The Dugdale Millions — page 209: what you’re looking at

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

DICK’S DISCOVERY. 199 “ Well, sir, starting with the assumption you yourself made, there can be no other outcome,” replied Dick, firmly but respectfully. “Your grounds are too vague, too unsubstantial,” said the old merchant sharply. Dick did not reply for atime. Both were thinking on their own lines and both would have been startled had each given the other his thoughts. Finally Dick broke the silence by asking: “Mr. Hetlow, if you assume that Harold Pierson is in fact young Dugdale, the search for Dugdale is ended, and the commission I received at your hands six weeks ago is accomplished.” “‘T presume so,” replied the merchant indifferently. “If that view is taken by you I will ask to be re- lieved from further charge of the matter, and beg to be permitted to return to the duties of my department. In some things it is suffering for want of proper at- tention.” The old merchant was now interested. “ But I don’t think the matter has reached the point where we can assume that. I think you should still devote some further time to the matter.” “ Then, sir, I should ask to be permitted to pursue an investigation on the lines I have suggested this morn- ing.” “ You seem strangely persistent in this.” “Perhaps lam, As I have said I am strongly im- pressed. My suspicions have been aroused and are alert. There is, however, another matter influencing me. It was pointed out to me by Mr. Stanton, though it had never been in my mind until then, that in view of the ” he brought himself up with a round turn, for in his earnestness he was about to admit to Mr. Hetlow his fondness for Bessie, but recovering quickly on thinking that if ever there was an issue to be made between Mr. Hetlow and himself on this matter, there could be no better time, he went on—‘ that in view of a certain fact, the mention of which is not es- Comicbookks 3