But on the contrary, should he be
found in the course of time, this wild extravagance would result in
bankrupting her. She thought it necessary to keep detectives in constant
pay to hold their efforts and interest to the search, even though the
ultimate rich reward were dangled continually before their eyes. The
flamboyant advertisements, the widespread publicity over half the world,
had involved commensurate cost. Large sums had been disbursed for
information merely that was rooted in error and bore only disappointment.
Then, too, were the inevitable mistakes, the fakes and cheats, and the
expenses of a score of agents effecting nothing. Mr. Marable rubbed the
wisps of gray hair on either side of his corrugated temples, and wrung
his solvent hands in financial anguish.
He sought in this cause to take advantage of Bayne's influence with
Lillian, and made an effort to induce him to remonstrate with her. They
were in the library of her house in Glaston, looking over some papers
together, a real estate mortgage, in fact, by which Lillian intended to
raise a large sum for more unrestricted use in the extension of the
search.
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