The Dakota chief. (Gann Valley, Buffalo County, S.D.) 18??-1913, 1896-10-15
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CHAPTER Xxx.

In the great loft OF a many-storied build
Ing, one Of those giant warehouses OF
which 1ondoners are excessively proud.
There was hustle in the crowded and
numbered yard, always a busy spot.
above which were inscribed the words,
''Crump. Marsh & Caxton, Importers"
Mr.. Marsh moved about the encum-
brred yard. giving orders personally
now and then. but not as a rule intcrfer-
ing in the general management Of tn"
place.
A letter. sir" said one of the mes
sengers. coming up to his employer with ,
note III his hand.
"Heydpy", exclaimed Mr.. Marsh. arch
ing his eyebrows. "What's this
There must have been something IN
usual in the aspect Of this particular let
ter to have elected a start and an excla-
nation IF surprise from so experienced
A man Of business as Mr.. Ephraim Marsh.
This pink envelope. highly scented. was
directed. in an unmistakahly fcminin"
hand. to
"Ephraim Marsh. Esquire.
creek Lane.
City of London"
He opened it with visible reluctance.
glanced at its contents. and exclaimed:
"Heydey,' again and more emphaticaly
than before. TO all appearance" he was
not satisfied with this cursory inspection
Of the missivc. for he mad" haste to enter
II compartment, of the glazed counting
house sacred 10 himself. and pulling out
his gold-rimmed sppclacle>. proceeded IN
d l~e;surely way to read the ep%istle.
Ileedfully he pat away the letter and
lis envelope in an inner pocket Of his coat.
When he emerged from his own glazed
den Mr.. Marsh was IA changed man. His
hrougham stood waiting in the lane with
out, the coachman. like Il doctors coach
man. on the alert.
Home. James: and drive fast. will
you:' said the merchant. shortly. And
the carriage dashed off quickly in the
direction Of Dagger Court. +. G.
The houses in Dagger Court are all old.
All are Solillv built. good seasoned "akpn
timbers miAg}jng with such brickwork aS
now moves the regretful envy of cou>ri-
rnriou> contractors. The rooms which
Mr.. Mars inhabited a tirst-iioor So If
apartments were approached by a STAIR
case. ny which. according To the Old say
ing. ii coach-and-siX might have been
driven. 50 broad and easy were the shall
low steps in hlack"n"1 oak while III"
ba!usters wc,r heavy with grapes and ap-
pos and ro~~r,l>t,r>. carved 10y forgot
Ten chiscls ot those VIA" must HAY" loved
their haniiVorh loIg -" IN ia" dim past.
As soon aS he |roacnci the biz 10"
drawing room. with it, ceiling eHblazon-
Ell with mythology. Ill, an after-taslc OF
the Renaissance. Mr.. Marsh onrc more
inspected THO pink better that had REACHED
him ut his place If business Thc letter
ran thus;
Sir 20 not know whether You ar"
aware that your ward. Miss Violet Now
bray. is the lawful poss"Ssor OF seventy
thousand pounds sterling, If which she is
depri sed by fraud. Also. | have TO tell
you that an ~unprinciplrd u,an, who knows
ii this circumstance. is trying to win hey
~ become his wife, 10 possess himself If
the money.
"A TRt T. FRIEND"
The thing = only an anonymous let
ter cont"mptuously remarked Mr..
Marsh, pursuing up his lips and knitting
hi, brows: and yet old Gen. Yorkc. II
was Thought. would have made his niece
his hcirrss-and Violet was her only child:
vet | have seen his will with no mention
Of the name Of Mowbray in il. and be
,,%rpathiug what he had to leave to more
distant kin>io!k. He was rcputed rich.
bat report plays strange tricks with the
sum total Of the ~ wings Of these old In
.iian generals. His viii was duly proved.
But there rlay have been a codicil: or
there may have been Il trust deed
again Mr.. Marsh looked frowningly at
me pink paper. and again h" shook his
head. He was a considerations man. His
guardianship Of Violet Mowbray was one
Of his most sacred duties in his eyes. He
looked AZ his watch. Then he rang the
hell. The oddes, little man s%"rvant-a
year of TWO older than his maSi"r-camc
presently into the room in answer 10 the
ring
Juniper" said Mr.. Marsh. in a tone
.f assumed Indifference. Il shall not sleep
here tonight. ! am going out Of town.
and | want you to pack my portmanteau,
since | have just time TO catch the ] 40
rxpress.' And in a few minutes more
h, was in his cab. bound for the terminus.
CHAPTER MI.
80 -A. dam AltAH