The Dugdale Millions — page 220: what you’re looking at

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

CHAPTER XXII. MRS. STANTON’S INTRIGUE. On this occasion the Stanton family was not asked to dine with the claimant. Consequently before the people from Springhiil reached ‘“‘ The Larches,”’ dinner had been dispatched. Mrs. Stantonand Wallis sought Bessie in the drawing-room, while Mr. Stanton and Dick went into the library, where Mr. Hetlow and Harold Pierson were smoking. Dick had hoped for a meeting with Bessie if only for a moment, and indeed Wallis had endeavored to bring one about, but Mr. Stanton had prevented it, by insisting that Dick should accompany him at once to the library. Whatever fear Bob might have entertained as to the effect of the discovery made by Dick on the previous Monday, it was quite apparent that he had been re- assured by the welcome accorded him by Mr. Hetlow. When Mr. Stanton and Dick entered he was enjoying his cigar with a serene confidence that greatly im- pressed Dick. Before he took a seat, Dick asked a few moments’ private conversation with Mr. Hetlow. The old merchant was not a little astonished at the request, but nevertheless accorded it. ‘To him Dick related the conversation with Harold Pierson on the cars, and concluding, said : “JT feel I have unduly prejudiced you by what I told you on Monday, and it seemed to me due to young Pierson that I should, before you go on with this talk to-night, tell you this.” “TI am very glad you have,” warmly replied Mr. 219 Comicboolkk<s C@ 3