The Dugdale Millions — page 12: what you’re looking at

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

2 THE DUGDALE MILLIONS. Once out of sight of the clerks, all of whom he knew were watching him covertly, he stopped and bent his head in deep thought. After a brief moment rousing himself, he said aloud in a low tone. ‘‘He has come to know that I went up last night to that garden party at Farmington. Well, even so! Suppose his charming daughter was stopping at the Negleys’! He cannot expect to control the invita- tions sent out by the people his daughter visits. He can hardly have learned that my invitation was due to the kindly offices of the charming Bessie. Perhaps he has come to know that I spent an hour with that sweet girl behind the ferns in the greenery. If he has, someone stayed up all night to inform him, Well, here goes for a tussle with the Tycoon. There will be a row, I suppose.”’ He hurried along the corridor, at the end of which there was a door on which there was a silver plate, bearing the name of the head of the concern. He opened it without knocking, and stepped in, with the easy assurance of one who knew he had the entrée, The room was sumptuously furnished for a business office. The carpet on the floor was so thick as to deaden all footfalls; easy-chairs of stuffed leather abounded; on the walls were oil paintings and about the room rare bits of china and valuable bronzes. In one corner, at a desk, so placed that the best light fell upon it, was sitting an impressive-looking old gentle- man, portly, gray-headed, dignified in demeanor. **You wished to see me, I understand,’’ said Dick, as he approached the desk, leaning his left elbow on the top, in an easy manner. Mr. Hetlow looked up from the papers over which he was poring, with a frown on his brow, which faded away as he looked upon the pleasant picture of youth and manly beauty Dick presented, braced as he was for the contest he anticipated. CoMmicloeo® S C@ 3