Summary
A tapestry woven from threads of profound self-reproach and unacknowledged altruism, "Who Knows?" unfurls the intricate saga of Dr. Raymond Pratt, a county treasurer whose public trust is brutally severed by political opportunism. Stripped of funds by unseen hands, Pratt, burdened by an unbearable, perceived dishonor, vanishes into self-imposed exile, leaving a poignant vow to his loyal confidant, Tom Hammond: he will not resurface until every pilfered cent is meticulously restored. Unbeknownst to Pratt, however, Hammond, a paragon of selfless devotion, silently rectifies the deficit from his own meager resources, a monumental sacrifice culminating in his tragic, anonymous demise within the walls of a poorhouse—his friend's reputation, ironically, never publicly tarnished. Years later, the narrative shifts westward to the rugged expanse of the Quien Sabe ranch, where Hammond's astute nephew, Dr. Thomas Rawn, arrives to unravel the enigma of the "Blue Death." Here, fate orchestrates a convergence with the now-reclusive Pratt, living under the unassuming alias of Hank Weaver. Thomas finds himself captivated by Weaver's spirited daughter, Jenny, whose initial wariness—mistaking him for a rival ranch's spy—gradually melts under his persistent charm and, crucially, his medical acumen in combating the devastating plague. The denouement orchestrates a cathartic reveal: Weaver, confronting the ghosts of his past, finally learns of Hammond's extraordinary sacrifice and the untarnished nature of his original standing. Liberated from decades of self-imposed penance, he embraces a significant governmental appointment in Washington, a new chapter heralded by the blossoming romance between Jenny and Thomas, a testament to enduring love and the ultimate triumph of truth.
When county treasurer Dr. Raymond Pratt loses the money in his care to political robbers, he disappears after leaving a note for his friend Tom Hammond saying that he will not return until he has replaced all of the money. Hammond replenishes the treasury out of his own pocket and dies in the poorhouse, without Pratt knowing that his disgrace was never made public. Years later, Hammond's nephew, Dr. Thomas Rawn, is sent West to investigate a mysterious disease called the Blue Death on the Quien Sabe ranch, owned by Pratt, who now poses as Hank Weaver. Thomas falls in love with Weaver's daughter Jenny but she resists his affection, thinking that he is a spy for a rival ranch, until he saves her from the Blue Death. In the end, Weaver discovers that he is not in disgrace and accepts an important post in Washington where Jenny and Thomas realize their love for each other.
