Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1908-03-27

two plump hands upon his shoulders
The laughter now was gone, and in its
place came q wondrous tenderness
MY boy" he said, "I'd rather have
seen you as you stood just now than
as the owner of all deep water har-
bors that were ever dredged You
came here to win Harriet and you're
going to get her If have to sit on
Jacob Renwyck while you run off
with the girl on Hawk-a la Lochin-
var! God bless you. boy! IL love
you for what you said, and now I'm
going to tell you something else"
Once more the merriment twinkled
In the little glmlet eyes whose owner
held his sides and shook from shoe to
collar button. Richard waited patient
ly for Uncle Michael to speak. but that
gentleman sat putting his cigar and APP
parently studying the momentous ques-
ton in all its lights and bearings.
Dick" he said abruptly, you have
| got yourself into a nice mess. haven't
you? It's up to you to do something
original. Any ideas on the subject?"
Eyes" said Richard; I'm going to
Mr.. Renwyck this evening and make
clean breast of it. It's the only
thing l can do
Mr.. Corrigan whistled softly.
AFTER which brilliant move dare
say you will apply for board in the
state insane asylum"
ANY place will do for me after
that" admitted the unfortunate ad-
venturer
"You would find its inmates congen-
ial after you followed that course
am sure, but if were in your place
I'd do nothing of the kind"
"Why not?"
For various reasons. In the first
place. what good will it do? Would
you then be in a position to tell your
father? No; you see that clearly for
yourself You win be invited to leave
Irvington and will accept the invita-
ton promptly. Thus endeth the first
lesson. Miss Harriet Renwyck being
the principal subject matter. Mr.. ia
cob RenwycN will then institute pro-
ceedngs against one Bill Williams 70.
obtaining information by fraud in the
person of his SON.
But. my dear sir" cried Dick. with
some asperity. 81 had no such inten-
ton assure You. The Information
was-wcIl. it was forced on me"
"Aha" exclaimed the old lawyer
knowingly. "Thrt's inst the delicate
point. I'm speaking legally. OF course
you're innocent You know it. and |
believe it. but how about jury of
your peers: To put it bluntly you
have taken the name Of a wounded
and helpless man without his knowl
edge or consent. You have bribed his
servant Bad point. Dick-very bad.
Then you creep into a confding old
-. t. house and worm away the
''..'i, "f his UTMOST heart. The al
r....d pursuit Of the girl is merely a
..nd to cover your deep laid. crafty,
lrfLrious designs, which,
"iiold on, for Gods sakew vehement
~ protested Richard, appalled, at the
revelation of his per6dy by the law
ycr's mercless logic, which was about
as hard to bear as If it had been a
truthful indictment Don't put it
that way! You make me feel like an
actual criminal. Next I'll be stealing
their cut glass and silver hairbrushes.
Il am merely looking at it from a
legal point of view" said the little man
sOlemnly. ITO confess to Jacob now
is the very worst policy imaginable"
Then what am | to do?" demanded
the young man savagely.
"Brazen it out" advised his counsel,
striving to suppress the dancing hui
NOR in his eyes. But, for the Lord 5
sake, Dicky boy. do brush up on Eng
lsh history"
"And what of dad?'
Mr.. Corrigan began to chuckle and
to rub his hands violently.
I'm afraid" he said. with great
conviction. that Bill will have to play
this hand alone. You can't help him
young man. and you've got to trust tC
luck. If your father finds out about
the deal he may pull down Jacobs lad
der if not-well, I'm almost as sorry
~for Bill as ! am for his son"
Richard drew his brows together In
a troubled frown.
"And is that all the advice you can
give me- he asked. hoping against
hope.
NO" said the little man; there II
one more suggestion, and Il sound one
too. by George. My vision is ii shade
imperfect owing to creeping age. bu
think | see Harriet over yonder un
der the trees. |. as your counsel, di
rect you to so and talk to her"
This last piece of advice was too
good to be neglected, and Richard, dis
missing his cares, followed it forth
with.
(To be continued.)