Roxy Hastings — page 181: what you’re looking at

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

172 - ROXY HASTINGS. After a little while he proposed to depart, alleging 1m- perative business, and promising to see the Lees again be- fore he left the city. ‘Tf, I can find my son,” he said, “and he has not already lost or squandered your property, all will be well in that respect. It shall be restored.” “And if it is lost we will make it good, George.” “1 don’t know about that.” “But I have a little property—that shall go toward it.” ‘“T don’t know about that either. But we’ll do our best to find him. Ihave not much hope myself, especially if he has made a large haul, but I shall advertise, and perhaps he will come to us—on your promise not to prosecute. May I put that in the advertisement ?” ‘“Oh, yes, yes,” replied the widow. “Very well, I’ll try. Come, Maria, come.” But Maria proved unable now to walk without aid. The strength of her first excitement had passed, and having sat down, she found it difficult to rise—and another swoon seemed imminent. | Mrs. Lee and Laura begged that she might stay with them through the day, and her husband, after some demur, consented, and went alone, promising to return after her in . the evening. CHAPTER XX XITI. “THAT IS NOT MY SON.” Breakfast, which had been all this time delayed, was now ordered, and Mrs. Eldon was prevailed upon to sit at the table and take a cup of tea, while her new friends did what they could to alleviate her distress. Major Todd had gone out after brief consultation with Laura and her mother to give notice of the robbery at a police station near by, and to describe as nearly as he could the appearance of the burglar. So much, he said, was absolutely due to Charles’ interests, whatever might be the result. If Louis was arrested and there was any way to shield him from punishment afterward, well and good. But they must not neglect any chance to recover the property, in regard to the nature or amount of which no one had any distinct idea. But what was the old major’s astonishment on telling Gomicbooks.co