The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1908-08-06
CHAPTER Ix.-(continued.

you left. / opened 1t when | got back
home"
Mr.. Pinder did not tell me. He
said he had returned fathers letter"
That came the day following. l
have brought 1t with me-"
Il should have written for 1t when
I had got some settled address"
You must let Mawgan Chase be
your address for the present"
She looked at him for a moment
and her eyes filed. you are very
good to me-" she said; but oh, |
wish / had gone down with the
Nebraska"
you must not say that" he re-
piled. earnestly. Nothing will give
me greater happiness than to be al
lowed to be your friend"
you may think so at this moment"
she said, quickly, but you do not
know"
But ! do know" he interrupted,
warmly. would | have come all the
way to Exeter II I didn't know"
She looked at him for a moment
with a puzzled expression. There
was something in his tone AS well as
his words, something In the look OF
his eyes, which almost startled her.
She had never seen him in this mood
before, and she did not know exactly
what Is meant
Il am glad you came" she said,
after a pause. Il wanted to see you
very much"
"You should have returned at once
to Mawgan Chase" he interrupted.
II could not do that very well. I
have been trying to find out things.
You may be able to help me find out
other things"
What other things?"
Things about Mr.. MAYHEM, and
about others. Your sister told me
that your father was swindled out OF
nearly all his fortune years ago
well what has that to do with the
natter"
Not much, perhaps; but is it
true?"
"It's true enough. but don't see"
won't you tell me all about it?"
she interrupted. 81 am curious, and
for reasons I will tell you later
"Oh, there isn't much to tell" he
said, indifferetnly. you see. father
was seized with a mania for specula-
ton, and so fell an easy prey TO
sharks. There was n man particu-
larly he ~trusted--a clever, persuasive
rascal, by all accounts-who managed
somehow to get my father to believe
in him"
What was the mans name?"
''Oh, we'll. as il happens, you bear
the same name" he replied, with a
laugh. Not an uncommon name, of
course"
What was his Christian name?"
Richard, | believe; but he gen.
orally went by the name OF Dick
West
And whta became of him after he
swindled your father?"
ooh, he cleared out OF the country.
In fact, they all disappeared before
the bubble burst"
Then there were more than one?"
We'll, West was the principal
mover. I believe there was a lawyer
In collision with him, who shared the
money. Young Lcr5 C:c-ay, saas
was chairman of the bogus company
and a mere figure head, most people
think was innocent enough: but
technically he was party to the fraud,
- - hnI ~ 1aaxa thn ~A,tru, aIon o,
And what became of them"
mo one knows. It was reported
that young Lord Grovely died a few
years later. Perhaps the members of
his family know, but naturally it Is a
subject they will not discuss"
And was your father the only suf-
ferer?"
"Oh, no; though | believe he specu-
lated the largest amount. He had IN
bounded faith in Vests ability, and
for some reason eve suspected his
honesty: they were such close
friends.o
How you must loathe the name OF
west!"
"Oh. no. To mother. of course. the
name is suggestive Of a good deal"
WAS that the reason why she
shrank from me?"
Did she shrink from you? don't
think she did really. At first, per-
haps, old memories troubled her. I
think they did. You see, Vests name
has been the synonym of all that Is
hateful and treacherous, false and
cruel. for a generation. Mother can
never forget"
And you can forget either"
'In a sense, perhaps. but IL all hap
pened before I vas old enough to I'm
Iderstard. OF course. l feel resentful
az times when l think OF our straight
ened means"
What would you do If you could
get aold of him or-his?"
Don't speak of descendants, please.
IT Is to be hoped the type will die
with him."
But he may have c~hildren?"
"If he has l hope I shall never see
any OF them. For the credit OF the
race some people ought to be stran-
gled In their youth"
She laughed . little harshIy. and
then adroitly turned the conversation.