The Detroit times., 1913-07-09

1
damn nonsense anyhow. and ne
knows it. Let me tell him you regret
what's happened don't know what
II Is, and | don't ask 10 know-b =
just let me tell him you are sorry.
want 10 see you back there both for
his sake and for your own. | kno"
Jake Benson, know him better than
he knows himself: and II you say
may, III lodge the sort OF an idea with
him that'll stick. Let me fix 1t up
for you, Steve" he entreated.
No, you must say nothing, general.
In fact there is nothing you can say.
Don't let your pride obscure your
reason. Steve, you got too much at
stake 70 act this way. You can't al
ford TO affront him."
But I've not affronted him. in the
sense you mean; you Will know all
| there Is TO know before long, and then
you will understand.
And you won't let me say word
to him." grieved Gibbs.
ut can only make trouble for you,
general and nothing can come OF II.
You shouldn't have lost your tenn
per. Steve OF course, | know he's
rather exacting at times"
mo, I've nothing 10 complain Of;
he has always been kindness itself
to me. appreciate your wish 10 help
me, though | can't make useof It,"
Just let me edge in word now
and then" urged the general.
my disagreement with Uncle Jake
Is not OF the nature you suppose, and
Is not TO be adjusted. The breach can
only go on widening. | am sorry TO
have 10 tell you this
"You don't mean you broke with
him for good and ALL" walled Gibbs.
That's about the amount of the
matter"
But you can't afford to. Steve
Its an extravaganza In which | am
going 10 indulge myself. at any rate"
said Stephen, smiling sadly at the
old man.
Il thought II was just some little
difference" said the general. You're
sure you don't exaggerate?'
II fear 7 don't. But thank you for
your wish to serve me"
1T was for him as well as you,
Steve. You been everything to him.
Now he's got only me. and we'll doze
over our wine night after night as
we did before you came-well. I'm
sorry there's nothing | can do, but
suppose you know best. Well. | hope
1t will work out right, for I've set my
heart on your getting his money one
OF these days. ! don't want to see II
go to some damn charity"
Wade had told Virginia that their
first step would be to offer Benson the
five thousand dollars he had paid for
the land She had not understood
that she would have to make this de-
mand in person. but later Wade made
this point clear TO her.
"Of course it's not a thing one
would care TO do If one were going TO
pick out just the things they'd like
to do, said Wade, smiling into her
face But we'll catch him at his
office when only old Gibbs and the
bookkeeper are there; they'll do very
well as witnesses" he explained.
And | must go there-but not
alone"
No, no, I'll go with you"
Virginia looked at him doubtingly
1T never occurred TO me that |
should have to do this, MIR. Wade.
she said
II don't expect the law is ever very
pleasant to any one except the law
yers, but ! should think this would
be a rather more difficult occasion
for Mr.. Benson than for any one else
Does Stephen know what ! shall
have to do?"L|
"I don't think he does !"
Then he'd better not be told until
II is all over"
Probably not. agreed Wade.
"If It were not for his sake
should not care to make this demand
but don't you see. he will have abso-
lutely nothing unless this suit Is won.
II Is most important that the money
should be recovered
at is," said Wade.
And you have no doubt but the
suit will be won,' she asked anx'
iously
Well OF course. one can never tell;
but I've put the question to myself
many times in the last few days, and
feel certain OF the outcome. l think
we had best get the preliminary steps
over with as quickly as possible" He
was aware that the interview with
Benson would only seem the more i'm
possible the longer Ii was deferred.
II have not seen Mr.. Benson In
years said Virginia thoughtfully.
"Once | should not have thought II
possible for him TO wrong any one
We'll we know In Stephens case
that he was hard enough7-to call 1t
by no other name" said Wade
Yes, that is true"
"My dear Mrs. Landray, there Is
nothing extraordinary In the situation.
am sorry to say 1t. but suits Of this
sort are far from uncommon. You
had every confidence in Mr.. Benson,
and he saw his opportunity Men play
for riches without much thought OF
anything but the stakes. Not TO get
found out is the principal thing"
But Virginia was not giving any at
tention 20 Mr. Wade's slipshod views
on morality. She was thinking OF the
Benson she had once known; the Ben
son who had sacrificed himself TO
meet her lightest wish. whose kind
ness had seemed Infinite. He could
not have wronged her and remained
the man she had known The change
had begun then, and II had gone on.
and the manifestation of IL had come
TO her In many ways: in his treatment
OF Stephens father. and now in the
case OF Stephen himself. The thought
OF the two Stephens always stiffened
a. .tsst ~ hA~