The Dugdale Millions — page 18: what you’re looking at

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

8 THE DUGDALE MILLIONS. he said was his aunt, and that his name was Edmund Dugdale. Not having heard at the time of the differ- ences between Edmund and his father, believing him still to be pursuing his gay career in London, and because the man was so shabby and clearly in want of money, we treated him as an impostor. That 1s all. You have everything I can tell you and acarte blanche to proceed as you think best.”’ Dick went out, carrying the papers with him. As the door closed upon him he stood still in the passage- way that led to his own room, with his head bent to the floor for some time, and then he spoke his thoughts aloud. ‘*Well,’’ he ejaculated, ‘‘by the great hickory post that played the banjo before General Jackson, this is a go! I don’t think I quite take it allin. Iam in love with Bessie Hetlow. Whether she is with me is an unsolved problem, and before it is solved, she rises upon my vision as an heiress of gigantic possibilities and proportions, and I am asked to find a man who, if he exists and presents himself, wiil reduce her to a pov- erty of about a hundred thousand a year. Iam to do this wrong to the woman I love. If I do not find this young man, or find him dead, she will sail off into the region where lords and dukes disport the prismatic rays of their jeweled coronets as glittering baits to trap unwary heiresses and wholly beyond my reach. If I do not find him, the aforesaid dukes and princes will not spread their glittering bait and there may bea chance for Dick Mason, who has nothing but his vir- tues and good clothes to commend him.”’ He lost himself in thought again. Finally he walked off, saying: *“My heart aches for that poor young man, deprived of all the luxuries these millions would bring him. I'll find him if it takes one of these shapely legs. It will be tough on Bessie, but then she can compensate Comicloo S C@ 3