Troy weekly news. (Troy, Idaho) 1897-1933, 1906-08-24

Independent income he had resided at
North End ever since his fathers death.
When, at his sisters urgent wish, he
assumed the sole responsibility of the
estate, he put all the floating capital
into three per cents, and was content to
see the interest accumulate. Lady De
vine had never recovered the shock of
tn circumstances attending Sir Richards
death, and clinging to the belief in her
sons existence, regarded herself as the
mere guardian of his interests, to be
displaced at any moment by his sudden
return. The retired pair lived thus to-
gether, and spent in charity and bric-a-
brac about a fourth of their mutual in
come. By both of them the return of
the wanderer was hailed with delight
To Lady Devine it meant the realization
of lifelong hope. To Francis Wade it
meant relief from the responsibility of
looking after another PERSONS money.
Il shall not think of interfering with
the arrangements which you have made,
my dear uncle" said Mr.. John Rex, on
the first night of his reception. at
would be most ungrateful of me to do so.
My wants are very few, and can easily
be supplied l will see your lawyers
some day, and settle it."
See them at once. Richard: see them
at once. l am no man of business, you
know but think you will find all
right"
Richard, however, put off the visit
from day to day. He desired to have as
little to do with lawyers as possible.
lie had resolved upon his course of ac-
ton. He would get money from his
mother for immediate needs, and when
that mother died he would assert his
rights My rough life has untitled me
for drawing rooms, dear mother" he
said. DO not let there be a display
about my return. Give me a corner 10
smoke my pipe and l am happy" Lady
Deyine, with 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, a man conscious of his
own imperfections, and one whose imper-
iections 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
Deyine mixed in the very best of bad So
clety, and had no lack of agreeable
friends to help him to spend his money.
80 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 il
through the anxiety consequent upon his
nephew's designations. II wish, my dear
Richard, that you would let me know
what to do" he wrote. 81 wish, my
dear uncle that you would do what you
think best" was the nephew's reply.
Mr.. Wade began to repent of his too
easy taking of matters in the beginning
Not that he had a suspicion of Rex, bu
that he remembered that Dick was al
ways a loose fish. He grew pale ant
hollow eyed. His digestion was impair
ed He ceased to take the interest il
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 change il
her brother She wrote a long letter t
Mr.. Richard, who was at Paris, anc
begged him to come over at once. Mr.
Richard replied that some horse racinl
matter of great Importance occupied hi:
attention, but that he would be at hi.
town house on the 18th, and would "gC
into matters" 81 have lost a good dea
of money lately, my dear mother" sale
Mr.. Richard, "and the present will be {
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 ha(
arrived for the carrying off at one swooI
of the whole of the fortune he had gam
bled for.
The town house of Mr.. Richard De
vine was decorated in conformity witt
the tastes of its owner. The picture,
were pictures of horses; the books wer,
records of races, or novels purportin,
to describe sporting life. Mr.. Francis
Wade, waiting for the coming of hi
nephew, sighed as he thought of the chi
tured quiet of North End House.
Mr. Richard appeared in his dressin,
gown. Three years of good living In,
deprived his figure of its athletic beauty
He was past forty years of age. and tn
sudden cessation from severe bodily tot
had increased Rex's natural proneness t
fat, and instead of being portly he ha,
become gross. His cheeks were infiame,
with the frequent application Of hot an,
rebellious liquors to his blood. His hand
were swollen. and not so steady as o
yore. His whiskers were streaked will
unhealthy gray. His eyes, bright an,
black as ever. lurked in a thicket o
crows feet He had become premature
ly bald. He spoke with assumed heart
mess, in boisterous tone of affecte,
ease.
. "Ha, hal My dear uncle. sit down