Evening star., 1909-02-28
The Heir to Soothoid
Continued from page 10


ance. That's easy. If we find one of the stlg-
mata, the proof will be strong enough. Should
we find two, it's positive certainty
A WEEK afterward found Va1eska behind
"a the counter at Blooms, selling candy and
soda water, dressed in white, with Pompadour
as big as any of those in the shop. Her bare
arms were heavy with bracelets, her language
was slangv and facetous. Her companion at
the counter was Miss Maverick, known to the
other employees as Bessie. 1t did not take
Valeska long to cement friendship
Bessie was a demure little miss, who did not
by any means tell all she knew to a chance &C
quaintance. But Naleska asked no questions.
Her conversation monologue, apparently
artleSS, but Ceverly Contr1ved to throw the
most suspicious off her guard. She asked Bes-
sizes advice this and that; she hshed tor
Besse's compliments; she gave Bessie hardly a
chance for word A week went by without a
move in the desired direction. Then Valeska
came to the shop with tale of mlsfortune,-o a
lost purse and other pathetic details. BESSIE
offered to share her own room with her from
that moment all was easy: Valeska gradually
talked less; Bessie gradually talked more. Inc
two soon became real friends.
Valeskas first report to Astro was sensa-
tional. What do you think" she announced
Bessie knows all about the Sootho1d affair,
and the Colonel, and even the Colonels son
One of those mediums gave the whole thing
away to her, and tried to get her to stand IN
with him to claim the heirship of the estate
But she's the squarest little brick IN the WoId,
Bessie Isl She's DEAR she's pure gold She
and is all ready to fall in love with the Coonels
son. Just for himself alone. It's going to be
easier than thought"
But how about the birthmarks! Astro IN
quired.
that out till she had a little touch of rheuma
tism. Then offered to rub linlment on 1t, and
well, she has birthmark, something the shape
of what you said. an angels wings.
WHAT" Astro cried. -
Its true. And how about Willie Mixter?"
"Well, he has birthmark too said Astro.
Valeska burst into a laugh. Thereby prov
ing that the earth is round, or something like
that doesn't it? Well. what to do now, don t
see."
You forget the opthalmoscope."
Have YOU looked at Willie's eyes?"
Yes, and his optic disk is the ordinary nor
NAL circle"
"Oh, I'm so glad! Then there's change tor
Bessie's making good for the 'Soothold mil
lions"
"If you can get her up here for me to examine
her eyes
But what if, after all, can make the match
without"
"Oh, l spoke to the Colonel about that.
He'd be lighted He really has taken fancy
to Bessie"
Then Willie must see her"
81 agree. And I've been thinking that IN
money, he'll have to know, anyway. And see
no reason why he shouldn't know now. He's
really fine chap, a gentleman In every sense
of the word. If know anything of psychology,
the thing will appeal to him as immensely ro-
mantle"
TT was with considerable interest, therefore,
that Naleska, three days later, saw Willie
Mixter enter Blooms S, cast his eyes about the
shop, and walk toward the counter behind
which Bessie Maverick stood. She saw Bessie
blush; but the conversation was too low to be
overheard. When the time came for the girls
to leave the shop instead of Bessies accom-
panving Eaeska to their room, she excused her
self and went off alone. Naleska followed at a
discreet distance. In five minutes she saw Willie
Mixter overtake Bessie and the two walked off
like old friends.
The next day he came in again Valeska
asked no questions Bessie had grown re-
served But she did not 60 this night either,
to the little dairy place where the two girls us,,-
ally took their dinner. So it went on for an
other week, Bessie seeing the rich young fellow
two three times.
That next Sunday. as the two girls sat in
their little room on East Ioth-st. Bessie began
to cry. Naeskas arm was about her neck i'm
mediately, and through her sobs, Bessie came
out with the whole story.
He wants to marry mel" she confessed.
And love him much that l WON'T l know
it's all on account of this miserable money! and
he only wants to be fair with me- and divide /
1, IL