The Dugdale Millions — page 164: what you’re looking at

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

be 154 THE DUGDALE MILLIONS, his wife, “ please tell me what relevancy that has to anything said here.”’ “ Have you found that baby you and Mr. Mason were planning to hunt for, on the veranda a few days ago ?”’ she asked, with an expression of blended cun- ning and triumph, The old lawyer looked with helpless wonder from Wallis to Dick, both of whom were striving hard to maintain their gravity. ‘‘ Mrs. Stanton is alluding to our conversation of a few days ago, when we talked of the best means to be employed in the search for the Dugdale child,” inter- posed Dick, when he could control his voice and face. “Oh?” ejaculated the lawyer, resuming his meal, “Yes, that baby has been found, I imagine. He wil! be at Mr. Hetlow’s house next Friday.” It was now Mrs. Stanton’s turn to be astonished. “What!” she cried. ‘“ Mr. Hetlow will do that! He is willing to receive that child into his own house, his daughter living there too! I would not have be- lieved it of him.” “What are you talking of now?” demanded Mr. Stanton, thoroughly mystified. Wallis and Dick, unable to control themselves longer, burst into loud laughter. ‘“‘ Oh, it is very amusing, I have no doubt,” exclaimed the indignant lady sarcastically. ‘Though I question the wisdom of his.act, I cannot but admire the friend- ship Mr. Hetlow displays toward Mr. Stanton. It is an extraordinary thing to do, merely to shield him.” “Shield whom ?”’ cried Mr. Stanton, now thoroughly exasperated. “‘What nonsense is this? Have you taken leave of your senses? I have nothing to do with it. It is his own act.” “Which makes it all the more generous,” replied the good lady complacently. ‘ Who is to bring the baby to him?” “Well,” answered the old lawyer, with a grin, “I Comicbookks C@ 3