The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1913-07-05
The Fortunes of the Landravs


What am | not to think" asked
Benson.
That | knew anything of this until
they sent for me- They wanted me to
tell YOU, and agreed, | thought IL
would be less painful TO you ii you
heard IL from me, otherwise Wade
Wade, That scum That scoun.
drel. He'd better keep out OF my
way" cried the old man, his eyes
blazing
Il told Them stephen hurried on,
that they were mistaken.
you were right, stephen, they are
mistaken-but the ingratitude of it,
he stumbled weakly toward the door.
Let me go with you 10 your room -
cried Stephen, with a sudden feeling
of great tenderness. but Benson waved
him away with "A tremulous hand.
Goodnight" he murmured in a
broken voice, and went from the
room
Stephen heard his slow step in the
hall his slow step as he mounted the
stairs, and knew that he was clinging
weakly TO the handrail as he climbpf
He threw himself down in his chair
He had done all they had demanded
he had dealt mortal blow 10 the
man who more than any other.
claimed his love and faith I'm that
moment OF shame and great bitter
ness. he hated his aunt, he hated
/ Wade. even as he hated and despised
! himelf
| But what IL Benson offered no ex-
| PLANTATION, what If he refused 10 see
70 IL l. 4 -. 4
| him capable of some such course OF
action; the hideous thing would have
10 go forward. his aunt would be
urged on by Wades impacable zeal
He sunk his head In his hands. and
! endeavored 10 think OF some way in
which matters could be adjusted. He
! had confidently expected Benson TO
offer an explanation that would be
full and conclusive, and show lumin-
ously the utter futility Of further ac-
! ton; but he had not done this.
He knows il is not necessary with
me, the boy thought generously. He
/ knows just where | stand Yet he
was far from satisfied Benson owed
! ii both 10 himself and to his aunt, 10
/ explain the whole circumstance of
the sale OF the land. and his part in
| It; otherwise, and the conviction
| made him sick and dizzy. his aunt's
only course would be to take the case
/ into the courts. and there force the
! explanation from him that he was I'M
| willing 70 make He thought he un-
! derstood Bensons pride. and his
sense of offended honor he could
! sympathize with him here fully, but
( he felt that ait was not wise to pre-.
serve silence In the face OF these
charges; he must be made 10 see this
In the morning when he was calmer
and less shaken by his emotion he
would himself tell him.
And In the morning Benson ate his
/ eggs and toast and drank his coffee,
In placid dignity and apparently at
peace with all the world, but under
his calm Of manner there lurked an
austerity that warned stephen that
he must not revive the subject of the
preceding evening.
Benson was in haste to quit the
house. and Stephen finished his
breakfast with no companion but his
own troubled thoughts. He felt the
need OF some one with whom he could
talk. and decided that he would see
happened He wanted 10 learn what
Ben would do now that Benson had
declined to make any explanation
Early as it was he found Wade at
his office. but he had evidently not
taken up the business of the day for
he was in his shirt-sleeves and smok-
ing a cob pipe: his feet rested on the
corner of his desk, and his chair was
comfortably tilted at a convenient
angle When Stephen entered the
room. the unusual gravity OF his as
pect told Wade that he had a pur.
pose in his call, and he guessed the
purpose He brought his feet down
with a thud TO the floor, and Slowed
his chair around until he faced his
caller.
We'll, what's wrong. Landray?" he
asked briskly. First, though, make
yourself comfortable; will you
smoke?"
"Everything's wrong" said stephen
shortly as he threw himself down in
a chair.
you've had your little talk with
Benson them" said Wade quickly.
Yes"
How do you stand with him now"
How should | stand?" demanded
Stephen Indignantly.
"Oh, he took what you had to say
in good part, did he? Well, I'm glad
of that steve"
Certainly" said stephen.
We'll, | am glad" said Wade. Just
before you came in was thinking
1t hadn't occurred TO me before-that
in asking you to bring this matter TO
his notice. we were requiring too much
Of you. You see. 1t might have pref
udced your own interests with him.
He glanced sharply at Stephen But
1t didn't
No said Stephen drily. 1T
didn't"
We'll, am glad" repeated Wade,
in tone Of hearty goodwill. II sup
pose you have something to tell me.
What's he going to do?' he added.
$50 far az | know-nothing.
You don't mean to say that he is
going to try and ignore us? Do you
mean TO tell me he has no explana-
ton to offer?" said Wade vehementiy.
II don't think you'll ever get a
word out Of him." said stephen.
"You don't. oh, yes. I will. said
Wade easily. II bet get a good
many words out of him before I'm
done with him. He can't ignore me,