Bob Younger's Fate — page 169: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

160 BOB YOUNGER’S FATE. an awful fate. I donot remember of ever having heard of a sadder case.”’ “You are positive of his identity with Samuel Howard’s nephew?’’ “Positive; I have all the proofs with me; but un- | fortunately, there is another serious phase to the matter.’’ — ‘And that?’’ ‘‘Theo Howard died deeply in debt. It was a strange condition of affairs to find, on examining his accounts, that he owed a hundred thousand dollars to one person.”’ ‘“‘Is it possible? And he so young.”’ ‘The saddest part of a very sad affair, in my esti- mation. It seems that he was seized by a speculat- ing mania, and on being successful at first he went deeper, intending to secure a fortune at one stroke, but lost all. This gentleman, Julian Stark, can ex- plain the affair at greater length than I am able,”’ looking with a deep frown at the person indicated. Julian Stark, otherwise Jim. Younger, bowed stiffly, as if offended at the words of introduction. ‘“Mr. Younger evidently intends to throw discredit upon me and my business methods,’’ he said, an- erily; ‘but I wish both you and him to understand. that the debt was contracted in a legitimate way, and will be collected in like manner.’’ tae ‘‘Let him collect it, then,’’? said Bob, in an equally angry tone, and seizing his hat he was about to withdraw, when the doctor in some _ trepidation. stopped him. “Cannot we settle this matter among us three, gentlemen? You will remember that Mr. Howard’s distinct wish was a settlement without going to law about it.” “I would prefer to have nothing to do with it,’’ said Bob, firmly. ‘‘Dispose of it to suit yourselves.”’ “‘But how about the proofs?’’ “Oh, the proofs are all right. Theo owed Stark, and his signature appended to the note in the gentle- man’s possession is genuine. This man is Stark; of that you need have no doubt, much as I dislike to tell youso. As I knew Theo was in debt to him, I Eomicbooks (E(@)