The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-04-16
CHAPTER vi.

Lord Catherington listened with
outward calmness to the ragged mans
startling claim. Then he pointed to
chair.
"Sit down." he said, shortly.
The stranger hesitated. He looked
at the offered chair then furtively at
his host, and then his eyes wandered
suspiciously round the room. Lord
Catherington, who was watching him
closely saw that the mans eyes
frightened suddenly, with q sort Of
flash Of appreciation, as they rested on
"a picture that had q place Of honor in
the middle of the wall at one end Of
the room. 1t seemed strange that. at
a moment Of such intense excitement,
such thing as a picture should at
trace him even for q moment.
But 1T was for more than q moment.
Instead Of sitting, the man held the
back Of the chair, and remained with
his eyes fixed upon the painting.
You know something Of pictures ?"
said Lord Catherington, cur1ously.
The man nodded
IT know enough to know a Romney
when I see It," he answered, shortly.
AN artist yourself perhaps?"
For answer the man held out his
hand.
"Give me a pencil and paper" said
he.
Still without losing sight of his man.
Lord Catherington went to a desk, and
putting out paper and pencil beck
oned to him to make use of them.
The unkempt stranger sat down,
his very attitude. as he did so, and
as he seized the materials offered
confirming his host In his belief. For
q few moments there was silence
while he bent over his work. Then
he handed q rough sketch over the
top of the desk without a word
by Jove!" cried Lord Carthing-
tD 11Xy hn
rose with g. laugh.
For he held in his hand g. sketch
rough indeed, but clever, spirited, Of
Beatrice in her cape and widows bon,
net, and of little Ermyn in her furreG
pelisse and hood.
of triumph, now that you see that
am not without powers to support my
child, will you give her up?"
Altho Lord Catherington was per
fectly justified in looking upon tn
unfortunate fellow as a mailman, h,
was not by any means disposed to dea
harshly with man whose story h
saw no great reason to disbelieve
Moreover, it was clear that, whethe
his story was true or false, he wa
q very dangerous person. SO his hos
temporiZed and said: you're mucl
too clever not to know that ninety
nine men out of a hundred woult
tor"
The man met his eyes frankly.
"You don't" said he. ''Ill wage
you've had your doubts yourself abou
the child
Lord Catherington shot at hi
strange guest a glance which was a.
admission, But he said quickly
Come, you know that married Ros
and that the child, born some month
afterwards, Is legally my child, what
ever your doubts or your fancies ma
be. You know, therefore, that yo
can have no possible claim or RICH
to her; and, tho I feel strongly 70
you, and respect and admire you 70
the depth of your feelings, T want t
make you understand that in wish
ing or suggesting that you should hav
the custody of her, you are not act
ing In manner worthy either of you
Intelligence, or Of your nobility G
character"
The man uttered little scoffin
laugh.
NO soft soap, Lord Catherington,
he said, with a steady look whic
made the other uneasy. There's on
little fact that I may as we'll mer
ton. You say you went thru a cere
mony of marriage with Rosa" Lor
Catherington looked at him more ur
easily than ever. ''Well, so did I. An
I went thru 1t first"
A dead silence followed these word
for which something in the look an
voice of his visitor had indeed pre-
pared Lord Catherington.
you know that such an assertio
requires proof?"
"Of course; and I don't carry til
proofs about with me. But I ca
prove it, and If so, you must adm
that our positions become reverse
At least, whether could prove m
claim to the child or not, you couldn
prove yours"
There was still longer silence tina
before, and then Lord Catheringtc
spoke again
LET us suppose that l We're to al
NIT the force of all you have told m
suppose were to assist you to g