew. What was it you told me…? Oh yes… ‘Don’t worry Judge, the boy is nothing more than a cream puff…’ But the joke’s on you Elmer. The boy’s strong-minded, and he’s no push-over as you thought.”
“I can handle him!” Crogg took some puffs on his cigar.
“HA!” the judge scoffed. “You think you can! The truth of it is, he’s holding you, and all of us at bay. You know where you made your mistake? You never knew about the, ‘father-son agreement’.”
You poured your crooked mind over papers day and night to create the perfect plan, and he deflates your scheme with this revelation of his hand-shake agreement, and his staunch adherence to his beliefs.
That’s what I call the, 
, Elmer! And the judge gave Crogg a hateful look. “You know Elmer, I hope the boy takes you down. Now that will be real justice.”
Crogg kept his cool though Judge Walker taunted him. “That will never happen Judge, it will never happen.” And Crogg rubbed his lucky coin. Walker tried to step into his carriage, but Crogg prevented him. “So, what did you tell the boy?”
“I told him I would appoint a new governess for him!”
“And whose idea was that?”
“Mine!”
“Tempting fate, aren’t you Judge?”
“No, I don’t think so, you still need me. And so long as you need me, I’ll keep walking this earth despite your wish to see me under six feet of it… besides, you should be more thankful the boy put me on the spot!”
“What do you mean?”
“He was threatening to invoke his rights, and be sent to a caring relative!”
“There are none. I covered all that!”
“That’s your problem Elmer. You thought you did!”
The judge once again tried to step aboard his carriage. Again Crogg, holding him back by the arm, insisted, “Aren’t you forgetting something Your Honor?”
“What now Elmer?”
“Come on Judge, do you really think that playing coy with me is going to bring you any benefits?”
“Would it work?”
“No!”
“Then what’s your point?”
“The Lad’s relative – who did I miss?”
“Ah, the famous ‘can’t – make – any – mistakes,’ Elmer! This one slipped past you, did it?”
“You keep pushing me Judge!! Now are you going to tell me, or am I going to have a few of my boys call on you to get the information?”
Walker twirled his handlebar moustache. “The boy has an uncle!”
“Where?”
“I don’t know. All I know is that the boy mentioned something about Judge LaBelle telling him that his uncle was a good man ‘of sterling character’ as he described him.”
“LaBelle, huh?”
“Can I go now?” Walker asked.
Crogg’s eyes met the judge’s as if he were in a duel. “What were you going to do? Spring the governess routine on me without warning?”
“I was going to let you know.” But the judge’s eyes gave him away.
“Yeah – when? When she showed up?” Crogg stared off for a moment in thought. Then looking at the judge, he questioned, “Is there any way of telling Peter you’ve changed your mind about the governess?”
“Yes, but that won’t change his mind… and let me tell you, if he pushes this issue, he’s going to win. I don’t have a monopoly on the bench.”
“I see your point. Then if the damage has been done, at least we can minimize it.”
“And just what do you mean by that?”
“Just leave the, ‘appointing’ to me Judge.”
“I can’t do that!”
“Hey! Whose eyes are you trying to pull the wool over? I’m not taking your orders… you’re taking mine, or did you forget that?”
“So, who’s the unlucky woman?”
“I’ll let you know Judge. Surprise is everything.”
Walker stepped aboard. “You do that!”
As Walker’s carriage rolled down the driveway, Crogg muttered, “Someday Judge…someday!”
What kind of a man was Judge Walker? He was one who pretended to be upright and protect the rights of the people and sometimes unintentionally or accidentally did so. He had a powerful flare for the dramatics, and convinced everyone he was indeed the personification of the law, and had fooled almost everyone who crossed his path – except for Crogg.
While he had the talent for lending a supreme legal presence in the court room, he also lent to every social occasion that same powerful presence. No one wanted to challenge him or oppose him, less they be yesterday’s news.
In the early days of their relationship, Crogg studied the judge with a passion wanting to know more about the man. He couldn’t find much as far as records go, but that was par for the course in the days after the Chicago fire.
Instead, Crogg started to depend on his instincts, and one day some feeling or other hit him that bothered him. Slowly, Crogg started to see through the judge’s charade. And that’s when he knew he’d have him.
MANY YEARS BACK
Having been suspicious for a long time, Crogg contrived a make-believe crime, and implicated the judge, just to see how he would handle himself. In staging a tough-to-get-out-of predicament, he could observe how the judge would react under pressure.
If the judge wasn’t hiding anything, he would naturally fight for the right to clear his name. But on the other hand, if he was hiding anything serious enough in his past, he would become unnerved, and look for a way out without getting caught. And this was what Crogg was looking for. Would the judge insist on clearing his name, or would he look for a way out?
One unsuspecting day, in a room on the third floor, of a large mansion where a large ball was being held, Crogg, along with several of his close associates, were playing cards and speaking to Judge Walker about politics. Downstairs, in the ballroom, a few hundred important men would gather at the black-tie event in small groups between dances. Their most favorite topic? Their futures. Their prestige.
Upstairs, while the card game played on with the doors wide open for air, they suddenly heard what sounded like gun shots.
“What the blazes what that?!!“everyone shouted, startled as some jumped up. The judge, being a man of pushy behavior, stood up and headed to the door first when Crogg pulled him back. “Are you sure you want to go out there Your Honor?
But the judge being the bull-headed man he was, stepped out in the hallway anyway, Crogg right behind him. Suddenly, out of nowhere a man came running down the wide, and lengthy hallway, and shoved a gun in the judge’s hand as he ran past.
“Wh-wh-what is going on here?” As he tuned to watch the man flee, he yelled at him, “You come back here! Do you hear me!!?” as though he had the authority to make the man stop. But the man disappeared.
Just then, two more men came out of an adjoining room, and a highly respected politician and his wife walked out of another one. All four stared at the judge standing there with the smoking gun in his hand.
One of Crogg’s associates ran down the hall, and peered into the room where the shots came from. The judge, suddenly realizing what had happened, stared at the gun which was still smoldering in his hand.
Crogg yanked him back into the room, and closed the double doors, locking them fast. All the other men had scattered. The judge just stood there staring in shock at the gun in his hands. Just then Crogg’s associate knocked and Crogg let him in then locked the door behind him again.
Crogg, looking at him with wide eyes, implored with urgency, “Well? What did you find?”
“It’s the man the judge has been having an open feud with in the press. That’s the man who was shot!”
Crogg shifted his eyes onto the judge. “This is going to put you in a tight spot judge. It’s going to look like you killed the man who has been leveling it at you in the papers.”
“That couldn’t be more absurd!! You know I didn’t do it! I was sitting here with you and all the others when the shots were fired!” He looked around for all the others who were now gone.
“I know that, and my friend here, Joco knows that, but I don’t think you’re going to convince the public that you didn’t. Someone wanted you framed for this, and they did a good job of doing it.”
The judge dropped the gun he was holding. It hit the soft carpet making no noise as it landed. The judge just stared off. ” I have witnesses.”
“Look Your Honor, I have friends who can place you somewhere else at the time of the crime.”
The judge looked at Crogg, “I was somewhere else at the time of the crime. I was sitting in here. Someone deliberately ran by me and thrust a gun in my hand.”
“Right Judge, but it’s not about what happened, but what it looks like happened.”
“What about the three men, and the lady who stepped out of the other rooms to see that?
“People can be persuaded, not to have seen anything, or in the worst case scenario, can be persuaded not to remember much of anything.” And he gave a nod to Joco to go and fix the situation.
The judge looked at him with bewilderment. Then turned around and walked out of the room and walked back down the hallway where the shooting was supposed to have occurred, and opened the door. Crogg was right behind him.
The judge went into the room, and gaped down at the body, then peered at Crogg. “Someone is setting me up and the real criminal has gotten away….you know I’m innocent. You know I didn’t shoot this man.”
Crogg answered back, “Well Judge, how many times have you heard that excuse from the people who stood before you?”
“Right….” he thought more…”Too many times, I suppose.”
“Exactly, so no one is going to believe you didn’t shoot this man, even with some of us as witnesses. And do you know why? Because circumstances tell a pretty convincing story. And because an incident like this is a juicy scandal, and people just can’t resist believing the worse scenario, that’s why. Before you’re cleared, you’re ruined.
You know sometimes the public is hungry to see the big shots fall… and Judge, is there anyone bigger than you in all of Chicago? That man was a beloved hero to some. And you’ve got to be aware of who will try you. Judge LaBelle, your nemesis, right?”
The judge’s eyes whirled up in his head, and his mind spun like a tornado. “As much as I don’t want to admit it, I think you’re right about everything. I see it all the time – where an innocent man gets trapped by circumstances… and now… how ironic, that I myself am a victim of bad-looking circumstances.”
“But I am innocent, doesn’t that count for anything anymore?” He looked at Crogg, Can’t you testify for me, you saw what happened.”
“Hey!” Crogg said, “I know your innocent because I saw the killer run you and how he planted the gun in your hand… but me, and my friend Jocko, are not exactly the best citizens Chicago has ever had. We are what you may called, entertainers, of sorts, you see, your honor, I’m a high stakes gambler invited to be here for the poker games after the ball is over. And lets say… the public at large, is not going to take my word for how innocent you are.
The witness that saw you holding the gun in your hand didn’t see the killer who put it there as he was fleeing the scene – and in situations such as this (and I’ve seen them occur before), the imagination takes over, and the witnesses might even imaging that they saw you pull the trigger. However judge, I don’t want you to worry about that. You see Joco can be very persuasive.”
“Your right. I will be accused, and convicted on circumstances… not by what really happened, but on what people will believe in what they think happened.
Just then two more of Crogg’s men showed up, and playing the role they were give by Crogg.
“There’s a large crowd following right behind us.
“Look your honor,” Crogg said, “in about two minute, or less, there will be a crowd swarming around up here asking a lot of questions.
“Well, what am I supposed to do?” the judge said with his voice trembling. “I’m trapped. Even if you could help me, I am bewildered as why you you even want to?”
“Well, your honor, you’re in an powerful position in this city -and from time to time I could use some legal advice. If I help you out of this jam now, you’ll perhaps will be able to help me out of a jam in the future. So, let’s call it a, ‘favor for a favor,’ that’s all. What’s the harm? I know a good thing when I see it. What do you say? Is it a fair trade?”
“Alright,” the judge said agreed. How do I get out of here?”
The judge was whisked out by Crogg’s men, and was being taken down the south stairs. The judge didn’t stay around to find out what was going to happen as the crowd hit the upstairs.
Suddenly the man who did the shooting suddenly came out from another room, along with the four witnesses – and guess who else? – The alleged victim.
They all quickly took their pre-hidden props, chairs and a large card table, lit their cigars, and contrived their card game. “Is crackers set up down the hall?
“He’s just waiting on the people coming up.”
When the crowds from downstairs came up stairs they looked in the room where the game was going on. One man said: “We heard several gun shots up here… was their anyone hurt that you know of?” And he gave orders to some men to search all the rooms on the floor.
Crogg look at the man, “You sure you heard shots? All we’ve been hearing all night have been fireworks. Somebody has been having fun staring the celebration early by exploding Cherry Bombs.
Just then, several Cherry Bombs went off at the end of the hallway. Crackers was a work.
“See what I mean? Crogg said, “it’s hard to concentrate when that is going on in the mansion. It’s just some prankster,” and a few more Cherry Bombs went off.
The man who was searching the room came back and reported, that he found nothing unusual, except for the smell of sulfur from firecrackers.
All right everyone. Everyone back downstairs, nothing more than a false alarm.”
The man looked at Crogg, “I hope you ready for tonight… we’re going to have one of the biggest nights in poker history!”
“I’ll be there with bells on,” Crogg said.
AFTER THE GAME
THE GANG GATHERED TOGETHER
AT CROGG’S MANSION – 6:00 AM
“You did, real good tonight men… and ladies. And Slim Sam, I can’t tell you how much of a victim you made tonight.” Then addressing everyone, Crogg said, “You see men, it always pays to have some of us in the lime light of goodness with a sparkling reputation. This way we can script the play, and act out the drama as we see fit from time to time. However, Slim Sam, as much as we love you, and Chicago loves you… you’ll have to skip town… go to California and buy yourself a ranch or something. Remember… you’re now dead, so as far as the judge is concerned so you can’t be seen around town.”
Slim Sam looked at everyone, and said, “I’m going to miss you guys, but maybe some of you guys will be able to come out a visit me soon.” And he shook everyone’s hand and left .
“Glad to see him go,” Crogg said, “I was tiring of his corny jokes.”
As all the guys were leaving to do other things in the early morning , Crogg called two men over he wanted to talk to. Spats and Chumpy, by name.
“Stay behind for a little while I have another job for you.” Now, the rest of you, take a power.”
When the gang left the room, Crogg said to Spats, “I don’t trust Slim Sam. He just may show his face back in town one day, and upset the apple cart.
So, see to it that Slim Sam takes a luxury cruise to one of those islands that have cannibals living on them. Let’s send them dinner.”
After a while, more associates crowded into Crogg’s mansion, about thirty in number, and listened as Crogg’s narrated the events of the night.
“I thought, for a moment, that the Judge was going to stand up and defend himself, no matter what! I mean, when the judge and I went down the hall to peek in the room, Slim Sam who was laying on the floor, was scratching himself.” and the gang laughed. “Good thing the judge didn’t see that!” and they all laughed, 
And did anyone catch the look in the judge’s eyes? He was hiding something in his past, alright… and whatever it is, he doesn’t want to be subjected to any investigation… that’s for sure!
Crogg got a sinister look in his eyes, “But I’ll find it. One of these days, I’ll find it.”
“Guess what?” Crogg announced, “Next week we’ll get the judge to sign some papers which will implicated him into another possible scandal… and we’ll have him! He’ll do anything we want him to do after that. Plus, we’ll ply him with the pleasure’s and joys of the good life… now who can resist that? He might even thank us for making his life enjoyable.”
One evening, Judge Walker privately asked Crogg, “What ever happened to the man who was shot? I mean nothing has been reported in the papers, and not a mention of the incident anywhere.”
Crogg looked at him? What crime you referring to judge” Who was shot?”
“You know… last week?” He whispered.
“Say judge, are you sure you’re all right, I think you may have been drinking a little too much, you look terrible.”
And nothing was ever brought up again – and another victim was on Crogg’s list… of loyal duped, friends.
ver since that incident, Walker began a personal journal he guarded over. Every sorted detail of every crime he knew about was written down in his journal. “Someday I may need this!” He said to himself.
Rather than to find a way out of the crime syndicate he denied being a part of anything because he personally didn’t pull the trigger, or make anyone come up missing.’
The sensuous life, was fulfilling every desire he had. But after many years, he started to regret every pleasurable thing in life he took as payment for releasing the the bad men from prison, and locking up the good men who Crogg framed.
The judge started to condemn himself, but at the same time, he loved the excitement of the good life Crogg provided for him.
His failing point? The judge was corruptible through fear of his past demons. He was hiding something, but what that was – was buried deep in the past.
Eventually the judge, through Crogg’s wicked influence, became the kind man who denigrated the law he loved, and instead of lending dignity to places, and events, he fouled the very atmosphere where ever he walked. Swill rotting in a dump had a more delightful fragrance as compared to the noxious fumes of misdeeds the judge had rotting away in his heart.
Aware of his cursed future, the judge was trying to wash his soul of sins. Crogg, who had as many, if not more evil doings logged against him, believed he was above all law, even God’s.
harles had Peter’s room cleaned. His clothes were spread out over the bed as he had done for his father and a hot bath was kept constantly readied so that when Peter returned, refreshing himself would be made that much more convenient. True to Charles’ expectation, Peter was very appreciative when he saw a bath ready.
Charles never addressed Peter in conversation on a personal basis, but now that Michael and Margaret were gone he felt the obligation to give Peter advice. However, he had to wait for the opening to occur.
Peter took a bath and afterward Charles assisted him as he did for Michael. Charles hoped that Peter would speak to him. Then, as hoped for, Peter spoke.
“Charles, what are you going to do when this matter comes to a close? I mean do you have any plans for your retirement?”
Charles, affixing cuff links to Peter’s sleeves, answered, “I was planning to retire to my home in Scotland.”
“Scotland? Why not here in America, Charles? It’s a beautiful country, and a lot of it to see.”
“I know sir, but I miss my homeland, and that is where my heart longs to be in my old age.”
Thoughts of how Charles must have felt trickled through Peter’s mind. “I guess I know how you must feel,” he commented. “I’m still here, and already I miss my home.”
“That’s because your parents made your home what it was Sir. Now, that they’re gone, it doesn’t seem like home anymore!”
Peter, struggling to be like a man, tried to face life’s hard facts. But instead of trying to understand life he slammed a lid on his emotions, and responded, “You have something there in your thoughts Charles, because life goes on, doesn’t it? But you know Charles, this mansion is my home – and of course yours also, if you desire to stay.”
“I would be privileged to serve you as I did your father Sir, but I’m afraid Mr. Crogg won’t allow that!”
“You leave Mr. Crogg to me Charles, I know what to do.”
“Master Peter,” Charles said as he helped Peter on with his jacket, “I was privileged to advise your father on some matters. May I enjoy the same privilege with you?”
“Of course Charles, you may consider yourself privileged to advise me on any matter you feel important.”
“Thank you Sir.” Charles took a whisk broom, and while he brushed Peter’s jacket clean, he spoke. “There is something of which I believe you should be apprised.”
“Oh, and what is that Charles?”
“Your father’s original, ‘Will,’ made me guardian of this lake estate until you completed your education – no matter how many years.” Peter listened attentively while Charles continued brushing his back. “According to Mr. Crogg, your father’s updated, ‘Will’ excluded me from this prearranged duty. Doesn’t that strike you as odd?”
“Now that you mention it Charles, it does.”
“This estate Master Peter, is complicated to run. I have overseen its’ operation since your father first brought your mother here to see her new home. If I were replaced, who would oversee your estate with the care, and efficiency that it requires?”
“I see your point Charles. May I ask you a question?”
“Certainly Sir.”
“Since the care for this estate has always been in your hands, why did my father hire Mr. Grover to oversee it when he left?”
“Mr. Grover, Sir, was a figurehead. It was still I who was in charge.”
“But why did my father hire him Charles? You didn’t answer the question.”
Charles stopped whisking Peter’s clothes. “I suppose Sir, since he, and your mother were both going to be gone for so long, he wanted appearances to be maintained at a higher level, than a butler’s level.” Charles stood back. “There Sir, don’t you look handsome?”
Peter looked at him with a curious stare. “Charles, there something else wrong, what is it?” Charles remained hesitant. Peter said, “I’m a man of my word Charles. I’ve given you permission to advise me; feel free – with no fear of reprisal.”
“All right Sir, since you insist, I shall be frank with you. I believe both our days in this grand ol’ mansion are numbered. Mr. Crogg wants neither one of us here anymore.”
“His wish holds very little weight with me Charles. I’m opposing him on this matter as-well-as all the others he’s come up with.”
“Sir, your father’s, ‘updated Will,’ seems to give Mr. Crogg every advantage, and everyone else, very little. You Sir, are like a bull who has been roped, and tied. Legally, you haven’t much room to move.”
“But Charles, reason dictates that things must be changed.”
“In law Sir, legalities often supersede rational thoughts. Have you yourself not tried to reason with Mr. Crogg? Did he listen as a man of reason, ready to respond to reasons given, or did he argue against them with rationalization? Pardon my saying so Master Peter, you are at wit’s end with Mr. Crogg, because he has purposely placed you there.”
“I see your point Charles, but I intend to remedy the situation.”
“As you know Master Peter, there was a man by the name of Robert Louis Stevenson who tried to define the nature of the, ‘good and evil,’ within people. He over-emphasized the evil personality, and called him Mr. Hyde. In the self-same body, resided the good personality, Dr. Jekyll.
Dr. Jekyll was an upstanding citizen in his community – highly respected, well-liked… but lurking within him was his fiendish side which emerged after being stimulated with some potion.
If I may be permitted to use this analogy, we see that Mr. Crogg is highly respected, well-liked, well-thought-of in certain circles. But there’s another side of Mr. Crogg that few people have seen besides his enemies, and that is the Mr. Hyde of him.
Mr. Crogg drank the potion of greed, and became Mr. Hyde. The Mr. Hyde holds in his greedy hand what rightly belongs to you, and he won’t give it back. The Mr. Crogg, or Dr. Jekyll would give it back, but will the Mr. Hyde?”
“Hmmm. . . What do you suggest I do Charles?”
“I suggest Sir, that you go to Boston. Your grandparents are the safe alternative.”
“But they’ll end up controlling my inheritance; bedsides I have my doubts about my grandfather’s integrity. I could be left penniless!”
“And from where have most of these doubts come? Charles pointed out, “They have come from the Mr. Hyde personality, of Mr. Crogg, or the Dr. Jekyll?
I’ve heard him talking to you about your grandfather, and the massive debt your father is alleged to have collected through gambling. But I tell you… your father never gambled! Do not accept what Mr. Crogg has told you along these lines. Your father was a financial wizard. I believe there are still millions of dollars that Mr. Crogg cannot touch unless…”
“Unless… he has done something fraudulent?”
“Sir, as your father used to say, ‘When it comes to large sums of money, one can hardly trust oneself – least of all another man.’“
“I gather Charles,” Peter realized, “that you don’t believe my father updated his Will as Mr. Crogg said he did.”
“It is not possible Sir. Your father, and I were hunting on Beaver Island, on Lake Michigan the very days he was supposedly executing his new contract. We were there for two weeks. Your father needed to get away for a while. You know how he loved to go there.”
“But… I reviewed my father’s new Will. There were at least a half a dozen, or more attorneys’ signatures along with those of a few judges?”
“That’s the dilemma Sir… it has these signatures, including your father’s, but I was with your father at the time. No one knew this, for he wanted no one to know where he was. When I saw the, ‘new Will,’ I knew it was a fraud! Facts don’t lie, and the fact was, I was with your father at that time period.”
“Maybe the Will was postdated.”
Charles shook his head. “Sir, how long have you known me? I was there when you were born. Have I ever mislead you?”
“So what you’re actually saying is, the Will is fraudulent!.”
“I’m emphatically saying so!”
“Well Charles, this only gives me more of a motive to get to the bottom of everything that is going on around here. I’m going to file with the Courts to get an independent audit of my father’s estate.”
“Did you tell Mr. Crogg this Sir?”
“No, not yet, but I plan to.” Peter stated.
“Do you self a favor Sir, remember that surprise is 99% of winning any game. If your opponent knows your moves ahead of time he can avoid the traps you set up for him. It would be more wise, not to reveal what you are planning to do. I truly hope you’re not going to make a mistake by forewarning him, Sir.”
“Charles, I have little, or no choice in some of the things I am forced to do.”
“Yes, I understand. That’s usually the position Mr. Crogg leaves a person in; with little or no choice.”
“But I will take care of what you warned me about, and I promise you Charles, I’ll have my father’s affairs looked into thoroughly. I’ll leave no stone unturned! Say, Charles, would you bring me your copy of the Will so I can look at.
“I can’t sir!”
“And why not?”
“Because your father’s attorneys asked if they could use it as a reference, when I pointed out the discrepancies. I agreed, because these were some of the men your father knew, and trusted the most.”
“Well, you never got it back, is that what you’re saying?”
“When I asked for it to be returned, I was informed it had become – misplaced!”
“Lost?!”
“I believed that’s what they were inferring, yes. They assured me of course, they would return it, when they found it!”
“And… did they ever find it?”
“Not presently… but I do have a copy!”
“You have an officially sealed copy of the original Will?”
“I do indeed sir.”
“Then why haven’t you used it to bring out the truth?”
“I have sir, but Mr. Crogg contests, that my copy is a forged copy, and he has wittiness lined up to testify to that sir.”
Let me ask you Charles, what do you think all of this means?”
“Whenever fraud enters the picture, unfortunately, crime also enters. What is the crime here, Sir? It is theft. He is taking what is not his, from people it is intended for, like yourself, sir. In this case, the theft is to the tune of millions of dollars. Creating a fraudulent, ‘Will’ is just the burglar tool he has used.”
For instance, the clauses in the original Will left to your grandfather a million dollars. The clause that included me, as executor of this mansion, until you reach your 21st birthday, has also been deleted.
The clause that included all of the servants, who gave their service of over five years, to each equally receive one-hundred thousand dollars, is also missing.”
“He left money to the servants?”
“Of course sir, he did have a heart for the working class. I shan’t go on, sir, because there is no use of complaining about something that will never be restored, I thought it was just something you should know, that’s all – oh, he also left certain individuals money, people he owed special favors in return for what they did for him once – as he put it Sir.”
“And you say that the new ‘Will’ excludes everyone from everything?”
“Exactly Sir!”
“This is one complicated mess, isn’t it?” Peter remarked.
“It is Sir. Especially when the bad men, are all wearing white hats.”
“Did you know that my father has a brother, Charles?”
“Your father made slight references to him now-and-then Sir.”
“What he said about him, was it good or bad?”
“Mixed reviews, Sir.”
“I heard my uncle was a prospector!”
“From what I could ascertain from your father’s remarks, your uncle was a man with stars in his eyes.”
“Not a good prospect on which I could hope to rely,” he sighed, “I gather, if push came to shove.”
“I’m not certain. Your father seemed to respect him, then teeter-totter with the opposite opinion. It went back, and forth like this for years.”
“What caused my father’s vacillations concerning his brother?”
“It seems that your father was grub-staking your uncle in a mining venture. I remember him praising his brother when he hit a strike, then thrashing him with blame when the vein of silver or gold ran short, depending on what mines he was working.”
“Why did my father throw good money after bad then?”
“Power! If his brother ever did hit the mother lode, it would mean a kind of power your father desired above all other kinds of power he already had.”
“How much did my father invest in his brother’s little adventures?”
“He never divulged that to me, but I do know it was a considerable sum, because your father would talk to himself quite a bit, and when one is in the same room, such as him dozing off in the main room of the cabin, it was it was impossible not to hear his mumblings.”
Peter stared at him, “Why did you want to reveal all of this to me Charles?”
“I’m not sure, Sir.”
“Well you brought the conversation this far, please finish your thoughts.”
You father used to reveal under his breath, that he invested… ah… around… give or take… to the sum of 20 million dollars so his brother could ‘bring in the mother lode’.
But, as time went by, your father wondered what your uncle did with all the money he sent out there!”
“So what are you saying, Charles? My uncle extorted millions from his brother?””
“One can exploit another man’s wish, can’t he Master Peter?”
“Judge LaBelle told me that my uncle was a man of high character. Extortion is not a quality of high character.”
“What does a man like Judge Labelle know of your real uncle sir. As far as I know, Judge LaBelle was, and still is entranced by your uncle because he used to send him large gold nuggets from time to time. I believe he received some silver nuggets also. But that was long ago sir.
“How do you know this Charles?”
“My brother is, Judge LaBelle’s butler.”
“I never knew you had a brother, Charles.”
“It’s never good for a person in my station in life to reveal too much of his personal life Sir. There is safety in silence, and quietude, and secrecy.”
“So you say, my uncle is a shyster?”
“I would be very cautious Sir, that would be my advice to you.”
“So, if I was ever forced down to Mexico, and one never knows what tomorrow will bring, It seems like I might be more of a target rather than a relative who is in need of a guardian?”
“One never knows Sir, your uncle may be sincere… but one never knows.”
Charles was re-situating the grooming accessories on Peter’s bureau. “Charles, do you know anything about my grandparents on my father’s side?”
“Very little Sir. Only that they live in India.”
“India?”
“Yes Sir, India.”
“Do you know any more about them Charles?”
“No Sir, your father never really made mention of them, except that he felt happy living so far away from them.”
Peter, struggling to make conversation other than talking about stress-filled matters; commented, “So, you’re planning to go back to Scotland when you retire? Are you looking forward to retiring?”
“A man looks forward to retiring Sir, when there is nothing more for him to do. I feel I still have a lot more to do in life.”
As Peter was strapping on his watch, and looking at himself in the mirror, he asked, “Tell me about Scotland Charles. Is it as beautiful as the pictures I’ve seen of it?”
“More Sir.”
Peter glanced at Charles in the mirror as he slipped into a remembrance of his homeland. “My family owns a small castle at Montrose, in Angus. It looks out over the ocean to the West, and over the bay to the South. All along the countryside sheep graze upon the lush grass… bluebells decorate the landscape, and the music of bagpipes can be heard as their melodic sounds are carried on the winds.”
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