Waterbury evening Democrat., 1894-04-26
THE OVERTON CLAIM.
By MARTHA MCCULLOUGH WILLIAMS.
Copyright, 1894, by American Press Associa-
 tion.l
CHAPTER VII.


 Dare faced her grandfather with nc sign of confusion. Indeed her first word was for hiri.
 ''How wet you arer" she cried, mov- ing toward him. Surely you did not have to swim at the ford?"
 He put her away with an impatient gesture, saying no word, but a burning question in his eyes. Dare had met him with a pretty appealing droop of the head. Now she stood up as straight as himself, and to the watchers eye a cu- rioa. race likeness to the stern old face crIpt over the soft curves of the young one.
 Letting g hand fall either side of her, Dare said, with distinctneSs that would have been harsh had her voice been less clear: The gentleman is hurt, grand father. I have tried to make him com fortablc, as you would have done. Let me make you acquainted with him-Mr. Allen Haywood. "
 What namc did you say? The wind roars so can hardly hear, Major Over ton said, stepping within, unmindful of the dripping from his soaked garments upon the im%laculate floor. Before Dare could repeat it the stranger got upon his feet and said, with a profound obeisance:
 Let me answer that, Major OvertOn. The young lady knows only part of my name I am Allen Haywood Fauntleroy very much at your service.
 Spite of his white hair, fire leaped to Major Overton's eyes; big veins stood out upon his forehead; his mouth grew set and hard; his hand clinched nervously upon the riding whip he held For a full minute he was silent Then, speaking very low, he said
 Leave us, Dare. Mr.-Fauntleroy, choking over tho namc-"I am sorry to see you in such i'll plight. l hope that my people have Uade you as con- fortable as possible .
 They have done much more than that -savcI my life But, Major Overton, every minute you stand thus dripping wet endang2rs yOUrS. 1 beg you to make yourself comfortable Then give me the pleasure of an hours talk with you. '
 Major OvcrtOu's eyes blaZcd more than ever, yet he answered ill q tone even more silken soft:
 Pardon mo, MT Fauntloroy, you are my guest. Nothing puts that aside. But under all the circumstances of the case I must ask that ;l! other than casual communications silal come through my lawyers.
 With that he bowed himself away, to return q little later i'll we'll brushed suit of fine thrCadbare black, with sill Yer tray i'll ;lis hand, upon which stood q Gecanter and two glasses. He set the salvcr on the table at Fauntleroy' elbow and said in the same restrained voice: "Dinah, my hOusckccper, has told me of yGrr mishap. After it you are naturally rather Shal1y, and here is some brandy that I can recommend It has stood in Ridgclcy cellar rising 70 years. As you arc somewhat disabled, let me give you q glass.
 The other held out his well hand and watched with curious eyes the flow of the oily golden brown liquor that, ill spi;c of q rainy days gray light, held vet q hint of sunshine. As he slipped it slowly the door was thrown aside, and mammy's voice said, Dinners ready, marstIr.
 As the tro men entered the dining roon the younger looked expectantly about, but Dare was not visible Only two covers were laid. The meal went heavily forward, though the guest found