The Dugdale Millions — page 184: what you’re looking at

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

174 THE DUGDALE MILLIONS, death of Samuel Dugdale, and of the estate seeking an heir, Mr, Hetlow told of the search set on foot by himself and conducted by Dick. ‘‘ Now,” he said, ‘‘ while it is a fact that this search seems to have resulted in an end which I am free to confess I did not anticipate, still the indications are, strongly, that you are the missing heir to the Dugdale estate, for if Mr. Mason correctly understood Mr. Orton Pierson he received you in adoption from one James Powers, who declared you were a child of Edmund Dugdale who had died in his house.” ‘“‘ Heir tothe Dugdale estate!” repeated the young man, with an excellent assumption of bewilderment, and turning to Dick, said: : “T thought father said you told him a legacy only had fallen to me?” “That was an assumption of your father,” returned Dick smiling. “ At that time I did not think it my duty to undeceive him.” | ‘‘ No,’ said Mr. Hetlow, “if you are in fact the son of Edmund Dugdale, you are the heir to all of Sam- uel Dugdale’s estate, for he died intestate.”’ The young man did not reply for some time, remain- ing silent, as if he was too much astonished and be- wildered to speak. Dick, watching closely, could see no elation in him; indeed, his face and manner had taken on a very sober air. Reaching forward, the young man took a cigar from the table, lit it, smoked it for a moment or two, as if unconscious of the act. Then, with an air of slight embarrassment, which be- came him well, he said: “If I have understood you aright, the discovery of myself and the establishment of my identity deprive Miss Hetlow of this fortune.” “Ves, «replied Mr, Hetlow gravely : “if itsceag be termed depriving her of that which was never hers, so long as the son of Edmund Dugdale ex- tsted.”” Comicbookks C@ 5}