John Ovington Returns: With linked Table of Contents

By Max Brand

The great-grandson of a missing man inherits his family’s estate. But what happened to the missing man? And what has been left undone? Nothing is as it seems in this early tale from Max Brand.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Wilder Publications, Inc.
• Release date: Mar 20, 2015
• ISBN: 9781633848146

Max Brand

Max Brand® (1892–1944) is the best-known pen name of widely acclaimed author Frederick Faust, creator of Destry, Dr. Kildare, and other beloved fictional characters. Orphaned at an early age, he studied at the University of California, Berkeley. He became one of the most prolific writers of our time but abandoned writing at age fifty-one to become a war correspondent in World War II, where he was killed while serving in Italy.

Book preview

John Ovington Returns

by MAX BRAND

©2015 Wilder Publications

All rights reserved. Printed in the United States of America. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner without written permission except for brief quotations for review purposes only.

Wilder Publications, Inc.

PO Box 632

Floyd, VA 24091-0632

ISBN 13: 978-1-63384-814-6

Table of Contents

I

II

III

IV

I

The old servant stopped and faced him. The light from the candle he carried flickered across his bald head as he nodded wonderingly, and John Ovington hardly repressed a smile.

You are quite sure you were never in the house before? asked Hillton.

No, said Ovington, I was never here before, but somehow it seems to me that a big amber-coloured vase with black figures tracing down the sides should stand by that window. It's just a fancy, but rather unusual in its clearness.

The Ovingtons are an unusual family, sir, said Hillton, and he raised his candle so that its light fell more fully on the sternly graven face of his new master. After his moment's scrutiny he shook his head as one who gives up a problem.

A vase like the one you speak of stood there ever since the house was built, but last week Mrs Worth broke it while she was cleaning the room. Every week I have the rooms cleaned, sir, but for the past year they have never been used, none except the kitchen and Mr Ovington's bedroom where he lay sick for so long.

And died? said Ovington.

And died, sir. He wouldn't trust any one save me. I wrote the letter which brought you here, and I signed it for him.

I shall never forget that letter, said