Hutchinson gazette., 1901-04-18
CHAPTER VI.

NllAI HN W.
At eleven o'clock the next morning
Mabel TrevanIon said to Wllmot, the
footman;
"Tell Jenkins to bring my horse
round"
And Wilmot the foOtman, having
scrupulously and on the instant deliv-
cred that message to Jenkins the
groom, II so happened that ten min
utes later the queen Of Kings Abb
bott was riding away on the high road
to Blount Grange, with her sisters
little nondescript black-coated dog at
her heels.
When at length she had reached the
wlshed-for massive iron gates, and had
Travelled all down the long line OF
stately elms that In the summer time
proved the glory and comfort Of the
Grange avenue, and had evoked a SER
want in answer to her impatient sum-
mons, she asked, eagerly
"ls Mr.. Blount at home?"
Yes--the master was at home just
then, the man told her; whereupon
Mabel jumped from her horse, desired
groom, summoned by the butler, to
take her horse round to the stables,
and gathering up her skirts, entered
the spacious hall, her little bright
eyed follower close behind her.
Dick Blount, or "old Dick" as he
was more commonly called by his
friends and acquaintances-w whose
name was leglon-was man some
where in the "flfties," tall, strong ath-
letic, and the master Of an income
close upon six or eight thousand year.
The Grange was one OF the lovelIest
estates In the county situated about
two miles or so from Kings Abbott,
and why the owner Of 1t had never
taken to himself wife was question
often asked in Cllston, but never sat
isfactorily answered. No woman's
name had ever been connected with his
in the matrimonial line at least
since on his uncles death he had come
to take possession OF his property. How
and where he had lived previously was
little known to anyone, beyond the
certainty that he had spent much Of
his time abroad, wandering In a des-
ultory pleasure-seeklng fashion from
city to city, with probably no Interior
designs except those Of enjoying the
present hour to the uppermost.
Far and near there was no man
more universally beloved and respect
ed by all classes. Young men adored
him for his genial advice, always so
gently given, and his ready assistance,
while every child in the neighborhood
had reason to remember the good ma
ture Of old Dick Blount.
"Mr, Blount," said Mabel as the old
gentleman advanced to meet her. IL
want to speak to you in private, please,
for minute or So"
80 you shall. Come in here" said
Dick Blount, and he led the way into
his library, the door Of which he closed
carefully behind her. Now what can
| do for you?"
u am going to ask something dread
full" began Mabel, after a pause, dur
ing which she had felt her courage
oozing rapidly away" something that
feel sure no woman should ask, but
you must promise not to think too
hardly Of me for all that"
81 promsie you."
"Well, then, ,"-desperately-" want
you to give me three hundred pounds
Blount laughed
"Is that all?" he said. why
thought you were about to confess to
half a dozen murders at least. Sit
down, Miss Mabel, and tell me all that
is on your mind"
And Mabel, sitting down, told him
all her trouble-all about Eddie's evil
behavior, and her fathers ignorance Of
it, together with his inability to pay
so much ready money just then, and
her own determination to come over
to him, as the only person she could
think of likely to help her in her ca
lamity. When she had finished she
looked up at him wistfully out Of her
beautiful hazel eyes.
II know have done very wrong
thing" she said, with qulvering lips
"a hateful, unfeminine thing that will
make you despise me forever, But
what could | do? You were the only
one could think Of to help me, and
so | came"
''I consider you have done me very
great honor" answered old Dick,
promptly, "and I feel proud and glad
Of It, To whom indeed should you
come, If not to your Oldest friend? I'll
tell you what, Miss Mabel--I'll write
you out the check now on the spot, and
you can take II at once to your naugh-
ty brother with your love; and we