The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1913-07-05
CHAPTER FORTY-EiGHT.
(contlnued)

probably changed hands many times
In all these years. but the deed will
show what she sold"
The records show that she sold
two thousand acres
How do you know that"
81 have seen the copies"
'Humph. They have sent for
those?"
'Yes"
Benson meditated in silence for a
moment.
IT'S great pity your aunt's ac-
quaintance with her own affairs
should have been so imperfect, but
perhaps should have seen that every
point was clear TO her mind Since
the records show that she sold two
thousand acres. IL is quite evident
she parted with all the land she own
ed In Belmont county; and Stark Is
dead; however. blame myself for
the obscurity which seems to have
surrounded the transaction. | will
take on myself the responsibility OF
seeing that she is satisfied, though |
admit no legal claim. | was merely her
lawyer In the morning | will send
her check in payment Tor this thou
sand acres which she thinks she did
not sell, but which according 10 the
records Stark seems 10 have bought.
II is hardly worth while to enter into
a dispute about so trivial a matter.
Stark paid five thousand dollars. as
your aunt supposed for a thousand
acres; will send her a hike sum for
the other thousand"
Stephen gulped a great free breath.
This was a simple, dignifed solution
Of the whole difficulty but in the same
breath he remembered that il was not
FIVE thousand but forty-hve thousand
dollars that his aunt expected 10 re-
cover. How was he going to explain
this 10 Benson? He sat staring blank
ly at the carpet at his feet
II think and the lawyers voice
was frigd while a thin smile relaxed
his shaven lips-"I think Ben Wade
will find | am not to be trifled with
In this manner | have been disposed
to think we'll OF him In the past
trust | shall be able to make my dis
pleasure sufficiently evident in the fu-
ture."
But stephen said nothing TO this,
he was not caring Just then, what hap
pened TO Wade Benson's resentment
and displeasure could take what form
It might there, II mattered not to him.
Certainly | have no explanation to
offer, said the lawyer haughtily For
many years | managed your aunts al
fairs 10 the best Of my ability, she Is
a troublesome, a dangerous. and an
ungrateful woman. Yet hold Wade
responsible; of course. he is back OF
the whole agitation"
Tut StenhQn's eiIeDcp orr GtpDhpp
face, which spoke plainly of his utter
misery, distressed Benson more than
he could have thought possible He
had no feeling of resentment toward
Stephen. bur he wanted 10 hear him
speak, TO hear him declare himself;
he Ionged to hear him say generously
{ that his confidence and affection were
mistaken, For years he had felt en-
tirely self-suficient; he had desired
nothing of any man; but now he found
that he was suddenly hungry for these
expressions of trust and love The
loneliness OF his life came back and
smote him. He was growing old, and
only Stephen had brought youth to his
door Did the boy doubt him? In his
first feverish impulse to bind him to
him at any price, he was almost
tempted to tell him the whole truth,
OF his love for Virginia Landray, that
so base a motive as that of gain had
never entered into his mind. but this
he put aside as n momentary weak
ness. He would not offer an explain
alton to any one, but in the morning
he would send for Wade, and pay for
that land this done he would have
saved himself with dignity and self
nd ha WOULD haun caunH him
self in the boys eyes. And then he
thought of the price he had received
for the land, in the excitement OF the
moment he had quite overlooked this
point. Was it possible that Wade had
carried his investigation as far as
that, He could believe that once
started he would go TO the bottom or
things. He remembered to have heard
Stephen tell Gibbs only the night be-
fore that Wade had been out OF town
for a day or two recently Very white
of face he turned to stephen. who
met his glance miserably enough, and
with a mute appeal.
GO on he commanded harshly.
what more have you 70 tell me-"
There's something about the price
you got for that land" said the young
man huskily.
You'll have TO be more explicit,
Stephen" he said cautiously: and
you seem TO have forgotten that
have just told you Stark bought that
land"
They say he transferred II to YOU"
Subsequently he did, but that is
neither here nor there. II was my
privilege to buy 1t from Stark If 1
wished to-" He smiled almost toler.
antly IL hope your friend Ben Wade
does not dispute my right in that par
ticular"
'He seems TO think that Stark
merely acted for you; that you were
the actual purchaser
"That is the merest conjecture, Ste
phen. ! must say that Ben's magma
tive faculty is well developed" He
was feeling toleraby secure again,
evidently Wade had not gone as deep
as he had at first feared was the case.
But Stephens next words undeceived
HIM.
81 haven't made It clear 10 you,
Uncle Jake" he said in a low voice.
But Ben asserts that you sold the
land for fifty thousand dollars, that
you induced Aunt Virginia to sell IL
by representing that 1t was valueloss
OR nearly So"