WEALTH WITHOUT WINGS. 197

 

plied Martin, rising. “If you will not buy a for-
tune at so small a cost, you deserve to be poor.
How far your conscience is clear in respect to Miss
Elder, is another matter. But, perhaps you don't
credit what I say. Let me give you a single hint.
Fanny Elder was missing once for three days. I
had a hand in that affair. Do you think she was
carried off, and taken to another city for nothing ?
If so, you are wonderfully mistaken. But good
morning, sir. If you should, on reflection, change
your mind, you can hear of me by calling at the
office of Grind, the lawyer.”

‘Good morning,” returned Claire, showing not
the least disposition to retain the man, toward whom
he experienced a strong feeling of dislike and sense
of repulsion.

Martin lingered a few moments, and then went
out, leaving Claire bewildered by a rush of new
thoughts.

 

CHAPTER XX.

Tue meeting of Claire and Jasper, for the final
settlement of Mr. Elder’s estate, was to take place
at the office of Grind, at ten o’clock. Before keep-
ing his appointment, the former turned over in his
mind, with careful deliberation, the circumstances
which had just occurred; and the more he thought
of it, the better satisfied was he that a fraud had
been committed.. The author of that fraud could

17*