The Dugdale Millions — page 320: what you’re looking at

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

310 THE DUGDALE MILLIONS. man, or wrest the box from him. Thinking that he meant to strike Mr. Stanton, sore and bruised as he was, Dick stepped in between them to prevent it. But Harold controlled himself in time. “Are you wild?” cried Mr. Hetlow to Mr. Stanton. “No, Iam not. I have become suddenly possessed of the proof as to who ts the real Dugdale. Here! here itis !’’ tapping the box. “It isnot Harold Pier- son but——”’ He hesitated a moment as with an impressive ges- ture he swept his arm up, and exclaimed, pointing to him : “Itis Richard Mason! There! He is the true Reir | Dick, utterly overwhelmed, dropped into the chair behind him, as if he were shot. Mr. Hetlow, amazed, thought the lawyer had been suddenly bereft of his senses. He stared at him al- most stupidly. In the meantime, attracted by the confusion, Bessie and Wallis who, in the hall, had vainly endeavored to obtain from Mrs. Stanton its meaning, entered the library in time to hear Mr. Stanton’s announcement and Mr. Hetlow’s contemptuous reply of : ‘“ Pshaw! man!” “Do you not believe it?” asked the old lawyer energetically, throwing the box on the large table in such a manner that it slid over its smooth surface di- rectly to the hand of Mr. Hetlow. ‘Then examine the contents of that box.” Mr. Hetlow opened the box, and looking at the papers, became convinced as quickly as the lawyer had been. During this exchange Harold Pierson had been anx- iously looking from one to the other. He did nat know what those contents were, nor how strong the proof of the announcement Mr. Stanton had made Comicbooks.€© 3}