The searchlight. [volume] (Culbertson, Mont.) 1902-current, 1910-07-29

contagious. and with IN wwoote0
flush in her pretty cheeks she scanned
the lines over and over again
"Oh. We cant tell what It signines!"
she at length exclaimed. "You win
see these people In the morning. VIII.
It's At no use worrying OF exciting
ourselves In the meantime"
This was such an e0inently sen
sible view Of the matter that Wilfril
was fain to acQuiesce. Yet this tenn
porsry shelving Of the dt0culty did
not prevent them from recurring again
and again to the fascinating teDic an
through the remaining hours q that
nomentous Sabbath.
Under the rather skilful question
ing Of Eunice wilfrid recalled many
half-forgotten fragments OF his moth
er's history. but nothing that seemed
to shed any light on the possible or
probable motive behind the newspa-
per notice.
Bright and early on the ensuing
Monday morning. on his way to the
store. W1lfrid called at Temple court.
OF course, he was hours too early;
sulky and stupid boy was the sole rep
resentative Of the majesty of the law
In the quarters occupied by that emil
nent trio. Carboy. PassavaAt & Cozine
Of New York. Chicago and San Fran
CISCO
So there was nothing for it but to
curb his impotence and wait for the
noon hour. when he would be at lib
erty for brief spell.
At the second attempt he was more
fortunate. and had the satisfaction Of
sending In his name on q slip Of paper
to the resident member Of the firm.
Mr.. Horatio Passavant, with the state
ment that he had called in answer to
the advertisement in the paper Of the
day before. He was Immediately
ushered into an inner ONCE.
This Is quicker nibble than We
dared expect, Mr.. - ali - Stennis. !"
Quoth the great man, pufnng ponder
ously. and waving him to seat. May
inquire in what way you are inter.
ested?"
81 am the son OF the late Martha
Meleen," said Wilfrid simply.
"Ah. yes. very pertinent. Of course.
Glad to know you, Mr.-er-Stennis.
But the proofs. now. In such . case
as this, you see. with Colossal inter.
ests at stake. we have to proceed with
the utmost circumspection. You fol-
low me. do doubt?"
IF by proofs you mean to question
that am what I say" began Wilfrid.
getting hot under the collar, why"
Mr.. Horatio Passavant deprecating.
ly waved fat hand literally studded
with rings. TN the law, young sir.
| every statement must be substantiated
| by proofs-unless 1t be automatic.
You assert that you are the son OF
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. born Meleen.
ask you for proofs-such as the GER
tificate of your mothers marriage, the
register of your own birth and par.
entage, the official evidence Of your
mothers death-all very simple mat
tiers 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 wellmeasured periods. de
liyered with due oratorical effect, al
though the speaker were addressing q
jury. But aloud he said, with q
smile:
81 haven't brought them with me
not knowing what might be required
l In ,haf n
your advertisement; but all the things
you speak OF ought to be easily oh
tanned My mother was married II
this city, l was born here. and herr
she and my father died"
"yery sensibly put-could not have
presented 1t better myself" said Mr.
Passavant soothingly. nodding hi
bald head like mandarin image
thereby bringing into prominence nj
, less than three separate and distinc
double chins.
Nov. as to your mothers place Q
: nativity: You say she was born Il
New York;"
II didn't say So" wilfrid impulsive
: ly blurted out: "she was a native Q
Cardiff. in Wales."
Yes. yes, to be sure. And your II
Their, now: Was he Weishman?"
My father was New Yorker; h
died when I was very young. and
] can hardly remember him. Mothe
was a widow for over 20 years. l wa
her sole support nearly all that time.
!, Exactly; kind and dutiful son, an
! all that sort of thing" commented NJ
Passayant. beaming benignly. "Bs
Z had your mother no relatives to whol
she could appeal for assistance!" tn
question was asked in the dry leg,
tone. as one Of no special momen
the Questioner absently lingering som
q L hnfG,ro him