The Detroit times., 1913-07-04
The Fortunes of the Landrays
ssy.s BIZ Vaughan Kesty s. md tn h. U,. :s
Author Of The Frodigni Judge"
~yust and the Unjust" etc.

lie ala not DOUBT Benson dpiity w
fully vindicate himself. Now he
grudgingly admitted that he might
furnish such an opportunity with less
offence than another. certainly ne
did not want Wade TO go to him.
Wade was too assertiye, too sure OF
his ground, too sure OF Benson's trick
cry Mentally he sought to frame
the question with all the delicacy
the vagueness, he could wish. He
quilted his chair by the table.
I'll let you know in day or two,
whether or not | can tell Uncle Jake
OF this, Aunt Virginia. He ignored
Wade. He was willing TO think thai
the lawyer might be solely RESPONSE
BILE for the situation.
Wait" said Wade, II am going
your way, II you will have IT. lie
was determined not TO be snuDbed
or affronted. and as soon as they were
out OF the house he said kindly and
with an air of good-natured remon-
STRANGE that stephen could not we'll
resist Look here, Steve, you can't
act this way with me. won't have
II. You've got TO be reasonable. I've
been your friend. and I'm bound 10
remain your friend. I'm your aunts
lawyer though, and she's got right
TO expect me TO take an interest In
her concerns. II she hasn't me. whom
has she? Not you. certainly, and
you must just bear this In mind, It's
an important matter 10 her. Tor II
there's any chance OF getting thirty
or forty thousand dollars out Of Ben
son. she can't afford TO let II pass,
particularly as the moneys hers.
Don't you see this?'
Yes, ! suppose SO; but, Ben. this
whole things absurd, why, you know
that Uncle Jake could not have done
anything OF this kind, it's just some
mistake"
We'll. II Il Is, he can best explain
II away" said Wade encouragingly Il
pledge you my word | spent a good
deal OF time in trying 10 find the
mistake. but IL battles me. Still you
never can tell" he added cheerfully.
I'D stake my life on it that he
never wronged any one-man, woman.
or child" cried Stephen.
ASK him about it,, urged Wade.
II swear I'd like TO see him stand
clear. I'm no harpy: ask him, Steve
duty to. but don't you see I'm afraid
OF hurting him; I'm bound to him by
numberless kindnesses"
"Of course you are. and you can
put the matter 10 him without Of
fence" said Wade soothingly.
IF I only thought could" said
Stephen. If only thought ] could. :"
Now If ! went to him" began
Wade meditatively.
"You--you mustn't" interposed
Stephen shortly.
mo, ! suppose not He might
freeze up with me. and | wouldn't
stand for that After all, I'm your
aunt's lawyer. and my dignity's my
clients. II | go 10 him, III exact
what's due me; it's not a personal
matter: really, ! have every reason
to like Mr.. Benson" He seemed so
reasonable, so charitable, that Steph-
ems heart warmed toward him. as
Wade intended II should. II think
you are counting on his being rather
more sensitive than he Is, Steve. He's
been in active practice for great
many years. and disagreeable things
are always cropping up. Just ask
him about IL offhand. in no formal
way you understand, but make ii
clear 10 him what we have stumbled
on. agree with you that he should
have every chance TO explain. we
don't want TO rush into litigation that
Is going to make us appear absurd;
for tell you when we really fall foul
OF Mr.. Benson it's going to stir up
hornets nest, it'll shake things
loose"
"You mustn't count on me-" said
Stephen, It's not that I'd be MAX
ing a sacrifice, the sacrifice would be
nothing in itself. but | can't hurt
him.
Il understand exactly how you feel
don't want TO see you get yourself
involved: but ! do think that you
are the best person TO bring this to
his notice"
But Wade had no illusions concern.
ing Benson. The explanation he was
urging Stephen to invite. he knew
could explain nothing; but II might
bring about a rupture with Benson.
and then Virginia would have every
motive for beginning suit at once;
and Wade saw himself on the TIRES
hold Of a great career, his plodding
shyster days at an end.
CHAPTER FoRTY-EIGHT.