The Dugdale Millions — page 38: what you’re looking at

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

28 THE DUGDALE MILLIONS. ‘*I see,’’ said Mr. Stanton. ‘‘I employed Dugdale and discharged him under an accusation I subse- quently learned did him wrong, and I sought to repair my error, but I was too late. He was dying when I went to see him and so I buried him as the best thing I could do. But I have no knowledge of a child.’’ **Probably,’’ said Dick. ‘‘We know his child dis- appeared several days before his death. My object in calling upon you, was to ask if you could tell me something of the surroundings of Edmund Dugdale.”’ By this time Mrs. Stanton lost interest in the con- versation, and made an excuse to retire. *‘I knew nothing about Dugdale when he came to me,’’ said Mr. Stanton, taking up the dialogue after Mrs. Stanton went out. ‘‘He wrote an excellent hand, and that was his sole recommendation. I came to believe he had been unfortunate, had not been accus- tomed to earning his living, and had seen more pros- perous days than those he had fallen on with me. But he never talked of himself, nor did I ask him any questions,”’ ‘*Did you know anyone who knew him in those days?”’ ‘‘No,’’ replied Mr. Stanton indifferently. Dick thought he would have to enlist the old man’s interest by telling him the tale of the fortune begging for an heir, since he seemed so indifferent, so he said: ‘‘Edmund Dugdale’s son is the heir to a great for- tune. I do not presume Mr. Hetlow desires wide publicity of the affair, but so distinguished a lawyer as you are, and one having such wide experience, is accustomed to holding great secrets, and Iam quite sure I will not go astray in telling you the story.”’ Whereupon he told it all as he had received it from Mr. Hetlow and as he had gathered it from the written reports made by Samuel Dugdale’s clerk to his em- ployer. He had the satisfaction of seeing that he had Comicloeo “S C@ 3