Heppner gazette. [volume] (Heppner, Morrow County, Or.) 1892-1912, 1910-10-06
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:
well, what are we going to do
about it?"
That's 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 reinvest the money In
other realty. 1t Is significant that 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 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 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 grown woman. 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 l can make out, all the
property that Mr.. Dameron will be
able to turn over to his daughter will
be the farm out here and the old home
stead and the creek property He sold
the Dameron Block about two months
ago. He has sold the original holdings
and he has not bought any other real
property with the money, as the will
provided. There Is, you know, no pen
atty for a 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 property.
Maybe he's insane!"
Don't be fool; he's sane enough:
he's a thief, that's ALL" declared Rod
ney. irascibly
IF Miss Dameron wished to take
advantage of her rights she might have
this last sale set aside l will under
take to do that"
"And a nice lot of publicity wet get
out 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. and
some of us have failed; but Zelda has
the right key. She's pitched 1t pretty
high; but we'll keep 1t at the same
note, If we can. How much did he
get for those lots?"
Twenty thousand dollars; but no
doubt my friend Balcomb kept hand
some commission. I'll rather enjoy
settling with him."
Hes one of the Jewels produced by
our college, isn't he?"
HE was the bright particular star
Of my class. He was well fitted by ma
ture to be a clerk in a rural general |
store, or more likely, barker for a |
circus side-show or the advance agent |
for hair tonic. His education ruined |
him. He has the smooth facility of |
the superficial mind-even showed |
some literary gift and wrote the best
essays in the class"
Il 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 Dameron after
the trusteeship has been closed. Bal
combs pretty smooth. and If the old
man is in straits, you can't tell what
he'll do"
Let him blow It all in. Morris. I
shall be disappointed is there's a cent
left He can have the money. 1 want
the girl"
"Balcomb is undoubtedly swindling
his associates in the land company;
they are quite likely to squeal. Bal
comb wouldn't hesitate about throwing
the blame for any irregularity on DAM
eron."
Let him do It What DO we care
for Dameron!"
But I thought you wanted to avoid
a scandal, for Miss Dameron's sake
for all your sakes. l want to do the
best thing and the right thing. You
are not anxious for publicity"
Most certainly not"
"ws'vs got to approach Miss DsnsF- ]