The Dugdale Millions — page 227: what you’re looking at

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

MRS. STANTON’S INTRIGUE. 217 He felt that Mr. Hetlow was inclined to accept him for what he represented himself to be; that Wallis and Bessie regarded him with an indifference that was almost void of interest, a fact which puzzled him so far as Bessie was concerned, since she had so much to lose by his success, and that Mr. Stanton and Dick looked upon him with distrust and suspicion. There- fore to have one of the group, even if her influence upon the situation must be slight, his friend was an opportunity not to be lost. Finding that her proffer of friendship was eagerly accepted Mrs. Stanton proceeded to confidences. She related her reason for belief in her husband’s in- fidelity, dilating upon her dreams and the cards which had confirmed her belief, and closing with the state- ment that she was a miserable and wronged woman. Bob thought at first Mrs. Stanton was not altogether sound in her mind, although he listened attentively aud respectfully. When, however, she passed on to her description of the way Mason had conspired with her husband, drawing in Mr. Hetlow, to cloak his wrong-doings, under the specious device of a search for the Dugdale heir, he began to believe that there was some purpose in what she was saying. When the blonde woman in a red shawl made her appearance, and he began to realize that a factor in his conspiracy was presented, he was no longer indolently interested, but somewhat alarmed, for it was an element not con- sidered or known in their intrigue. But when the event of the afternoon was recited, and the blonde woman inared shawl was discovered to be a daughter of James Powers, that she had brought a tin box, in which was the evidence of the adoption of Dugdale’s child and of the person to whom it was given, but which Mrs. Stanton firmly believed contained the evi- dence of her husband’s moral turpitude, Bob was panicstricken, and his first impulse was to fly from the house and put himself in a place of safety. Comicbookks C@© 3}