The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1894-09-29
CHAPTER xI.-lContInuedl

of the bathers, as il hung in the ante
room. Surprising IL to belong TO
watch he had pulled it out and found
it only a silver medal; and, afraid to
offer it for sale, had kept it concealed.
Then he left the hotel and drove car
riage for short time; and one day
found on the seat this memorandum
book" said he to the attorney-at the
same time handing him Vivette's lost
memoranda of the Blake family. In
that, Smithers had found the clue to
the medal, and from it he had con-
cocted his claim to be Joe Blake and
heir to Gray sulphur Springs estate.
The astute Mr.. u. Colburn looked
over that very complete historical
sketch Of the Blake family with great
surprise and no little qualification
Had it been made to order, it could
not have suited his purpose
better. II he could not win
his case with that (should he de-
eide to win it at ALL, then the genuine
and true heir could never win his own
case.
Now what is your plan-how o
you explain your long absence and
present appearance now?'
~ claim that my father was muir
dered and robbed at Covington, KY,
just as we reached town late at night
that saved the medal in my shoe as
before instructed by my father" He
did not get that from the memoranda;
- ,yap 1p.lyy ION nHh 70
after he found from Mrs. Blake he had
made hit. That ] was taken by the
robbers by boa. to Pittsburg after they
had sold the carriage and horses, and
thence to England; and that !
was there placed in the family of n
carriage driver where ! grew up las
certainly did, learned TO drive and be
handy with horses; that the old man
with whom lived told me to go to
Cincinnati soon as was of age, and
find Gray Sulphur Springs and my
friends And finally, that my memory
was strong; and ] could tell all about
the old place and all my folks-and
in course can, as you will see.
''Iou ought to have been n lawyer.
Smithers--or Blake as must call you
You could have made your fortune,
said Colburn. Leave me that long
memorandum, and can draw the bill
and petition without your help" much
better than with it, he might have
added. Tell everybody have taken
your case merely on its merits; it viii!
give you the public sympathy, and
that's worth a good deal-come again
tomorrow"
Mr.. Smithers went to his boarding
house highly elated, though the whole
conference between him and Colburn
resembled one between two thieves.
Mr.. Sam Blake was less outspoxen
in his communications with Mr.. Clay
ton. lie told the story of his trip to
but said he found an idiot
boy named Joe who had somehow be-
come wrongfully possessed of medal
which he recognized as that of his lost
nephew; and he had employed an old
man named Molier to obtain that
medal for him from the boy: and to
prevent bad use of it had thrown it
into the river. But now he had no
doubt that Molier had imposed another
medal upon him, and that the one
thrown into the river was counterfeit
At any rate, he said, the medal
shown by the false claimant was I'M
doubtedly that of Little joe" and
was so recognized by the mother.
subpoena Molier," said the attor-
ney. 1.-The court will take testimony
as to facts; and by Molier we can
prove that this medal has long been in
Cincinnati, and that it has probably
been stolen"
But Molier might prove too mrch,"
replied Blake.
well, between the true and the
false heirs, you Of course prefer the
true?"
Couldn't we buy off this fellow?"
with the full and as you say cor
rect knowledge of affairs which he
Possesses, it would hardly be safe to
make that proposition. Does the
widow join you in tae defense of this
SUITE"
II am afraid not. She thinks she is
Joes heir; she is already in
Joint possession and interest Tor
life; and il the strange man should
win, he must provide for his alleged
mother, at least for appearance sake. I"
ANY other reason" asked Clayton
with most searching look.
''Candidly, think there is. She sus-
poets me of knowing something Of her
son which do not communicate to
her."
''And suspect it tco, Blake" re-
sponded Clayton. And II you wish me
to succeed in this defense you must
give me your full confidence"
Then, with shamc-face and hesita-
ton. Blake told the whole story of his
having found Little Joe bereft of his
senses. and of his decision to leave him
with the kind friends who appeared to
love him so much. He said nothing
about the rumor which had reached
Al<lf Nf<Isox. That L..