The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1889-08-01

Win IL. lHOSe were Ills very WOIuSi anu
you may suppose was a bit surprised.
You won't have anything to do with a
hundred and fifty thousand pounds?
says l. Not with that hundred and
fifty thousand, at any rate said he.
But what are you going to do
about it, says l; the property is
yours, and it's entailed, and you can't
get rid of it. oh, don't trouble yourself
about that, said he, with a laugh. 1t
won't be buried in the ground. And if
the worst comes to the worst how do
you know that am the right man after
all? ! have got the papers and l am
called by that name; but you yourself
said that you never saw me before; and
you could not swear that am not some
body else. | should have to go to Eng
land in any case to prove my identity.
But prefer to stay here, and that's the
end of itr
sit was the queerest case ever heard
of, and didn't know what to make Of
it. | sat there and talked and argued
with him for an hour and more, but
nothing could say made bit of diff
ference. He wouldn't have the property
at any price, and he didn't care what
came of it. gave it over, at last, for
the time being. and passed the night in
the hut; the next morning tried him
again, but he was as obstinate as ever
Well, didn't believe yet that he meant
all he said, so made up my mind to
give him bit more rope. | told him
was going to stay in Mexico a week or
two and let him understand that if he
wanted to change his mind he'd have an
opportunity; and then said good day
and rode Of went back to Mexico,
and put up at the hotel, and thought it
all over; but the more / thought about
it the less | could make it out. If he
was the right man land everything about
him showed he was) it didn't seem in
human nature to refuse the property;
and if he was an impostor, who had
somehow managed to get hold of the
right mans papers, and to personate him
why, then, what on earth could his
object be if not to get the property? If
bears But | have proved, cried the
lady, that am the wife of the heir Of
that estate; and if this gentleman says
he is the heir, denounce him as an i'm
postorr
"At that, / looked at Mr.. Valentine.
He had kept his eyes on the lady all the
while, with sort Of perplexed express
sion; but now he smiled very quietly,
and said he, 4 think have heard of this
lady before. l wish to say nothing
against her. She seems to be in diem
ma from which there is no way of extri-
eating her. If she wishes to lay claim
to the -7tates, she can do so only by ac-
knowledging me as her husband. But
you have just heard us both declare that
we have never seen each other before.
But she also declares me an impostor.
Suppose am; she must find the real man
before she can profit by the inheritance
If am not he, where is he? Grant, on
the other hand, that am he, and this lady
is my wife; still decline to touch a
penny of the hundred and fifty thousand
pounds; and what " Il not accept she
cannot share. That is logic and law
both, / believer"
upon my word, Henry Clifton" ejac-
ulated Mr. Bob Stapleton at this junct-
ure, "this is about as peculiar yarn as
ever listened to! It's as good as play
and better too. When you get to New
York, do you go straight to manager
and offer to sell it to him; and if he
don't give you good price for it I'm a
Dutchmanp
"Good or bad," returned Mr.. Clifton,
sit happened just as l tell it you. When
Mr.. Valentine said that, the lady seemed
staggered for a moment; and then all al
once she called out: 4 see how it isl You
two have arranged this thing between
you'll You are in conspiracy to cheat
mel You have plotted to get hold Of
this property and share it between you,
and keep me outl But / will have
my rights in spite of you'll will
denounce both of you to the au
thorities For all know, you may have
murdered my husband and taken his
papers. But you will not succeed; viii
expose you, and you shall be punished!
"Well, that made me a little angry
and | told her that if she wanted tC
charge me with conspiracy she had bet
ter set about it at once, and the sooner
! the better, for | knew who would ge
the worst of it. AS for Mr.. Valentine
| he didn't lose his temper, but he sale
| anything, that would be the stranges
! case of the two.
81 had been back from Pachuca just {
week when | was told that there was {
lady in the house-an English lady-tha
wanted to see me. Thinks |, Now, wha
does this meanY brushed myself up /;
bit and went down to find out. She wa
sitting at table in the patio, with a cul
of tea in front of her. She was a gooC
looking woman, and as judged nigh
be something under 30 years old.
Il made my bow, and she asked me Il
be seated. After little talk, says she
4 hear you have been inquiring after Mr.
Valentine'-giving his full name, yol
understand. | told her that had. Dit
you find himy asked she. 1 did, said
She seemed bit excited or anxious, ant
l began to have my own ideas; but
wasn't prepared for what she said next
4 wish you to know that l am his wife
she said, and whatever is his business