The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1892-11-22

da years before. "There was q lad
named Lewis whom | knew, who ran
away from Simcoe forty years, ago. Per
Years his people never heard from
him, but his mother after that lapse Of time
had letter from him containing some
money, and also the statement that 1t she
cared to communicate with him II she would
New York postofiice he would get it. But he
cautioned her to make no further attempt to
discover him." The writer went on to say
that he had inquired of Lewis's friends,
and they had found the number of the box
and this he forwarded to Judge Often
hoefer.
With this slight clue the judge visited
the New York postoflice and a search of
the records showed that III the year lndl-
Gated John d. Lewis was the owner of that
box. This seemed to be sufficient identlil-
cation to warrant further investigation.
Meanwhile Judge Dittenhoefer had
made inquiries so that he lad knowledge of
the woman mentioned in Mr.. Lewis's will,
and when he saw her he was amazed. She
was girl, beautiful young woman, an
bic family, who had reared her as one Of
their own CbiiGcen She had known Mr..
Lewis T.-5} u,sS & 1GiesDi II the family and
H-lsa fad "-alAen the deepest interest III her
welfare, and it was believed that having no
heirs he out of interest in the girl had left
his fortune to her.
Judge Dittenhoefer went to Simcoe hav-
ing made an appointment with the writer
of the letter, John Fndley, to meet him
at the hotel. He had asked Findley to bring
with him any letters that the Lewis whom
tlndley knew had written to his mother
in Sincoe.
Findley was an old man but ar honest,
plaln-spOken Scotch farmer. who had pass.
ed all his life from childhood in that vicin-
lty, and when he met Judge Dittenhoefer,
10 th.fl ,Dh Il Al
matter than to satisfy the cravings of curl
oslty about the career of the boy lewis.
who had run away years before.
Have you brought any letters?" asked
the judge.
Yes, his sister searching through some
old bureaus. found some that he had written
TO his mother and she had given them to
me-"
Then he has a sister,"
Yes, and a brother, too"
do they live hcreT"
Yes, they have been here for a number of
years."
IF you will show me the letters l. can
tell instantly whether the writer of them
is the John d. Lewis about whom / have
made these Inquiries said the judge.
The Old man took carefully from his pock-
ct a packet of letters. and the instant Judge
Dittenhoefer's eye fell upon them he said.
1t Is the same man. and he produced one
of LewisS letters to him for comparison.
IHe HdnlWflIlUS was l0entlHeQ, even the
TDettered farmer saw that
Can you take me to his brother?' Judge
Dittenhoefer said.
''Oh yes. his place is only a quarter of a
mile away.
You lave said nothing 70 him about my
il 1u.riesT'
NO, not a word"
The old man led the Judge to barber
shop. and when they entered there was no
other occupant of the place TO be seen than
bowl
and who was as black as any negro Judge
DittenhOefer ever saw.
He is not here" said the Judge to Find
ley.
''Oh, yes. he is: that's the man." Findley
replied, pointing to the barber.
"But. no. this cannot be. This is a col
ored man."
"And so was the Lewis boy who ran
away" said Flndley.
For some moments Judge Dittenhoefer
speak, but at last he said 10 the barber
who was looking at him III amazement,
did you nave a brother named john d..
Jewis?'
T. had half brother of that meme,
but | never saw him. said the barber.
How, then, dc you know that you had
half brOther?'
My mother often used to speak of
him -.
There is some mystery about this"
said Judge Dttenhoefer. II knew a
John d. Lewis, who was man of olive
complexion, and who came from Canada
when he was a boy. Surely he cannot be
your half brother
II don't know about that. sir, but I'll
tell you about my half-brother. My moth
or was a slave in Virginia and my father
was slave, too When we were little
children my father was sold and after
ward my mother ran away She got TO
Canada by what they used to call the I'M
foreground railroad. Before she ran away
she heard than father was dead She