The Dugdale Millions — page 47: what you’re looking at

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

A GOOD FRIEND. 37 that I so desire them that I would deprive the rightful owner?’’ ‘““God forbid,’’ answered Dick fervently. ‘‘Answer me?’’ she demanded. ‘‘Am I so merce- nary, sO avaricious, that you think I would commit crime to obtain them? Is that your opinion of me?’’ _“‘I do not think you are either mercenary or avari- cious 5 He stopped short, holding his voice in suspense, not as if he had ended a sentence, but rather as if he had suddenly checked himself, and endeavored to appear as if he completed it. ‘“But what, sir?’’ she demanded imperiously. “You are not frank. Finish your sentence, please.”’ ‘““T was about to add that I could quite well under- stand that a young lady, dazzled by the sudden vision of almost boundless wealth, could, without being charged with being mercenary or avaricious, desire that events should turn in her favor.”’ **Oh,’’ she said, with an evident sneer, ‘‘you are lenient in your opinions of our sex. I have no desire fou Wat forte, Deo you. believe it? It 1s. true, Never, from the moment my father revealed the pos- sibilities, have I desired its possession. And I hope from the bottom of my heart you will find the young man Dugdale.”’ Never in all her life, thought Dick, was she ever so admirable as then, when with flashing eyes and height- ened color, she stood erect before him, repelling the imputation she perversely attributed tohim. Perhaps she perceived his very evident admiration, for the color deepened in her face, as she said: ‘“However, this fortune has served to show me my fair-weather friends.”’ She waited for a reply, and so Dick said; **T am afraid I do not comprehend that remark.”’ She bent a look of deep scorn upon him and said: 6 Comicboclk C@ 3}