The Kennewick courier. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1905-1914, 1906-08-24

be supplied. I will see your lawysls
some day, and settle Il"
"See them at once. Richard: see them
at once. l am no man of business. yon
know, but 1 think you will find all
right"
Richard. however. put of the visit
from day to day. He desired to have as
little to do with lawyers as possible.
He had resolved upon his course Of &C,
ton. He would get money from has
mother for immediate needs, and when
that mother died he would assert his
rights. my rough life has unified me
for drawing rooms, dear mother" he
said. do not let there be a display
about my return. Give me q corner to
smoke my pipe and l am happy" Lady
Devine, with a loving, tender pity. for
which John Rex could not altogether
account, consented, and "Mr. Richard"
soon came to be regarded as a martyr
to circumstances, q man conscious Of his
own imperfections, and one whose imper-
fections were, therefore, to be lightly
dwelt upon. So the returned prodigal
had his own suite of rooms, his own
servants, his own bank account, and was
merry.
Thus taken upon trust, Mr.. Richard
Devine mixed in the very best of bad So
ciety, and had no lack of agreeab BILE
friends to help him to spend his money.
So admirably did he spend it, that Fran
els Wade became at last alarmed at the
frequent drafts, and urged his nephew to
bring his affairs to a final settlement
Richard Devine-in Paris, or Hamburg,
or London, or elsewhere-could never be
got to attack business, and Mr.. Francis
Wade grew more and more anxious. The
poor gentleman positively became i'll
through the anxiety consequent upon his
nephew's designations. Il wish, my dear
what to do" he wrote. Il wish, my
dear uncle, that you would do what you
think BEST" was the nephew's reply.
Mr.. Wade began to repent of his toe
easy taking of matters in the beginning.
Not that he had a suspicion of Rex, but
that he remembered that Dick was al.
ways a loose fish. He grew pale and
hollow eyed. His digestion was impair
ed. He ceased to take tho interest in
china which the Importance Of that arti.
Gle demanded. In a word, he grew de.
spondent as to his fitness for his mission
In life. Lady Ellinor saw a change in
her brother. She wrote a long letter to
Mr.. Richard, who was at Paris, and
Richard replied that some horse racing
matter of great Importance occupied his
attention, but that he would be at his
town house on the 18th, and would Ego
into matters" II have lost a good deal
of money lately, my dear mother" said
Mr.. Richard, land the present will be a
good opportunity to make a final settle
ment." The fact was that John Rex,
now three years in -undisturbed posses
sion, considered that the moment had
arrived for the carrying of at one swoop
of the whole of the fortune he had gam
bled for.
The town house Of Mr. Richard De
vine was decorated in conformity with
the tastes of its owner. The pictures
were pictures Of horses; the books were
records Of races, or novels purportine
to describe sporting life. Mr.. Francis
Wade, waiting for the coming of his
nephew, sighed as he thought of the cul-
Mr.. Richard appeared in his dressing
gown. Three years of good living had
deprived his figure of its athletic beauty.
He was past forty years of age, and the
sudden cessation from severe bodily toll
had increased Rex's natural proneness ia
fat. and instead of being portly he had
become gross. His cheeks were in1lamed
with the frequent application Of hot and
rebellious liquors to his blood. His hands
were swollen, and not so steady as of
yore. His whiskers were streaked with
unhealthy gray. His eyes, bright and
black as ever, lurked in a thicket of
crows feet. He had become premature
~ bald. He spoke with assumed heart.
mess, in a boisterous tone of affected
ease.
"Ha, ha! Ny dear uncle, sit down.
Delighted to see you. Have you break.
fasted?-o course you have. I was IN
rather late last night. Quite sure you
won't have anything? No-then sit
down and tell me all the news of Hamp.
stead"
Thank you, Richard" said the old
gentleman, a little stifi1y, but I want
some serious talk with you. What do
you intend to do with the property
This indecision worries me. Either re.
lieve me Of my trust, or be guided BY
| my advice"
"Well, the fact is," said Richard, with
a very ugly look on his face, II am much
pushed for money. The fact is, that
that l am thinking Of selling every.
thing"