Beadle's Dime Novels No. 13 — page 26: what you’re looking at

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

28 CEDAR SWAMP; OR, WILD NAT’S BRIGADE. killed off before I get a chance to enjoy this fortune of mine.” pater “Perhaps it may be as well to stay here. You never could live in London without money, and your pockets are net par- ticularly replete with ¢hat article.” “T know they haven’t been; but this little fortune I was speaking about is sufficient to keep me floating until I can carry off a rich wife. Three thousand a-year is not such an insignificant sum.” ; “Tt is concerning that ‘small fortune’ that I wish to speak. . If you will tak@ the trouble to recall the words of your letter from Thompson & Smith, you will remember that they stated the fact in nearly_these words: ‘Although, at the present time we can scarce’ speak with absolute certainty, yet, we have the pleasure of announcing, in all probability you are heir to an estate of three thousand a year. We would not advise you to announce this as a fact, until we discover whether there be any nearer relatives to the deceased than yourself. At present, we know of none.” Are not these the words 2” “I must confess that you are better posted in the matter of the letter than Iam. If you ask my opinion, I should say they are the precise words.” “Well, then, listen. By these papers which you see upon the table, it is announced that 4 nearer relative to the gentle- man who left the property has ‘been discovered, and that your chances of again shining in London life are decidedly slim— for the present, at least.” : , The careless expression which had been resting on Preston's face, suddenly vanished under this, to him, remarkably un- pleasing intelligence. ; “ Good heavens, general! You do not mean to say that’ all my plans are to be disarranged, and hopes blasted in this shockingly disagreeable manner. Those Thompsons and Smiths must be a set of thorough-faced rascals. As to my uncle’s leaving any relatives outside of our family, and nearer than myself, I am sure it’s a mistake, or else a trumped-up claim. His wife died forty years ago, and his only son was killed among the Indians, nearly as long since.” “You have hit the right nail on the head, to use a vulgar expression. That son is the person to whom I refer. Te comiclooks.com