The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1913-07-05
Author OF Tho FrodiGl Judge"
-Sust and the Unjust, etc.

But it's quite wrong Of him 20
have any personal feeling haven't.
you know ] suppose. though he's had
that money so long he thinks he
ought 10 be let alone 10 enjoy il for
the rest OF his days Well, I'm sorry
for the old gentleman; it's hard
lines; but don't IL beat all how these
things round in on a fellow? You
think the skeletons laid away. and
then, by golly, IL takes on flesh and
stalks out OF your closet with the
bloom OF youth on it's cheeks. and
ready 10 play hell with you!"
stephen stared gloomily at him.
what are you going 10 do next?"
he asked at last
Why, get the-thing to trial as soon
as | can, said Wade briskly. Look
mere, I've got the complete record OF
the transaction, not a paper missing
YOU may as we'll look il over It
, shows up strong.
No, said Stephen shortly.
suppose you tell me just how the
matter came up, and what he said
promise you I'll use nothing of what
you say"
Stephens checks Redeemed angrily
i thought this was a matter Of
mutual confidence" he said haught.
! lily.
Well so IL is, that's what | say,
but I'd like TO bet that Benson said
nothing that would be of any use tn
anybody. But | understand just how
YOU feel, and frankly, | don't see how
you can afford TO take sides with US
! am trying 10 make your aunt see
this but she will only see that you
are Landray, and that this Is a holy
war we are going TO wage against
! Benson for the recovery of the In
! dray fortune. For the money itself
as money, | don't think she cares the
snap OF her finger; and If you'll be-
lieve me, Steve, she's doing the whole
thing for YOU"
For me- cried Stephen.
For you. She has no confidence
in Benson, you see, and she doesn't
! think he will ever do anything for
! you. so she's going 10 take care of
your fortune. She's a remarkable
! character; her motives are as plain
and straight as string; no ms and
! outs TO her mental processes"
DO you think could induce her to
drop the whole affair right here and
now" demanded Stephen eagerly.
Not if can balk you" said Wade.
with simple candor. Steve, If this
! thing goes through I'll be building one
| of those dinky little Queen Anpe's
up along side OF Nortpn's big house.
He's got vacant lot he amt going
10 want, and it's at my disposal the
minute I'm ready TO build Elinor
says she's told you al labout Clara.
! Wait until you see her-there is a
| girl, he sucked at his pipe with smil-
! ing wistful lips. Don't you take a
| hand in this and spoil my Etle ro-
| nance! I've had a hell of hard row
TO hoe and old Benson won't mind the
| loss OF forty or fifty thousand dollars
| once he familiarizes himself thor
| oughly with the idea and I'm not
alone in wanting to see the thing
| pushed for all there Is in It. Mrs.
! Walsh and the Nortons are tremend-
ously anxious to see your aunt get the
best of Benson"-he chuckled at some
memory. Mrs. Walsh thinks II would
be lovely for her to get all that
money! heard her say You know
you need IL, Virginia and deserve il. Y
And look here, Steve, your aunts got
nothing much to anticipate in the
way OF money unless she sells her
cottage and rents or buys a cheaper
! place. You're interested In Benson
Now, try and see her side OF Ii, too
| understand she did everything she
could for your father; and you owe
her something on his account, Just as
you owe Benson something on your
own account. Now, I've looked into
Bensons affairs as far as could,
and I've learned some things about
him that are not generally known.
In the first place, when your grand
| father Thomas Benson, failed in bust
ness, Benson was involved with him.
From what | can learn I understand
| that he was pretty nearly ruined. and
that he came out of the failure up TO
his neck In Aebt II was at this
critical moment In his fortunes that
he got hold OF that land. The price
he got for 1t put him on his feet; he
was shrewd and he was fortunate In
all his investments. That was the
beginning of his great wealth. or
course, he's been kind to you: one
step in the wrong direction don't
prove that mans soul is sown to
corruption but the way l. look at il.
II was really your aunt's money you
have been spending That he was
able TO be generous TO you, must have
been a sort OF sop to his conscience"
Stephen writhed in his chair.
Wade, seeking TO palliate and expEin
Benson's wrong doing was more pain
full than Wade denouncing him for
It, for his argument seemed born OF
the gospel OF expediency and what
stephen saw In the situation. Wade.
thick-skinned and callous, with a
shrewd intelligence that he had de
veloped at the expense OF all finer
feeling, did not see even vaguely. He
was remote from spiritual conscious
ness of any Sort he dwelt In an at
mosphere Of unrelated facts.
I've gotten all the points your aunt
can give me" said Wade And I'VE
heard from Switzerland, who seems
ready enough 10 help US. He came
here to make his first offer for the
land. He wanted 10 pick 1t up cheap
but Benson wouldn't lave It. He went
on and saw the land himself. saw
there was coal on it; then he told
your aunt he had found buyer for
II and on behalf OF this buyer offered
FIVE thousand dollars; mind you. he
was her legal representative at the
time; she had absolute confidence In