Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-06-12

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 and did so. They began by trying to cross examine me, but that was an abject failure. Seeing that whatever they had to say must stand on its own legs, they told me an extraordinary story. It'appears that at place called the Hall, Beltham, Devon, lives an elderly baronet named Sir Philip Nor land"
 "Morland! Philip Morlandr'
 "Ah, you remember the name! It was given to q young derelict who once figured in the dock before you on q charge of being in unlawful posses sion''- .
 "The matter is not serious. then?"
 "It is very serious. The real Philip Morland Is my uncle."
 Do you mean to say that you learn ed this fact for the first time today from Sharpe & SmithT
 Philip laughed. By this time they were seated at the table, and their talk depended to certain extent on the comings and goings of servants. At a dinner en famille, the presence of a ponderous butler and solemn lackeys was dispensed with.
 '0h. you lawyersw he cried. That's a nice sort of leading question. But. marvellous as it may seen to you. must answer Yes My mothers maid en name was Morland. Her brother was much older than she, and it ap- pears the dear woman married to please herself. thereby mortally offend ing the baronet"
 "Why the 'offenser"
 Because my fathers social position was not equal to that of the aristocrat- ic Morlands. Moreover. her brother had an accident In his youth which rendered him irritable and morose. From being a pleasant sort of man which. indeed. he must have been did he share aught of my mothers nature he grew into misanthrope and gave his life to the classification of Exmoor beetles. He treated my mother very badly. SO vilely that even she. dear
 
 further communication with him and never mentioned him to me by name. Now. one day on Exmoor he found a lady who also was devoted to beetles at least she knew all that the Encyclo- paedia Britannica could teach her. She was a poor but handsome widow"
 "Ahr'
 "It Is delightful to talk with you. Abingdon. Your monosyllables help the narrative along. Sir Philip mar ried the widow. She brought him a son, aged five. There were no children born of my unele's marriage"
 "Ohr'
 "when poverty overlook my dear one. she so far oblIterated a cruel memory as to appeal. not once. but many times. to the human coleopterus of Exmoor. but she was invariably frozen of either by Lady Louisa MorIand or by Messrs. Sharpe & Smith,
 "Dh they admit thisT'
 By no means. am telling you the facts. I am still on top of the Pyre- nees."
 Then how did you ascertain the factsT
 T have in my possession ever since my mothers death the letters they wrote to her. They were fresh in my memory when you and I first met in the ClerkenveIl police court. That Is why the name of Philip Morland was glib on my tongue
 . So I have only heard historical eveuts-evsnts prior to the last ten yeasY
 Exactly. My uncle Is now sixty years of age. Lady Louisa Moriand's son Is twenty-feur. Her ladyship's whole aim in life has been to secure him ss the baronets heir. The title. of course. be cannot obtain But. most unfortunately. he has 10 pe0chznt for beeties Indeed. Llady Louisa-s re searches have long since dinInIshed In sr51r- Her so1's interests are divt8ed between the Sports ciub and the c1u-