The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1908-12-03
CHAPTER XIII. (continued.)
SILAS X. HOOKING.


"Oh, very good" Evans replied
quietly. IF / am mistaken, I bes
your pardon. 1t really does not matter
10 me whether | take your side Of the
eirls side"
What do you mean by taking hel
side?"
81 have~yery little doubt that the
5oX containing the documents a be
'nurd. The salvage men are com
mencing operations already. Besides
IN that wild coast ships go all to
2ieCes after a time and their contents
rift ashore. To be on the spot and
claim a certain trunk, should II chance
o turn up, would place one In the
osition of having the trump card
.oweVer, as your moral %scruples are
'-e such that you have no desire to
axe any profit out of the affair, |
ill not trouble you any further" and
e tUrne don his heel and took a step
Jw9rd the door.
ord Richard hesitated for a nom,
~, bN, OILY for a moment. The situa.
90 40 NOo lllSl toNlhS ~ hoNo ~
osed down without further parley,
o~eover, he felt that the role of NOR
EuIist did not fit him in the least.
,e was conscious that Evans saw
hIoIgh him-that he came to him
rowing well the kind of man he was.
Nou need not be in such a hurry"
@ said blandly. THE situation you
0njure up is a very interesting one.
really should like to hear it more
Ally explained"
Il 60 rot see the necessity" Evans
aDlied aaOrtly. Il understand you
q net willing to take advantage of
oar nieCe's ignorance; that you would
II e. she possessed the property than
st you tad it yourself"
L Cd rot say so much" he STAN
cd ~uneasily. Wealth and posi-
on might endanger a girl brought up
5 she has been"
They might. While fifty thousand
olpGs 20 YOU would be a godsend."
ADMIT it. l don't deny that I'm
cri uy-beastly hard up for a man
, ny position"
Then I'M I to understand you are
Hing TO discuss q straight issue
ilkout cant or pretence? For, II
OF, | am going to waste no more time
tin YOU"
You seem to have become nightly
ndeTendent all at once" Lord Rich
sI - -A ham -
roposition."
That YOU pay me the sum OF two
Lousand pounds on the day l place
be silver box containing the missing
document in your hands"
But of what use are the missing
documents to me?"
Evans swore angrily. Il thought we
had done with can't" he said. Any
how the box will be worth more than
two thousand to the girl" and he
made again for the door.
NO, no; don't be precipitate,'
Lord Richard said, pleadingly. i
want naturally to see my way through
the tangle. The sea may never give
up its treasure"
(which is not likely in the present
instance; but If it doesn't you Will not
have to pay for It,"
And suppose l decline to entertain
your suggestions -,
~ shall make friends Of the girl
that's ALL"
"But If the box never turns up!
"Sworn afidavits from the other SIDE
NAV answer the purpose OF keepine
YOU out of the property II the girl
doesn't get it."
""You say at present she does no.
know who she is"
Hasn't the remotest idea, and
what Is more, unless you are a-weh-
unless YOU are a different mar IRON
what I take you to be, she need never
know" .
"And II she never knows there vii
be no litigation"
.Who is to oppose your claim
Mayhew is dead-peace to his asnes
II | am your friend ] shall, OF course
say nothing to the GIRL
"You would rather serve meF !.
az would" Evans answered, prompt
": but he was careful! not to give ,hs
reasons for that choice. HIS tWs
bours' interview with Marion Yves
had convinced him that he mao not
Ing to gain from her. -
"Perhaps you will give me until TO
morrow morning to think over tn'
m~atter?"
with pleasure"
eThen. tomorrow morning at J.
o'clock. | will see you again."
Evans bowed, and, without anotne'
word. took his departure.
Two days later Evans found his wa!
To st. Chloe, where, as Mr.. Nevins' M
was. as we have seen. an object o
some curiosity as well as OF suspicion
CHAPTER XIV.