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to a lagging law suit would require
constant vigilance.
M. Verne wrote a hurried note to
W Leila explaining the situation- Mrs.
T Vassour passed out of his mind, but
she was revived temporarily two days
later, when to his surprise, Verne
met Colonel Reeves on the street in
Truxton.
"Heard you was here on business,"
spoke Reeves familiarly. "Some busi
ness of importance likely to keep me
here for a week or two. If you are
going to make any kind of a pro
longed stay, we can find pleasant
mutual quarters down at the Ram
blers' Club."
Verne thought not any too much
of Reeves, but time was likely to
hang heavy on his. hands, tie colonel
was good company and some very
pleasant days passed.
"My cousin, Mrs. Vassour, is still
at Midvale," announced the colonel
one day. "By the way, Bhe wrote me
that she met your uncle at a recep
tion. Pine old gentleman. He was
very attentive and courteous toward
her."
If Verne had not known that his
rich relative was a confirmed bach
elor, he would have felt uneasv. As
it was, when he wrote to his uncle!
he Jocularly expressed the sentiment
"beware of the vidders!" and gave
his uncle a hint that Mrs. Vassour
was scarcely en regie with upper
crust society.
At the end of two day3 there
came some vast surprises for Vance.
For several days he had not received
any word from Leila. His uncle, too,
was strangely silent Then there ap
peared at Truxton a young lawyer
who sometimes did business for Mr.
Tresham.
"You are1 to return home at once,"
said tills visitor.
v "But the lawsuit here?" remon
strated Verne. "I have got it in just
the right shape, I am familiar with
its details and can certainly be of
use regarding it"
But the lawyer very gravely and
seriously reiterated the unqualified
direction from xMr. Tresham, so'
Verne returned to Midvale.
It was an inexplicable and chillingi
reception that awaited him. He had
never seen his uncle so distant
"Yes, I sent for you," he said
sternly. "I suppose I need not tell
you why," and he passed across the
table between them three checks for
ten thousand dollars each. They bore
dates a few days apart and the can
celled stamp of the bank. They had
been made out payable to self or
bearer, and they had been cashed
through a bank at Truxton.
"Well?" questioned Verne, looking
up in a puzzled way, "what has this
got to do with me?"
"Have you the audacity to ask,"
challenged his uncle stormlly. "Lis
ten I know alL You forged my name
to those checks. You alonecan Imi
tate my handwriting so cleverly, for
on occasions I have rranted your
using my signaturer You alone had
access to the check book in my safe,
and those thre(f checks were torn out
from the back of my check book."
Of course, Verne Indignantly pro
tested; It was of no avail. His uncle
swore that unless he went away to a
distant solitude he would disown, him.
Verne found the Boyd home shut
against him. Leila had been sent
away to a relative convinced of his
guilt, his uncle claimed.
A broken man, confronted by a
mystery he could not fathom, Verne
remained in seclusion tot a week.
One evening a visitor was announc
ed. It was Mrs. Vassour.
She was pale, wretched looking.
She inquired of Verne where he had
last seen Reeves. He told her at
Truxton. She said he had disap
peared from there. She broke out
into bitter vituperation of the wretch
who had borrowed all Tier money and
left her penniless.
Verne felt sorry for the adventur
ess. He inquired gently as to her
I necessities and tendered, her some 1
money. She took it, started to- leave "i
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