The Dugdale Millions — page 155: what you’re looking at

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

CONFLICTING INTERESTS. 145 control, or extraordinary indifference. However, that is not to say that his story may not be true.’’ ‘‘T’ll confess to a feeling of disappointment, and to a wish that the search had turned out differently,’’ said Mr. Hetlow. ‘‘However, I presume we have nothing else to do but to retire and let him take the property.’’ ‘‘When he has proved his identity, and not until mien,” interposed Mr. Stanten energetically. “A great deal must be done before he can become pos- sessed of the property. JI admuiut that at present every- thing indicates that the young man has been found. But it all wants confirmation and corroboration.’’ “‘Let me state the situation as it seems to me,’’ he continued, hitching his chair closer to the table and placing his elbow upon it. ‘‘Samuel Dugdale dies intestate. The next of kin is ason of Edmund Dug- dale—a grandson—of whose existence, or, if alive, of whose whereabouts, there 1s no knowledge sufficient to form a belief. Failing his appearance, your daugh- ter is next of kin. In the absence of any knowledge whatever, you would have been justified, both in law and morals, in preferring the claims of your daughter and in seizing the property, and maintaining possession, until] dispossessed by strong proof, were the nearest claimant to appear. But you did not do so. You set on foot an energetic effort to determine whether the next of kin was alive or dead, and, if alive, to inform him of the estate awaiting him. In this I think you were nght, both from a high moral ground and from the lower one of expediency. Now, as a result of that effort, you have found one who, upon a first consideration of the matter, seems to be the man. You have done your whole duty. Nocom- pulsion rested upon you to do what you have done. It was merely an obligation of honor. You have nothing more to do in this direction than to tell the young man that, if he really is the son of Edmund an aa CoOmicboeclk< C@ 3}