Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1896-08-28
jackannpcs. no Doubt" said the baronet,

showing his white teeth.
II hate the curly-hcntled, dandy chan.
with his gentleman airs. as | hate poi-
SOM srowle,l Rufus: "but that's neither
here ncs there. only spoke TO say what
a chilling it is for IL man who has seen
better days. Well. Sir H., our captain,
as we jet hunters call him. la. IL house
in Beckdac. and that part of the coast
helng rich i'll jet. and as WEI! known to
old Obadiah as his farmyarl is to any
farmer. has come to be in a sense our
headquarters. Now-you sec l am open
with You. Sir Rim Woodburn parish.
ny, ana ill Woodburn Parsonage, lives the
young lady whom should like to see ms
Lady AIortmain.''
"lndced! May ask her namcy" de-
manded Sir Richard.
Her name. Sir r." returned the man.
grudgingly. hut with emphasis, ''is Violet
Violet by namc, should say, and by
nature, for she is Il timid, pretty young
lady, nineteen years of age, and knows
nothing of the worlds ways, and just as
little of the fact that she's great heir
ess'
Upon my word" said the baronet,
coolly, "you have traced very charming
portrait of rural loveliness and simplicity.
And what is the amount of the fortune
which she has unconsciously the power to
bestow?"
1.-The fortune" replied Rufus slowly,
and fixing his small, keen eyes upon the
white, impassive face of his aristocratic
host, ''was at the first seventy thousand
pounds. 1t must be goodish bit more by
this, rolling up as it has been for years.
-hnt mi, 10
cash would be to you.''
There came IL flash into Sir Richards
sleepy, dark eyes, and his whole counte-
nance seemed to brighten. "Sure of the
sum total. Crouch?" he asked, eagerly.
The fellow nodded.
"Now for her surname. then?" inquired
the baronct-"though if it We're Sneeks or
Sniggs could condone it, if only there's
no mistake as to the money"
mo, Sir r." interrupted the ex-gold
digger. gruttiy. "And there's just as lit
tie mistake as to the young lady that
owns it. Miss Violet Mowbray is her
name, and from all l hear the Mowbrays
are as good as even the Mortmains, so far
as pedigree goes. This young girl is ;ln
orphan. She has IL small income, and her
guardian. a tough old City bachelor. ar
ranged for her to reside with his own
niece. our parsons wife. Mrs. I.angton.
She has grown up in that quiet nook. and
knows no more of the humping sum she
is entitled to than do whether it will
freeze or thaw next Christmas
"How do You know of it. Rufus?' asked
the baronet. "Somc will. ell. that formed
part of your spoil on leaving Your former
employers?"
Not WILL" answered Crouch, with
wink. wills may he revoked, and codi-
ellis added. hut this is snuggcr sort of
thing. This is Il trust deed. But that is
about all have to tell gratis. Sir II. Mort
main, Raronct.'
And. indeed, nothing more by the most
skillful diplomacy could be extracted
from Rufus. He certainly had not
brought the valuable document with him,
nor would he give any further informa-
tion as to its contents until bargain
had been struck. and his own recompense
or share agreed to. Nor would he or that
occasion. namc his price-that was mat
ter for future consideration. What he de-
sired to know was whether Sir Richard
would ''comc into it, heart and soul. and
take immediate steps to bring the scheme
to successful conclusion. Sir Richard
was ready enough to lend his MD. but he
dcmurrcd to taking what he called "a
leap in the dark
IL don't ask you to marry. Sir r." said
the former confidential clerk of Lawyer
Bowman mt last. without better security
than my bare word that the BRIDES little
hand is weighted with much gold MY
interest and yours go in the same 81 oove,
and what l advise is, come down to York
shire and judge for yourself"
perhaps it would be better so," re.
turned the baronct slowly. "When first
you spoke of Somcrsetshire, l reeolected
a dreary old place of my fathers in those
parts that l haven't seen since was a
boy. and never thought to see again-Hel.
ston. they call it. The house has been
shut up for years. but it belongs to me,
after all, and it lies, 1 remember, just
about the upper end of Becktale and four
miles from the sea. might go down
there. if this prize of yours be really
worth winning
'You never did wiser thing in your
life. Sir r.. rely on it, than following up
the golden clew that have put into your
hands," said Rufus Crouch, rising from
his seat. Our next talk, with your
leave, had better be in Yorkshire. Mean.
while. your humble servant
And with no more formal leave taking
the ill-assortcd confedcrates parted.
CTo he continued)