The Detroit times., 1913-07-09
CHAPTER FIFTY.
(Continued)


Il suppose both OF them lost their
4 tempers over some trife," speculat-
ed the general. But look here. this
amt no trifie 10 either OF them; the
boys future is at stake: and this is
no light matter 10 Jake either, for
all his damn airs, Ill bet they just
J fared up over nothing at all, and now
! want 10 see em fare down and get
back TO their senses. You're going
( TO see Steve?"
yes. that is II he is at his aunt's
as expect he Is. I am going there
II now"
Wen. YOU tell him for me. Ben.
that | want to see him, tonight at my
n house. will you do that?"
Certainly"
Tell him It's very particular I'd
go to him myself but Jake might not
like that IL he ever found II out; but
there Is no harm in his coming to me
that's quite another matter"
NJ Quite agreed Wade.
II I'm going TO patch this thing up"
said the old man. Jake Benson amt
acting right, and he knows it. He's
got 40 business 10 turn that young
fellow out OF doors without a day S
|7warning I'll tell him so. too. If he
"A don't come to his senses damn
N auick!"
An right. general-all right. I'll
l give him your message" said Wade
\ from the door.
Thank you. Ben" and Gibbs shut
X fed after him. but by the time he had
reached the street. Wade had disap-
Hpeared.
II This was news indeed that old
HGibbs had brought him, for there
q could be but one reason why Stephen
bad left Benson.
Il He's objected 10 Stephen going to
4 his aunt's. Stephen probably told him
he was there last night These peo
81 ple-these people, who are ready to
chuck up everything for fancied
81 point OF honour. who are always los
Ing sight Of the main thing, How am
ever going 10 keep them sane and
faced about in the right direction"
VI He found Stephen at the cottage
but reserved and taciturn, and quite
Hevidently none too we'll pleased with
4 himself. and apparently very resent
: full OF his own prompt appearance,
Especially when he told him Of Gibbss
q call and mes ge. But Wade was not
sensitive; he carried stout heart un-
u der thick skin. and much had been
N accomplished, for Stephen had brok
n en- with Benson This was more than
he had hoped for.
j Virginia came into the room. and
with muttered excuse 10 her Ste
phen left them She was not reserved
\ She thought Bensons conduct had
been outrageous
n But what was the trouble, Mrs.
Landray?"
Il don't know. Stephen hasn't said,
out he has left Mr.. Benson for good :"
1 Ter eyes flashed with the sense OF
triumph she was feeling. and which
4 she could not hide from him. She had
asked Stephen no question, and he had
told her nothing beyond the fact that
he and Benson had disagreed, and
] that he could not go back there.
We'll. now We can go ahead, can't
we?" said Wade eagerly.
Yes, | am glad you came, for |
want to know what | must do
Well offer Benson back the five
thousand dollars he paid for the land"
| said Wade.
But | have no such sum as that"
o. said Virginia.
"Oh. that's all right. Mr.. Norton
will let us have the cash for an hour
or so. or course, Benson won't take
II. the tender is the merest formal
ity. and don't really mean anything in
ITSELF" explained Wade.
rs 1t necessary"
We'll, yes it's a good point. Don't
you see you will have offered him his
money back: II shows, you are in
earnest. Yes, | should hate TO dis
pense with that; and TO tell the truth.
| I've already arranged with Mr.. Norton
| for the use of the money. He quite
agrees with me that we should leave
nothing undone that will give our
case authority. When II gets to trial,
expect that we will find that Benson
fhas not been quite so inactive as he
| seems. He has influence and he has
money, and he will use them both
. that's a foregone conclusion. This is
| going to rip the town wide Open Mrs.
I.andray; nothing like this has ever
happened here before: no case Of ex-
actly the same calibre has ever been
drought to trial in the county
He took his leave OF her with some
precipitation, for he feared the riot
OF his own enthusiasm. He had doubt
ed and feared. but now the case was
assured; and the dinky little Queen
Anne on Norton's vacant lot seemed
to be digging itself cellar among
the roses; and then II grew as never
house had grown before. until he
could fancy himself approaching II
with springing step, and Clara, that
Paragon Of charming femininity. walt
ing for him Just inside the door
That night Stephen went to See
Gibbs. The general had prepared for
the meeting with unnecessary elabor.
alton. He had induced his Julia to
retire TO a neighbours.
"She don't know vet that anythings
wrong between you and Jake, and
hope TO get you back on sane basis
before ! tell her you've had this little
flare up. MY dear boy, want you to
put your case in my hands and leave
1t all to me; little tact you know
MY dear general. you don't under.
stand the situation" said Stephen. but
he had no intention OF telling him
the nature OF their difference. he had
TOO much regard for Gibbs He could
not shake his faith in Benson. That
would come soon enough
\'T amt asking TO know the iDs and
outs OF your little difference said
Gibbs magnanimouslv. "T take n. II