Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1904-07-07
CHAPTER XIII.

l.,
YY lNCLE TERRY and Albert had
IOI just seated themselves on the
GFESI point that evening when Tel
lsA4S ly came out with thick gray
shawl and wrapped it around her IA
Tiers shoulders. "It's little chilly to-
night" she said, land think you need
It." Then, turning to Albert, she
added, wouldn't you like one, too,
Mr.. Pager"
Il would, thank you," he answered,
IF you have another to spare"
He would have answered yes If she
had asked him to put on wooden nit
tens. She returned to the house and
came back, this time bearing white
zephyr wrap, and handed it to Albert.
II will bid you good night now" she
said, for I presume you will sit here
long after bedtime"
Uncle Terry's eyes followed her back
to the house, and then he turned to
his guest.
II s'pose ye'd rather be talkin' to
Telly than me out here in the moo1-
light" he. said bluntly, NOW that we've
got little acquainted. It's the way
O. young folks"
1--WE had very pleasant visit with
your daughter this afternoon" re-
sponded Albert. "She was good enough
to go with me to where got left yes
terday. l wanted to finish the sketch
I began there" Uncle Terry made no
answer, but sat putting away at one
Of the cigars Albert had given him.
"Mr. Page" said Uncle Terry at
last, 1--WE worried good. deal since
last night bout what We told me, an
I've made up my mind to tell We the
hull story en- trust We with what no
one else knows. To begin with, it's
nineteen years ago last March when
thar war vessel got afoul O. ledge
jest off'n the pint here in snowstorm,
an all hands went down-that is, all
but little yearlin' baby that cum
ashore tied up tween two feather
beds. fshed her out O. the surf, an
Lissy an me has taken care on her
ever since, an today she's worth q
Thousand tines more'n she cost. How
much she thinks O. me I'll let ye jedge
by the way she thought bout my
comfort tonight There was a few
trinkets came ashore with her-picturs
o. her father an mother we knew, an
a locket an ring an some other things
so we knowed her name an whar
she cum from.
"Since then we have never heard q
word from no one regardin' her people,
or whether any was livin', till last win
ter cum across notice in paper
sayin' information was wanted bout
AN heir to an estate in Sweden, an tell
i'm facts that made me sure Telly was
the one wanted. The notice was signed
by that lawyer, Frye, that asked We
bout, an went to see him. He want
ed proofs an all that, an 1 gave 'em
ito him, an, wussen that, he wanted
money, an gave that to him. He's
KEEP askin' fer money ever since, an I.
like fool, KEEP sendin' it, in hopes If
ITelly had anything comm she'd git
her dues I've sent him the locket an
things that belonged to her, an ali
I've got 80 far is letters askin' fer
1rore money an tellin' bout expenses
an evidence an witnesses fees an
bonds to be filed. Lissy an Telly
know bout the case, but they don't
know how much money I've paid out,
an don't want they should. That's
the hull story, an now as ye're law
yer, an I b'lieve an honest one, I ask
We what's best to be done"
II see now, Mr.. Terry, why you dis
trust lawyers, and l do not wonder at
it. To the best of my belief, you have
been swindled in the most outrageous
manner by Frye. He no doubt is act
ing for some law firm who have in
structed him to find an heir, ii there
is one, to this estate, and they would
naturally advance all expense money.
Do you know the vessels name, where
she sailed from and who her master
was?"
'She was a square rigger, an the
masters name was Peterson. In the
newspaper piece the name was Neils
Peterson, who cum from Stockholm"
answered Uncle Terry. 1--WE got it in
my wallet now, an on the locket was
the letters Z. p, an on piece o paper
that was pinned to the baby's dress
was the name Etelka Peterson"
"And did you send these proofs to
FryeY' asked Albert quickly.
81 sent 'em six months ago." was the
reply, "an' I've jest bout made up my
mind was a fool to "a done it, an a
bigger one to keep sendin' money"
1T would have been all right" an
swered Albert after pause, IF you
had put them into an honest mans
hands. AS it is you are lame-in fact,
utterly at the mercy of Frye, who is
robbing you" Then, after thinking
moment he added: II will gladly do
\ what I can to help you. Mr., Terry.