The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1908-05-22
CHAPTER XIV.
CHAPTER XIV.
"XN Why, Dadv
wv Richard sprang forward
w and grasped his fathers
hand in hOfh his own xubile


you all right, my boy, but you've given
your poor old dad heap of worry
Now. what's all this mess about?"
The greeting between father and sor
was brief, because the bombshell reve-
lation of the sons identity brought
another powerful actor to the fore. To
Harriet it had come as tingling re-
lief, for in q fash she understood why
Richard had concealed his name, and
she found herself smiling happily in
answer to his fathers courteous bow
but to Jacob Renwyck the effect was
far more serious, inasmuch as he
seemed to be the target at which this
particular shell was aimed. In speech
less rage he glared at his former col
league, glared also at the son and
finally glared more fiercely still at
Michael Corrigan, who advanced, with
a smile of greeting, to the visitor.
"Hello, Bill! How are you?'-he- be
gan cordially as he shook the others
mighty fist.
Hello, Mike" was the return greet
ing. where's the tarantula that calls
my boy thiefT
He did not await an answer, but
turned instinctively toward his enemy,
and for an instant the two fearless
promoters stood sizing up each other
in utter silence; then Jacob Renwyck
spoke.
81 dov' he cried as it flashed upon
him how Richard might have used his
information in the harbor deal. 81
do, you villain, and l include you in
the charge! You sent your son to spy
upon me, to steal my plans by mis-.
cradle, underhand fraud! YOU
nH"Jacob, Jacob" walled Mrs. Rem
wyck. BE careful what you say,
please!'
"S-s-hw admonished Uncle Michael.
Don't spoil the fun, Julia. Let the
old boys go it. It'll do 'em good"
The old boys in question proceeded
to go it, but pot for the sake of fun,
nor did 1t see IN to do them any good
whatever. Wien Mr.. Renwyck paused
to catch his breath Bill Williams saw
his chance ard took the floor.
"why, youl old spawned skate" he
Numbered, doubling up his hairy fist
"don't think that you can cover up
= your tracks by abusing me- or my'boy
either! You tricked me away from
Texas on blind trail, that's what you
did, while your buccaneering dummies
jumped my claim in Austin! Fooled
me on a cold scent, did you, you fox?
Well, I'll have your brush yet IL l have
to auction off my last stump tailed
steer to do it!'
Dear mew quavered the Mortified
Miss Schermerly. what frightful Ian.
guagew
"Extrawd'n'ryv nodded the British
ambassador, who had not the remotest
idea what it was all about. "Most ex-
trawd'n'ry! Pom my wordw
The two gladiators were now the
center of human ring, which gather
ed closer and closer about them, each
glowering at his hated adversary, each
waiting for the final crash to come.
81 didn't" shouted Mr.. Renwyck.
"You did, the Texan beloved in
Hat contradiction. "Why did you call
my son theft"
Mr.. Renwyck looked abashed.
"Well," he hedged, perhaps I was
wrong In that. II apologize"
won't dov' stormed the angry cat
tie king. you've got to settle this
with me! Understand me, sir-with
mev'
Matters between the two frenzied
financiers. both equally outrageous
and both equally enraged, had by this
time risen to an alarming pitch, and
1t devolved upon Mr.. Corrigan to pre-
vent a personal encounter. A tele
graph messenger had come to the door
and the lawyer himself received the
dispatch. He tore open the envelope
glanced at the contents. smiled ant
turned to the two contestants.
gentlemen, gentlemen" he urged,
"you can accomplish nothing by tear
Ing each other to pieces. suggest
that we dismiss the major portion of
our audience, then settle this dispute
in the bosom Of our respective, gentle
minded families"
Even Mr.. Renwyck saw the wisdom
Of this sage suggestion, and in mo-
ment more the detectives and Mr.. Par
ker were requested to wait outside.
while the servants were for the time
dismissed. There remained In the hall.
besides the active threads of the hope
less snarl, Sir Rodney Hickwich, Miss
Schermerly and Miss Sempton. Both
ladies, being like members of the fam
ily-not to refer to their human fem
mime curiosity-made no move to leave,
but the British ambassador. glad Of
any excuse, took up his hat and gloves.
He rather fancied that he had happen
ed upon some private though loosely
conducted sanitarium, and during this
temporary lull In the tempest he tap
ped Richard on the shoulder and said
In a shaking tone:
'Er - pardon me, young man,
haven't the remotest idea what all this
means and seem to have stirred II