The Rich Hill tribune. (Rich Hill, Mo.) 1903-1911, 1907-07-04

cnAPTER XNI.-contInued.

things about my Brandfather's affairs
that / don't understand. but I'm not
going to see an old friend Of his swim
died. There's more in all this than
appears. My grandfather seems 10
have misiaid or lost most Of his assets
before he died. And yet he had the
reputation Of being a pretty cautious
business man.
The impression is abroad. az you
must know, that your grandfather con-
cesled his fortune before his death.
The people hereabonts believe so; and
Mir. Pickering. the executor. has been
unable to trace IL"
Yes, / believe Mr.. Pickering has
not been able to solve the problem"
I said and laughed.
"But. OF course, you and he win 20
operate in an effort to find the lost
property"
She bent forward slightly; her eyes.
as they met mine, examined me with a
keen interest
why shouldn't I be frank with you.
Sister Theresa? I have every reason
for believing Arthur Pickering a
scoundrel He does o care TO Co
operate with me in searching for this
money. The fact is that he is very
much wishes to eliminate me as a fac
tor in the settlement IF the estate. 1
speak carefully; I know exactly what
/ am saying"
She bowed her head slightly and
was silent for a moment The silence
was the more marked from the fact
that the hood Of her habit concealed
her face.
What you say is very serious"
Eyes, and his oHcnse is equally Sc
rious. II may seem odd for me to be
saying this TO you when am a strang-
er-Yhen you may be pardoned for
having no very high opinion OF me-"
She turned her face L met was
singulsrly gentle and rehned-not a
face to associate with an idea Of self
seeking or duplicity.
I sent for you. Mr.. Glenarm. be
cause I had a very good opinion OF
you: because. for inc reason, you are
the grandson Of your grandfather
and the friendly light In her gray eyes
drove away any lingering doubt I may
have had as 20 her sincerity. Il
wished TO warn you 10 have a care for
your own safety. / don't warn you
against Arthur Pickering alone. but
against the countryside. The idea Of
a hidden fortune IS aliuring: a mys-
teriouz house and q lost treasure
make a very entioing combination. I
fancy Mr.. Glenarm did not realize that
he was creating dangers for the PEG
pie he wished to help"
She was silent again. her eyes bent
meditatively upon me. Then she spoke
abruptly.
mr.. Pickering wishes to marry my
niece"
"Ah. / have been waiting to hear
that / am exceedingly glad to know
that he has SO noble an ambition. But
Miss Devereux isn't encouraging him.
as near as / can make out. She re.
fused 90 go to California with his
party-I happen TO know that"
~rhat whole California episode
would have been amusing n u had not
been ridiculous. Marian never had
the slightest idea OF going with him
but she Is sometimes q little shall /
say peryersef-"
Please do like the woodland
che quality"
And Mr. Piekeriug's rather elab.
crate methods Of wooing-T
Hes as heavy as lead" declared
"-Amuse Marian up 10 q certain
point; then they annoy her. He has
implied pretty strongly that the claim
against me could BE- easily adjusted n
Marian marries him But she viii
never marry him, whether she benefits
by your grahdfathers viii OF however
that may be-"
a should say not. {" / declared with
warmth that caused Sister Theresa q
sweep me with those wonderful gray
eyes. But first he expects to find thii
fortune and endow Miss Devereul
with H. That is a part OF the scheme
And my own interest In the estate
must be eliminated before he car
bring that condition about But, Sis
ter Theresa. ] am not so easily got
~ ~ 80 ANhaAt AAANAAun AAAAEA1NN
MY stsying qualities, which were al
ways weak IN the eyes Of my family
have Leen braced up a triae."
yes"
! thought pleasure and hope We're
expressed IN the m~onosyilable, and my
heart warmed to her.
Sister Theresa, you and I are an.
derstanding each other much better
thar I Imagined We should land We
both laughed feeling a real sympathy
growing between as"
eyes. ! believe We are-and the
smile lighted her face again.
$50 / ean tell you two things. The
first Is that Arthur Pickering viii
never mud niy frandfather's lost for
fuse. assuming thai any exists. The
second . that ID 10 event win he
marry your niece.
"You speak with q good deal Of con.