Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-06-10

fifteen years. He has moved from his OLD
home, and no one is near him who might
remember me except his great-niece, Mar
garet who was only nine or ten years oid
when | left home. No one would ever
guess. You and | are very much alike IN a
general way. and the difference is easily
accounted for by the time I've been away.
Fifteen years are supposed to change
man, anyhow You could wire from New
York that you are bringing friend-hos-
pitaIity is boundless in Kentucky you know
and l could go along under your name 10
coach you on family relationships and an
that Say Stafford. won't you do IL!
Drake had poured the words out hastily:
voubly, as if he feared objection d~hopeo
to crush it down by barren verblage
But Stafford shook his head. 1t woulon
be quite honest, would it," he asked
gently. o,r
Honest! Why not? 1t isn't as If uncle ~
tended TO leave all his money to Margaret
or to some other relative. He isn't gong
to do that He's going to leave II 10 SOM
Tomfoo charity. and charity shouid pesiii
at home Do this for me, old man. lou !,
save me- body and soul And-and-ln
make it worth your while. III give you
one-fourth of all uncle leaves me.
The other shook his head slowly. Moth
ing doing I'm afraid he answered.
Drake grew white. Perhaps you don
believe me- he persisted But see here
are the letters l got from home, from uncle
and from his lawyer and from the preacher
and from Margaret. Read them, and you
will see that have told you everything
Just il is.
Reluctantly Stafford took the handful of
papers offered him and glanced at them
Suddenly he started and drew out from
among them the portrait of girl. only an
amateur photograph. untouched and I'M
mounted, yet its very crudeness served TO
emphasize the beauty that must belong TO
the original. He gazed at 1t long and earn
estly. Finally he raised his eyes. This,
he began. is
My cousin Margaret, who Is to have the
other half of the property. But look at the
lawyers letter That will give you all the
facts"
Stafford slowly opened the letter LOOKING
I'D as he did so "All right, Drake he
said. I'm do what you ask.
Judge Morton sat In a wheeled chair on
the broad porch of his house. and gazed af-
factionately at Stafford. who for a month
had played the part of his nephew. Tom
my boy he said, II made a new will this
morning"
Staffords face darkened, and he. turned
his head away and looked unseeinsly across
the lawn. please don't speak of that, Sir,
he said in a low tone.
But 1 must speak of It, persisted the
old man II haven't much time left to
speak of anything, you know, and mustn't
waste what / have l want to tell you my
boy, that your interests are well protected.
Cad, sir l can't tell you how well pleased
| am with you. You've changed enormously
would turn into such a man. To tell the
truth, l expected you to be something like
that friend of yours-er-Stafford. Where
did you pick him up, Tom?"
The pretended Drake looked up. Stafford
is good fellow, uncle he said. Hes had
hard life and he's been weak but now
he's trying to straighten up, and-he's all
right. l wish you liked him better
well l don't. I sympathize with anyone
who is trying to reform, and all that, but
1 can't like your friend. nevertheless OF
course, Tom. you know that he is perfectly
welcome here: any friend of yours Is. But
l want to talk about you. You've made
everything easy for me by turning out as
you have. Wealth is a great responsibility,
and i couldn't bear to let mine go into
unworthy hands, even into hands like those
of your friend who is trying to reform.
But yours-Tom! if l could see more
thing | would be altogether content to CO."
The other did not answer. He was staring