Mexico Missouri message., 1906-02-15
(cOpYTight, BY The casseil Publishing COZ
CHAPTER 1X.-CoNr1Nurp.

Didn't like the young fellow, eh?"
MAY have liked him we'll enough,
but didn't want man without money
for a son-in-law," rejoined Thomas.
But Marion was not his own daugh-
terri.
mo. But he adopted her when she
was a year old, and he had no expec-
tation of having a child Of his own;
and North seemed to think as much
of her after Stella came as before. OF
course, one way of showing his liking
was his anxiety to have Marion we'll
married. At all events, the old man
turned the cold shoulder to Fetridge,
who was only struggling lawyer with
nothing but his wits to depend on for
q living. His visits to the house sud
after he ceased to call at the place,
Marion North became Marion Stack
house"
There was plenty of gossip about
that event at Swampscott, Ill be
bound" was the detectives comment.
"Of course. Everybody said she mar
Tied Stackhouse for money although
she was in love with the other fellow.
some people go so far as to say that
Marion and FetridCe had some lovers
quarrel, and so separated. other peo-
pie, with whom Marion is no favorite,
did not hesitate to say that the young
woman, being one of the cool and cal
culatiDg kind, agreed with her father
that Stackhouse was a certainty and
the young lawyer only possibility so
far as money interests were Con
cerned."
'FetrlHge is a rich man now" oracu-
ERrly e-iared Mr.. Lamm.
"Ah! II friend North had dreamed
that in a few weeks Fetridge would
fall heir to a very handsome property
in Australia, 1 think our friend Stack
house would have been dismissed for
the lawyer. 1t was an uncle, 1 hear,
that left Fetridge his fortune. Fetridge
went to Australia to settle up the es-
tate, as perhaps you know, not in the
least expecting to get much of any
thing. But in nine months he came
home, to everybody's surprise, himself
INCLUDED, millionaire"
Exactly; well?"
swell, he began to feel drawn to-
ward the Norths again. This time the
old man was very glad to have him on
good terms with the family. The al
mighty dollar, you know. don't mean
to slur a dead mans memory, but Paul
North was a disciple Of Mammon, if
ever there was one in the world. The
question in everybodys mouth is, how
did Stackhouse attain his extraor-
binary influence over Paul North? l
attribute it to his cunning catering to
the old mans strongest passion
Avarice. But not to digress. Fetridge
visited the house regularly for a
month or two, and it was gossiped
down at the shore that the Apollo had
turned his attention to Miss Stella. l
am not at all certain as to the correct
ness Of that assumption myself,
Lamm."
He may have something of his for
mer liking for Marion, you mean?"
Mr.. Lamm found an answering look
from his co-worker that made a spoken
response superhuous.
Just about a month ago, LamBa,
professional business called Fetridge
away from Boston. At any rate that
was the explanation given by the
young lawyer, who appears to have en-
tered into quite intimate relations
with the firm of North & Stackhouse
since he cana back from Australia
with his millions. A Water street man
saw at the fur eral told me he be-
lieved Fetridge 1acked the concern,
and went away ph some business con-
nccted with it."
That's mele guess" was the de-
tective's comment. 1--WE must try to
get at the real cause for this trip. You
do not imagine that any disagreement
with the family or the firm could have
been at the bottom of itY"
There was no love lost between
Stackhouse and Fetridge. The cause
of their mutual dislike may or may not
be hard to determine" said Thomas
IN a meaning tone; "but I'm very Ger,
tain, from what has taken place since
Mr.. North's death--Fetridge did not
come back, you know, until two days
before-thGt he Is on quite as good a
standing Win tie family as ever. The
way in which he was trusted in the
funeral arrangements shows that
much, plainly enough"
Mr.. Lamm knocked the ashes from
his cigar, took a turn up the room
and coming back stopped in front Of
Thomas as he sat lingering his watch
feb.
"Thers's a mystery about this man
Fetridge," he said with emphasis
''What you have found out about him
simply confirms my feeling, quite war,
ranted by my own knowledge of the
man and his circumstances, that Fat,
ridge is person to be very carefully
watched Mark my words, young man
The day you find out what secret d
shared by Marion Manifestations