Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-03-05

some anxiety to see IL Parton's discomfort
ing bulk was still between him and the
door.
The humor of the situation seemed to
strike Parton and Mrs. Burgee at the same
moment for they laughed aloud so exactly
In concert that the outburst might have
been prearranged.
MacFarren's anxious glance revealed
nothing to him of the cause of this hilarity.
Ii certainly gave him no new confidence
In his position. 1t is even probable that ne
contemplated raising the window and call
Ing for help, for he placed nervous fingers
on the fastenings which held it.
This fed the fame of Mrs. Burgess mirth
and she was constrained to cover her head
with her white apron and rock back and
forth with half-Stiffed chuckling.
When Norah returned. perhaps fifteen min
utes later, she was accompanied by the small
lawyer with the bald head to whom the
ships doctor Rad telephoned He was a
most affable little gentleman, fun of smiles
and greeted Parton and Mrs. Burgee with
much enthusiasm they were, in turn,
presented to him by Norah.
And is the-the other gentleman the
the" the small man began with an insin-
uating smile.
Yes" said Norah.
'Ah. Mr. MacFarren." said the lawyer
pleasantly. approaching the astonished fig
ure in the window recess. Il am very glad
to you. From what your charming
daughter has told me- have learned that
al-professional-shall L
cay professional DrctnrGns BOln being III
the law, you known
MacFarren looked at him DULY.
Yes. said the small man. My name
is Hammer. Max Hammer. / am a hum
bic practitioner before our courts here. l
am very glad to see you, am sure
MacFarren automatically took the hand
that the small man extended toward him.
II very glad.'' said the small man,
that l have to deal with man versed in
the principles and practice of the law in
arranging this matter for-for Mrs. Parton.
1t is always so much easier for a lawyer to
explain matters and discuss them with an
other man of trained mind than it is when
he-when he comes into contact with the
with the crude intellect of the-of the
lalty."
MacFarren seemed completely mystified,
The small man drew chair up to the
round table with the marble top and busly
pulled from his pocket number of papers
folded formally He laid them down
beside his hat. and asked for a pen and
Ink. which Norah brought from the man
tel shelf.
Now" said the small man, I'VE are all
ready, l think. ] suppose, Mr.. MacFarren,
that you are quite prepared 10 meet the
conditions of your first wife's will at once
He did not wait for MacFarren's puzzled
face to assume an expression of intelligent
understanding, but continued: But. OF
course. | need not ask the question. Ger
tainly not Absurd. I'm sure. Being in the
law yourself. You will, of course, have pro-
vided for all these matters so that there
need be none or that annoying delay and
none of those detailed explanations which
might be necessary were / dealing with an
an unframed mind"
~ don't believe that I understand you,
sir." said MacFarren, with such an at
tempt at dignity as was possible after his
recent disturbance.
All" said the small man. 'Is IL pos
sible? Well, well. But perhaps l should
have expected that the-the excitement
of travel and-the recent loss of your sec
ond wife. Mr.. MacFarren. might have
caused some slight-forgetfuln on your
part which-would not have otherwise oc-
CURED. No." he added, contemplatively,
which 1 am sure might not have other
wise occurred
BY this time MacFarren was beginning
20 bristle again a bit.
I'VE will save time. SIR" he said 'if
you will explain yourself to rue at once"
quite So" said the small man. Yes,
indeed. you're quite right. 1 will explain
myself
He unfolded one of the papers which
he had laid upon the table.
This" he said with some elaboration
''is a certified copy OF the will left by
Mrs. Partons mother. He bowed to
Norah. "She was your first wife, / be-
leve." he added TO MacFarren. ''You
married her. think. when Miss Mullaney
was twelve years old"
That MacFarren was beginning to un-