The Dugdale Millions — page 317: what you’re looking at

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

CHAPTER XXXI. DETECTED AND CAPTURED. Waite this conference was going forward at “ The Larches,” Mrs. Stanton was in a condition of mind bordering on the frantic at Springhill. From time to time she walked to the end of the veranda from which a view of ** The Larches ” could be had, to watch for the return of her husband. She feared Harold Pierson would confess his participa- tion inthe burglary and, thus involving her, expose her to her husband’s anger. At one time she wished she had accompanied the others so that she could have escaped the suspense she was now suffering from, while at cther times she was glad she had not, for had the revelation been made in her presence, she felt she wouid have been covered with confusion and humiliation before the others. In this most uncomfortable frame of mind she wan- dered about the house. She went into the library and, taking the box out of the drawer in which she had piaced it, tried without success to open it. Suddenly it occurred to her that when that morn- ing she had gone into the room occupied by Dick, to see that it had been properly cared for, she had seen a small key lying upon the dressing-case. Fired by the thought that it might possibly be the key te the box, and that if it were, she could obtain the information therefrom by which to confound her husband, were he to come home with the know. ledge of the foolish confidence she had given to Harold Pierson, she hastened upstairs. She found the key still lying on the case, and securing it hurried back to 37 Comicloeo S 3}