The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1907-05-17
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CHAPTER VIII.
Davis Tells His Story.

Davis IellS Ills STORY.
l stared aghast. Fate with terrible
irony was heaping upon my shoulders grave
responsibilities concerning this dead man,
responsibilities which l would evade IL
with the affairs, shrank as from a blow;
but public opinion is a sharp spur and !
was afraid to run as against it: had never
be generally understood that had been
the dead mans best and most intimate
funeral, ali had devolved upon me- and
now l was expected to produce the dead
man. legal heirs, This. was little too
reasonable indignation taking possession Of
me,
ing Of Ernscliffes private affairs, his fam
lily. his antecedents made his acquaint-
ance In an ordinary way, about two years
lily ties, only that he was all alone in the
world. with more money than he knew
how to spend l SHOULD imagine an add
would produce claimants, an army of them.
He Is buried now, and consider my share
And a esse Il tofn to b Is at an END
more to do with them, or to allow any
further responsibilities to be thrust upon
me-"
Hart seemed little surprised at my
mo offense,. I hope?" he said, lightly.
fair is naturally an onerous one. But you
viii find plenty Of claimants. never fear.
for an oWner ann sCne n over 20 to Grans
Isle" added. 'as | have several patients
there. The boat will start shortly. so
Hart shook hands with me quite. cor
daily and FASTENED down to the levee
having first secured the articles for which
ready to start, and soon we were off. That
night I slept undisturbed; consequently,
once more. Truly there is no panacea
like Sleep 1t can cure a thing-aye. al
most a broken heart.
same condition as when we left her. Mrs.
Lyeli, looking, very pale and worn. was
eyed girf sat at table in the private par par
lor writing letter. AS l entered she
Miss Gertrude Bentley, Doctor Dor
rance" Mrs. Lyell fastened to make us
acquainted. For. although she was Miss
Esme's cousin and almost inseparable com
had been away since the sojourn at Grand
Isle. and had only returned the night pre-
1 glanced into her face and saw that
she was exceedingly pretty, with clear
olive complexion. big dark eyes and mass
Ii ton. o'''" ''0"A "a'-"' Unusual 'o'n''"a-
She closed her portfolio and pushed it
How do you find Esme, doctor?" she
worse. / could not hear it; She is like
pathetically.
Somehow I felt strange aversion to the
pretty, innocent looking creature. She sug-
gested to my mind a sleek, pretty tiger
cat. Claws in velvet, sheathed talons and
to the best of my ability; and then Jack
Duane made his appearance. He was in
stantly presented, and | saw Gertrude's
startled me. If ever womans eyes looked
love into mans, then Miss Gertrude
sSrnr told tne odd Gd at t0F
before?
Wardour. 1 found him quiet and appar-
emily doing WELL l had forbidden any
reference to be made in his presence to
his daughters self-accusation feared the
effect of excitement upon his weakened
frame. But had relieved his mind from
its gnawing anxiety over his child's fate,
and he seemed as anxious to get well now
as he had before been In haste to Shut
fie on this mortal coil"
sobbed like a child.
He was soon well enough to appear at
preliminary examination and then for the
first time the truth came crashing down
upon the fathers BRAIN, His child. had
deress Of Paul Ernscliffe!
Davis. the tramp. had sworn and testi-
II was a-comin down the beach. tramp
in to New Orleans. Wall-why not? He
lifted his shaggy head and disclosed a.
Cling. iron gray beard. why not, say?
Can nobody but rich folks travel? 1t costs
purity pensy from Mobile to New Or
leans. and I'd the promise o. work. once
got there. So s had got no money I
started to tramp It. And / was a-comin'
along the beach to where it's called Dead
Mans Point. when I seen sight that
froze my blood. I hain't said nothin' about
II afore cos wasn't put on oath. and no
bodys troubled themselves to give me an
examination. But saw this"
He paused. and his somber eyes peering