Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-10-03
LOVE Or Money;
OR,
A PERILOUS SECRET,
BIZ CHARLES READE,
Author of 'ePut Yourself in His Plaza"
etc., ETC., etc.

Monckton lighted a cigarette. Clever
grill" said he, satiricalIy. "She knew
me, and never Winked."
The next day he went to the lawyer
and SAID. L have a little favor to ask
you, sir"
Ihe lawyer was on his guard directly,
but said nothing.
An intervieW-in this ofice-with
Mrs. Braham"
The lawyer WINGED, but went on his
guard again directly.
Client of ours?"
Eyes, sir"
aBraham2 Braham?" said the lawyer.
affecting to search the deep caverns of
professional memory.
Stockholders wife"
where do they live?"
What don't you know? Place of
Observation-Disclosures Street. Place
of 6igon1y-Portman Square"
L have no authority to grant a per-
sonal interview with any such person."
But you have no power to hinder
one, and it is to her interest the meet
ing should take place here, and the
st0ck-broker be out of it."
The lawyer reflected.
"WilI you promise me it shall be
friendly interview? You Will never go
to her husbandP
Her stock-broker you mean. Not I.
Ii she comes to me here when / want
her."
"Will that be often?"
Il think not. / have better card to
play than Mrs. Braham. l only want
her to help me to find certain people.
Shall we say twelve o'clock tomorrow"
The lawyer called on Mrs. Braham.
I,f4 tod I'll.
view, persuaded her to keep the ap-
pointment.
Consider" said he, what you gain
by making our office the place Of meet
ing. Establish that at once. It's a
point of defence"
The meeting took place in the law
yer's private room, and Mrs. Braham
was so overcome that she nearly faint
ed. Then she was hysterical, and finally
tears relieved her.
When she came to this point, Monck-
ton, who had looked upon the whole
exhibition as a mere preliminary form
observed by females, said;
Come, Lucy, don't be silly. | am not
here to spoil your little game. but to
play my own. The question is, viii you
help me to make my fortune"
"Oh, that will, if you will not break
up my home"
"N0t such fool, my dear Catch me
killing milchcoW! You give me per-
centage on.your profits, and I'm dumb"
Then all you want is more money!
THAT is all; and | shall not want that
in a months time"
L have brought e1OO, Leonard" she
said, timidly.
Sensible girl. Hand it over"
Two white hands trembled at the
strings of little bag, and took out ten
crisp notes.
Leonard took them with satisfaction.
There" said he. "This will last me
till l have found BARLEY and Hope, and
made my fortune"
"Hopel" said Mrs. Braham. ooh, pray
keep clear of himl Pray don't attack
him again. He is such an able mani"
l will not attack him again to be de-
feated. ForeWarned, forearmed. In
deed, if | am to bleed BARLEY, I don't
know how | can be revenged on Hope.
that Is the cruel thing. But don't you
trouble about my business, Lucy, I'M
less" said he, with a sheer, you cantell
me where to find them, and so save me
lot of money"
well, Leonard" said Lucy, cit can't
be SO very hard to find Hope. You
know where that young man lives that
you-that t"
"Oh, Walter Clifford! Yes, of course
| know where he lives. AT Clifford Hall,
In Derbyshire."
well, Leonard Hope saved him from
prison, and ruined you. That young
man had a good heart. He would not
forget such kindness. He may not
know where Mr.. BARLEY lives, butsure-
ly he will know where Hope is"
Lucy" said Leonard, you are not
such fool as you were. 1t lisa chance,
at all events. III go down to that neigh
borhood directly. I'll have first-rate
disguise, and spy about, and pick up all
/ can"
And you will never say anything OF
do anythingto-Oh, Leonard, I'm a
bad wife. / never can be a good one
now to anybody. But I'm good moth
er; and thought God had forgiven me,
when he sent me my little angel. You
Will never ruin his poor mother, and
make her darling blush for her"
Curse me If do" said Leonard, be-
trayed into moments warmth. But
he was soon himself again. There"
said he, I'll leave the little bloke my
inheritance. Perhaps you don't know
I'm heir TO large estate in WeStmOre-
land; no end of land, and half a lake,
and only eleCes 6reS betaCeen the estate and
me. | will leave my great expectations
to that young bloke. What's his Chris
tan manner"
Augustus"
And what's his fathers name?"
Jonathan"
Leonard then left all his property,
real and personal, and all that should
ever accrue to him, to Augustus Bra
ham, son of Jonathan Braham, and left
+ Lucy Braham sole eNecutriX and trustee.
Then he hurried into the outer office,
signed this document, and got it wit
messed. The clerks proposed to en-
gross it.
@What for?" said he. "This is the
strongest form. All in the same hand
writing as the signature; forgery made
easy are your engrosSed wills"
He took it in to Mrs. Braham, and
read it to her, and gave it to her. He
meant it all as joke: he read it with
sheer. But the mothers heart over
flowed. She put it in her bosom, and
kissed his hand.
"Oh. Leonard" said she, God bless
you'll Now | see you mean no i'll to me
and mine. You don't lOUa me enough to be
J angry acith me- But it all comes back to
me. A woman can't forget her first.
Now promise me one thing; don't give
way to revenge or avarice. You are so
wise when you are cool, but no man can
give way to his passions and be wise.
Why run any more risks? He is liberal
to me, and I'm not extravaganza. / can
allow you more than / said, and wrong
nobody"
Monckton interrupted her, thus:
"There, old girl, you are good sort;
YOU always were. But not bleed that
skunk BARLEY, and not be revenged on
that villain Hope? I'd rather die where