Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1910-08-26
CHAPTER XVIII.

CHAPTER XVIII.
Morris expected Rodney Merriam TO
manifest wrath and indignation at the
recital Of Ezra Dameron's ill-doing.
but the old gentleman in Seminary
Square listened in silence, and at the
end asked:
We'll, what are we going to do
about it?"
That the rub-there's not much
of anything that you can do. The trust
is a wide-open thing. He isn't requir-
ed to report to anybody and he gives
no bond: but he must get the courts
approval before he sells anything; and
then he must r%einvest the money in
other realty. 1t is significant hat he
has been selling at desperate prices
toward the end of his trusteeship. He
must be hard up"
Merriam had never spoken of his
brother-in-law to Leighton except In
terms OF respect, and he hesitated
now
My sisters Idea in making that
WILL" he began, quietly, was to deal
generously with a blackguard. 1t was
her pride. She had made a mistake"
He paused and the blood rushed TO
his face. He was checking his wrath
with difficulty.
He had ruined her life. We were
all opposed to her marrying Ezra
Dameron; but she was not a child.
but a grown oma She left her prop
erty to Zelda through him; and she
wouldn't admit to the rest of us, even
at the end, that she did not trust him.
She doubtless thought his avarice
would protect her child"
"As near as I can make out, all the
property that MI. Cameron will be
able to turn over to his daughter will
be he farm out here and the old home
stead and the creek property. He sold
the Cameron Block about two months
age. He has sold the original holdings
and he has not bought n other real
property with the money, as the will
provided. There is, you know, no pen
atty for a non-performance Of the OBJ
legations of the trust. His needs have
undoubtedly grown quite recently. for
he has been doing business with Bal
comb-fooling away the propertv
Maybe he's insanel"
Don't be a fool; he's sane enough.
he's q thief, hats ALL" declared Rod
ney. irascibly.
.If Miss Cameron wished TO take
advantage Of her rights she nigh ha "a
this last sale set aside. I will under-
take to do that"
And a nice lot OF publicity wet get
of it. too. No. sir, we won't do
that sort of business. My family has
lived in this town a good many years:
and some of US have been fools. ana
some Of us have failed; but Zelda has
the right key. She's pitched 1t pretty
.high; but ven keep 1t at the Same
note, II we can. How much did he
get for those lots?"
Twenty thousand dollars: bur no
doubt my friend Balcomb kept a hand
some commission. I'll rather entoy
settling with him."
Hes one Of the jewels produced by
our college. isn't hep"
"He was the bright particular star
of my class. He was we'll fitted by ma
ture to be a clerk In a rural general
store, or more likely, a barker for a
circus side-show or the advance agent
for a hair tonic His education ruined
him. He has the smooth facility Of
the superficial. mind-even showed
essays in the class"
Z know the type. A short horse.
soon curried."
There's the option on that piece Of
ground out on the creek. It might pos
sibly be binding on Miss Cameron after
the trusteeship has been closed. Bal
combs pretty smooth. and If the old
ma ia In straits. you can't tell what
he'll do"
Let him blow it all In. Morris. I
shall be disappointed 10 there's a cent
left He can have the money. I want
the girl"
"Balcomb II undoubtedly swindIing
his associates in the land company;
they are quite likely to sQueal. Bal
comb wouldn't hesitate about throwing
the blame for aAs irregularity on DAM,
eron..
Let him do 1t. What do we are
for Dameron!"
"Bu I thought you wanted to avoid
a. scandal. for Miss Dameron's sake
for a your sakes. I want to do the
best thing n the right thing. You
are not anxious for publicity"
Mos certainly not"
We've got to approach Miss Dame--
on, and tell her the whole matter. It
Is not a pleasant thing to do. but II
we get her help-if Chat should seem
the best way
They were deeply engrossed and did
not hear the bell or the servant open
ing the front door.
Uncle Rodney!"
10th meA sprang to their feet Eel
da stood in the library door.
Glad to see you Zee." sale her un-
Gle, quietly.
She looked from one to the other and
nodded to Morris.
You don't look so awfully glad, I
must say. II W come in upon q con
spiracy Til take myself of. The gloom
here is so thick you could grow mush-
nr0oYnS In It"