A Mistaken Conclusion... (Concluded.) CHAPTER III.

Free Lance, Volume III, Issue 130, 27 December 1902, Page 17

A Mistaken Conclusion. . . (Concluded.) CHAPTER 111.

(By E C. Kenyon.)

There was no Lye lost, as the saying 18, between Ralph Darroll and his elder nephew, who was living idly at home on his poor mother's slender resources, beoause he would not deagn to accept a clerkship like Dick, and be content with a weekly wa^e. For his sister's sake, as well as fW his nephew's, Ralph remonstrated with Rex, only to receive inaults in return. The elder man would not have remained longer in the same house if it had not been for the tender love which had oprung up in his heart for Mona and alsoi for the interest he felt in Diok, who was doing all a young man could do to assist his mother and sisters. He wished to wm Dick's confidence, but the youth was shy and reserved, and in his scanty leisure, not much advamoe was made. Ralph's appearance was greatly improved, thanks to his new suit, and an occasional visit to a first-class barber, who reduced his beard to a Vandyke, and the long, unkempt hair to a minimum. Mona admired him immensely and thought that he must have obtained ■work, for he usually stayed out most pi the day, and returned in good spirits in the evening. Still, as he did not confide in her, she, mindful of her loan, did not like to presume upon it, by making inquiries. . , One day. Rex came in to luncheon 3 1 great excitement. "Mother!" he exclaimed, before them all "what do you think ? I have found out something quite by accident. You don't want me to st>eak against Uncle Ralph but I must say this . he is either an imposter, a lunatic, or a millionaire I "My dear Rex, what are you saying asked his mother, amazed. "Simply this. I was 1 occupying a spare naif-hour— Rex's spare half-hours were legion— by looking in at. a big auction sale, which is taking place in the .city to-day, when who should I see bidding higher than anyone else for all the costliest articles but Uncle Ralph' Yes, and they were knocked down to him, "My dear Rex, what are you saying?" repeated his mother. ''Oh uncle is mad'" said Maude. "He must be quite mad for we all know how ooor he is!" "Perhaps he is not poor, said hei mother. "He dresses well now. Mona coloured a little. She cut some bread up rather nervously. Rex stared at her. "I believe," he said, "Monais m his confidence, and that she shares his secrets. Is it not so, Mona? "He does not tell me anything, she answered, oolowuig still more. He is reserved." "But you know something f "Rex " remonstrated his mother, it Mona knows any of his secrets, we must not asik her to betray them. "But, I don't— that is, I scarcely know anything," answered Mona, m embarrassment. , . „ A T> "i* "I only ask -ou this, said J*ex , is he rich, or poor?" „ "Oh, poor: very poor I believe — - Mona stopped short, If he had really been buying those expensive things, what did it mean? Maude fixed her sharp eyes upon her sister. "Mona," she said, shrewdly, "where is the money you were saving towards ai typewriter?" The girl pulled herself together to reply with spirit, "I don't ehoso to answer that question. My money is my own, and I can do as I like with it. "She has bought uncle's new s" .t with, it!" cried Maude. "You little idiot!" exclaimed Rex angrily to Mona- "I tell you I have seen him buying hundreds and hundreds of pounds' worth of furniture this morn1U Mona was dumbfounded. Her uncle had been so touchingly grateful tor her little loan! How could he be rich:' let Rex who, with all his faults, was no liar declared that lie had been spending large sums of money. A sudden thought solved, as she imagined, the problem. "Oh I know, that is I felt sure that he had obtained a situation," she said, "so perhaps he is a "buver-in," or whatever they call it, for some firm of furniture dealers." . . The others agreed that it might be that, and Mrs. Tinkng declared that if her brother had a good situation she should try to get more money out oi him. "Two pounds a we°k isi a! very well," she said, "and for such a r>oor attic to sleep in, but with us he receives wha,t he could not obtain elsewhere — a position — cultured companionship, society and all that sort of thing. "He might help a fellow to get a start in life if he has got a good post himself," said Rex. . "Well, I think he is a fraud." said Maude. "He may have obtained money which is not honestly his " she added spitefully. "Anyway, he had no right to get hold of Monas savings." "I shall speak to him about it," said Mrs. Tinlin#. "My children shall not be preyed upon by sharpers "

"Mother'" exclaimed Mona. "I beg—" But her mother would not listen. "You are infatuated, you silly girl !" she said. "Perfectly infatuated with the man, or you would not have thrown away all the money you possess." * * There were raised voices in the little dining-room, where, for once, Mrs. Trnlmg was sitting with her brother after dinner, and then, the young people heard the door open and shut very decisively. Ralph Darroll went straight upstairs to his attic-room, and commenced packing his black bag. The widow tearfully adjourned to the drawing-room, to tell her children the result of the interview. "I have offended him," she sobbed, "I have quite offended your uncle. He is going aw ay he is going away now." "Let him go!" cried Dick, who nevei failed to be his mother's champion. "I liked him always, yet if he has been unkind to you. — ■" "No, no, Dick It was I—lI — I who was horrid to Mm," cried Mrs. Tinline, remorsefully. "I — I misunderstoid. It seems, dears, that lie is very rich indeed — so rich that he scarcely knows how much he possesses. He could not deny that he was a millionaire! Oh, dear l " she wept again. "It is like mv luck'" she sighed. "It was bad policy to quarrel with him," grumbled" Maude. "You may have ruined us all by it." "Rex, it was your i enresentations that made, me so hard upon him — you know you thought he was a sharper, or a swindler, or something — and so, when he said that he did not see his way to pay me more for his board and lodging, I became angry, and accused him of taking: my child's monev — -" "Mother'" cried Mona, indignantly, "how could you ?" Her mother continued, without heeding the interruption. "And then something in his indignant response — which I dad not understand — caused me to add that I feared that he had been imposing upon people in the city, amd had been buying things for which he could never pa-* r - — " "How silly!" cried Rex. "He would have to pay a deposit at least, if he really bought them — " "I am sure you said something like it. Eex," returned the mother : "and what does it matter?" she went on inconsequenifcly, "the poinrt is that I have offended him — and he such a wealthy man ! He showed me papers, notes, and heaps of receipted bills for the furniture he bouerJit in the city !" Maude was immensely chaeprined. She beiffan to reproach her mother, declaring that she had no tact, and that if shie had been wise she might have won oveir the millionaire to help them in so many ways. Dick cut short her harangue. "Don't talk td mother like that," he said "Can't you see she is quite' upset?" "Moral'" It was their uncle's voice The eirl ran out to him in the passage. "Oh. uncle I am so sorry " she was beginning, when he stopped her with a kiss. "Good-bye, dear," he said. "I am eomg away, but you shall hear from me. Don't let anyone poison your mind against me. Her© is your money with interest. It helped me a great deal, that loving little loan. God bless you, child. Good-bye." He was leaving the house when Dick hurried after him. "Uncle," he said, "you are leaving my mother in preat distress , and do you thing yourself that it was quite fair to come amongst us, with every appearance of poverty, as you did •" "Bless my life '" exclaimed Ralph Darroll, looking the youth straight in the face. "You are turning the tables on me, are you? Blaming me? Well well, you do right to stick up for your mother. And, perhaps I w r as wrong, perharos I was a little hard on her — we shall never know, lad, until we get across, the Jordan the exact right and wrong of ever^tl-^ng. However, I'll apologise." He strode into the httle drawingroom, and held out his hand to his sister. "Florence "he said, "it seems I was wrong in the first place to come amomp- you as a poor man. But, indeed, my tastes are very simple, and it seemed to me that in that wav I should fet know you all better, and be able to judge! how to assist you in the future. And I paid you fairly for everything," he added. "Indeed, Florence, I don't think you audit to have asked three guineas a week for the accommodation you gave me. But, there, lam erring again, for I shouM not blame you before your children. I had better be off. "I have bought a nice old ha.ll at Teddinajton. I expect mv wife and family over soon. And I've been buying a few sticks to put in. That's all. Dick, my boy, you shall hear from me. Mona, you shall have an invitation from my wife as soon as she comes over. You

gave me your room so willingly, you shall have an© of ours especially set apart tor you. Good-bye, ail." The next minute he had gone, carrying has bag, in the same unassuming manner as that in which, he had oome. Then Maude spoke . "He never mentioned me " she said. Rex shrugged hie shoulders, and said nothing. Mona ran away to be alone. And it w as some tame before she opened the envelope which, her uncle had put into her hand. When she did so, instead of seeing a £5 note, as she expected she found a cheque for £25, and a slip of paper, on which was written a request that she would be so kind as to accept compound interest for her dear little loan. But, that was only a trifle in comparison with what followed, for, when Mrs. Ralph Darroll and her family arrived at the eld Hall at Teddington, and heard all about Mona from her husband, she sent for the girl immediately, and before long she and her husband had practically adopted her. Indeed, it was from their house that Mona eventually married so very happily and well. Dick was not forgotten. His uncle, hearing his wishes from Mona, paid far his education as a barrister, and interested himself greiatly in getting him legal and other friends, so that the chances were that he would not be briefless long. Upon his sister Ralph settled a thousand a. year, which, she said, was littlei enough, considering that Rex and Maude were left on her hands. However, uncle Ralph, bearing no malice, promised that when Maude married he would provide her with a dot, whilst Rex should be assisted more when he showed himself to be man enough to set toi work diligently in some way. For idlers uncle Ralph had no pity. "God helps those who help themselves," was his motto, and he tried to act in conformity with it.