The Dugdale Millions — page 133: what you’re looking at

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

THE RED SHAWL, 123 After we saw the piece in the papers, my husband said I’d best go on. It might be important.”’ ‘It is,’’ replied Dick. ‘“*‘Most important. When you were four or five years old, and your father and mother lived in MacDougall Street, they had a lodger named Dugdale, who died there and left a child, which your mother cared for until it was adopted by some persons unknown tome. Do you recollect anything of this?’’ ‘“‘I recollect hearing my mother telling the story.’’ “Is your mother alive?’’ ‘‘No, sir; she’s been dead nine years, father ten.’’ ‘‘Ah!’’ exclaimed Dick, beginning to have more trust in:Ransom by reason of this confirmation. ‘‘Do you recollect the name of the person who adopted the child?”’ ‘‘No, sir; I do not. I don’t know that I ever heard it.’’ By this time Dick perceived that Mrs. Jenkins was greatly disappointed as to the business she was called on. Rightly judging that imagination had suggested to these good people the possibilities of advantages to themselves, to accrue from the inquiry which had been put on foot, Dick with ready tact bent himself to en- list her interest. With some reservations, dwelling upon the high connections of her mother’s lodger and the immense fortune awaiting the child her mother had cared for, Dick told the story, winding up with the statement that he knew she had been put to trouble and ex- penses, for which she would be amply compensated. Having overcome her disappointment, he plied her with many questions. But nothing he did not already know was elicited. Failing on this tack, he tried to learn if there were not some persons still alive who might have knowledge of the adoption. Mrs. Jenkins thought possibly an aunt, who lived with her father and mother about that time, might have Comicloeo® S C@ 3