In the midst of this excitement, and while suspense was at its
highest, Dave Law returned. Ellsworth found him in his office one
morning and fell upon the young man eagerly. Two weeks had worked
a shocking change in Dave; he was gaunt, ill; his eyes were bright
and tired and feverish. They had a new expression, too, which the
judge at first could not fathom, but which he took to be fear.
Dave's brown cheeks had bleached; his hands hung loose and
unmanageable at his sides.
"I've had a long trip," he said, somberly, "months--years long, it
seems to me."
"Well, thank God you're back. Tell me, what did you find out?"
Law closed his eyes wearily. He shook his head. "Nothing except
verification. I'm sorry I went. The Law blood is tainted, all
right--it reeks. The whole damned outfit were crazy. On my
mother's side, though, I'm healthy enough--and there appears to be
some mystery or something queer about me as a baby. That's all
I've discovered so far. But I've a relative in San Antone, a
cousin of my mother's, who runs a curio-store. He deals in Mexican
jewelry and antiques, and all that--strange old fellow. He says he
has a trunkful of stuff that belonged to his family, and he has
promised to go through it for me.
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