Part 28 (1/2)
”I have a different opinion of him.”
”You are deceived in him, then. I have no doubt he got up the letter himself.”
”I don't agree with you. I have seen the letter; it is in Captain Rushton's handwriting. Moreover, I have seen the letter of the owners, which accompanied it.”
The superintendent was in a tight place, and he knew it. But there was nothing to do but to persist in his denial.
”Then I can only say that Captain Rushton was a party to the fraud,” he said.
”You must be aware, Mr. Davis, that when the public learns the facts in the case, the general belief will be the other way.”
”I can't help that,” said the other, doggedly. ”Whatever the public chooses to think, I won't admit the justice of this outrageous claim.”
”Then I have only to bid you good-evening,” said the lawyer, coldly, affecting not to see the hand which the superintendent extended. The latter felt the slight, and foresaw that from others he must expect similar coldness, but there was no help for it. To restore the money would be ruin. He had entered into the path of dishonesty, and he was forced to keep on in it.
CHAPTER XXII.
ROBERT'S NEW PROJECT.
Mr. Paine called at Mrs. Rushton's cottage, and communicated the particulars of his interview with the superintendent.
”It is evident,” he said, ”that Mr. Davis is swayed by his interests, and feeling legally secure, prefers to defraud you rather than to surrender the five thousand dollars.”
”I wouldn't have believed it of Mr. Davis,” said Mrs. Rushton; ”he is considered such a respectable man.”
”I have heard rumors that he is dabbling in speculations, and I suspect he may find it inconvenient to pay away so large a sum of money.”
”He had no right to speculate with my mother's money,” said Robert, indignantly.
”You are right there. He should have invested it securely.”
”Mr. Paine,” said Robert, after a pause, ”I have an idea that father is still living, and that some day I shall find him.”
The lawyer shook his head.
”There is not one chance in ten that he is living,” he said. ”It is only a fancy of yours.”
”It may be, but I can't get it out of my head.”
”I hope you will prove correct, but I need not tell you of the many arguments against such a theory.”
”I know them all, but still I believe he is living. Mr. Paine,”
continued Robert, earnestly, ”I feel so strongly on the subject that, with my mother's permission, I, mean to go out into the world in search of him.”
”I must say, Robert,” said Mr. Paine, ”I did not expect such a visionary scheme from a boy of your good sense. You must see yourself how wild it is.”
”I know it,” said our hero; ”but I want to take a year, at any rate, to see the world. If, at the end of that time, I discover no trace of my father, I will come home content.”
”But what will become of your mother during that time?”