The Dugdale Millions — page 73: what you’re looking at

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

A TALE AND A DISCOVERY. 03 gir with its music. The two men laughed together in sympathy. | ‘‘You may laugh,’’ protested Mrs. Stanton, much wexea. ~ But itis true, I heard him arranging for its care,”’ “With whom indeec?’’ laughed Wallis, for she per- ceived that her aunt was seized by one of her fits of unreasoning jealousy. *“With Mr, Mason. I knew that young man had something to do with it, when he first came here.’’ *“Why, nonsense, auntie,’’ said Wallis, ‘‘they were doubtlessly talking about the young man Mr. Mason is looking for—the Dugdale heir.’’ **Do they call a young man who is twenty-six if he is a day, a baby?’’ asked Mrs. Stanton severely. **Well, hardly,’’ confirmed Wallis, still unconvinced. ‘Is a baby two years old an heir to the Dugdale property?’’ queried Mrs. Stanton, following up her advantage. "Mo, 1 Should think not,”* *“This baby is two years old.’’ ‘Why, auntie, how do you know?’’ “Didn’t I teil you I heard your uncle admit it? Didn’t they sit out on the veranda and shamelessly discuss it? Your uncle figured up—the wretch—and said it was two years old this summer. And didn’t they both talk of the baby having been lost? put away by its mother—the shameless thing—and didn’t your uncle beg Mr. Mason to make every effort to trace it? And didn’t I hear him say he thought those Powers had it?’’ ‘And who are the Powers?’’ asked Wallis, bewil- dered by the proof her aunt was piling up, yet still certain and confident as to the moral integrity of her uncle. ‘‘How do you suppose I should know?’’ demanded her aunt indignantly. ‘‘If I cid, wouldn't | goat once and demand the proof by which I could forever shame Comicbookks C@ 5}