Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1910-06-24

that am what | say" began Wilfrid,
getting hot under the collar, why"
Mr. Horatio Passavant deprecating-
ly waved a fat hand literally studded
with rings In the law, young sir.
every statement must be substantiated
by proots-unless 1t be automatic.
You assert that you are the son OF
Martha--er-Ste born Meleen. |
ask you for proofs-such as the GER
tifieate of your mothers marriage, the
register of your own birth and par
entage the official evidence of your
mothers death-a!l very simple mat
ters in these days of carefully kept
statistics. but vital, my dear sir, es-
sentially vital"
This old fellow likes to hear him
self talk" was Wilfrid's irreverent
inward comment as he listened to the
deliberately well-measured periods, de-
livered with due oratorical effect, as
though the speaker were addressing a
jury. But aloud he said, with
smile:
II haven't brought them with me,
not knowing what might be required,
or, indeed what was the object of
your advertisement; but all the things
you speak of ought to be easily OBJ
tanned My mother was married in
this city, | was born here, and here
she and my father died"
Very sensibly put-could not have
presented it better myself" said Mr..
Passayant soothingly, nodding his
bald head like a mandarin image,
thereby bringing into prominence no
less than three separate and distinct
double chins.
Now. as to your mothers place of
nativity: You say she was born in
New York;"
Il didn't say So" Wilfrid impulsive-
ly blurted out; She was a native OF
Cardiff, in Wales"
Yes, yes, to be sure. And your ia
Their. now: Was he a Welshman?"
My father was a New Yorker; be
died when | was very young, and l
can hardly remember him. Mother
was a widow for over 90 years. | was
her sole support nearly all that time"
Exactly; kind and dutiful son, and
all that sort of thing" commented Mr.
Passavant beaming benignly. But
had your mother no relatives to whom
she could appeal for assistance?' The
question was asked in the dry legal
tone, as one of no special moment,
the questionar absently lingering some
paper on the desk before him
She occasionally spoke of an elder
brother somewhere in this country,
but she never heard from him, that |
can remember and we always sup
posed he was killed in the war"
And his name-surely you have
heard her mention his name, Mr. Stem
uis?"
Why, certainly. 1t was Andrew
Andrew Meleen, of course!"
The lawyers Indifferent manner had
disappeared, and he had leaned for
ward anxiously in his chair pending
this answer, but now he resumed his
former position, with as much salts
faction shining in his fat face as the
We'll Mr. Stennis, am warranted
in going so far as to say that this in
terview has been eminently satisfac-
tory up to this point, and l am de-
lighted to have made your acquain-
lance. l will have those little details
to which l alluded looked up, and if
you will do me the honor to call here
at the same hour this day week l may
have some interesting news for you
some exceedingly interesting news,
in fact
"But-but," stammered Wilfrid Il
am not a bit wiser than when 1 came
in You've pumped me dry, and
should like to know something about
the dvertisement-what 1t means
and so would my-my friends"
MIR. Passavant looked at the culver
ing wifi compassionately and dispas
sionately over his gold-rimmed glasses.
Your Impotence is quite excusable
under the circumstances, my dear sir
but until we have in our hands the
collateral proofs of which / have
spoken, it would be manifestly ini
proper for me to commit myself fur
Their. Good morning."
And So as Wilfrid ruefully told
Eunice that evening, Il came away
like the king of France, who marched
up the hill and down again. and got
nothing for my trouble"
Eunice made him tell the story of
the interview twice over. and then sat
quietly Eliminating, her forehead and
| eyebrows puckered in puzzled frown.
1T must bel am sure of it, Wifi.
she exclaimed at length The adj
yertisement has something to do with
that long-lost uncle Andrew OF
! yours!"
DO you really think so?" said Will
obviously. Why, all old Passavant g
talk was about mother; he only men
| toned uncle Andrew once"
You silly boy" the girl exclaimed
with pretty petulance, giving him a
little push, that's the very thing that
makes me sure!"
| From which it may be seen that
!