The Dugdale Millions — page 325: what you’re looking at

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DETECTED AND CAPTURED. 318 box, the others watching him eagerly. As Dick entered, Mr. Hetlow exclaimed : ‘‘ Mason, these proofs are conclusive. Here is the receipt given by Thomas Mason, whose hand I know as well as my own, for the child of Edmund Dugdale, clearly setting forth the story as to how he came to adopt him, and how it came about that the child was in the hands of James Powers. There is no question that the child of Edmund Dugdale was adopted by Thomas Mason, the one who reared and educated you. I have known you from your childhood, and I know that you are the one who is the adopted child of Thomas Mason. You are indeed the heir to the Dugdale estates.” | All of these things had occurred with such rapidity that Dick could hardly comprehend that it was upon him that this great fortune had descended. He said : ‘ “} can hardly comprehend it, sir. I know I was adopted by Thomas Mason, but how could I have been the son of Edmund Dugdale, and at the same time the nephew of Thomas Mason, who was not of kin of the Dugdales by marriage or otherwise.” ‘Heavens!’ exclaimed Mr. Stanton, “but that is so.” “No,” replied Mr. Hetlow. “I can explain that. Tom Mason grew to be very fond of you, and when he believed it was his duty to tell you that you were his adopted son he could not bring himself to have you think you were not of his own blood. So he 1n- vented the fiction that you were a nephew. I knew it at the time. I have respected his wish in this matter as Mrs. Mason did in her life. I never did know, however, the circumstances surrounding your adoption.” Dick was silent a long time, a multitude of thoughts rushing over his brain. The future was so wast he could not comprehend it. One thought, however, CoMmicloo® S C@ 3