The Delta independent., 1910-07-15
a CLEAN in the eyes of deadly hatred

Sieam III tne eyes OI Qeauly natreC
and malice. Then he spoke low:
Before we go any further, Mr.
Hews, let me have the satisfaction o
telling you to your face that you are
an Internal scoundrel!"
"I've been told that before in my
business retorted hews, with a cal.
lous laugh. ut don't hurt any. The
question is, are you in on this deal
There's others'll pay for the stuff
if you won't"
"Yon say that Andrew Meleen's
daughter is living? Then she is my
first cousin?''
"Of course she isl" was the off-hand
answer.
Where has she been all these
years? How is it that the lawyers did
not trace her in the first place?"
"Ah." said Hews, with a cunning
chuckle, that's where 1 come in You
didn't know you had such an uncle;
she doesn't dream she had such par
ent"
Where is this lady?"
That's my business; there's no
need for you to know-leastways not
yet"
And her name?"
That's another secret" laughed
Hews, with cunning wink.
Wen see about that" commented
Wilfrid signif cantIy. IF what you
say be true. l am probably her near
est relative. resides, you idiot, don't
An
you have told me already?"
Perhaps you can" admitted Hews,
but you're not going to be such a
ninny. You're safe in possession; if
you do the right thing by me, the
things dead and buried so far as I'm
concerned"
What is your price?" demanded
Wilfrid, apparently getting down to
business.
Roger Hews drew a long breath and
moistened his lips nervously. 1t was
q crucial moment
Now you're talkin'." he began Il
won't be too hard on you. All the
same, l want fair rake-off Suppose
we say $5,0O0,000. Cash, mind. You'll
never miss it, and thatll about set
me up for life"
Il am afraid you value yourself too
cheaply, Mr.. Hews," said Stennis
gravely.
Don't try any of your fine sar-
casms with me- growled Hews. Il
know what I'm about"
And supposing that 1 close with
this very liberal offer of yours, what
assurance have that in the near fu-
r. t..
with a similar demand? I've always
heard that the way of the transgres.
sor who. pays hush-money is hard"
I'll put all the proofs in your hands
and you can destroy EN-" exclaimed
Hews eagerly. That five millions be-
gan to take tangible shape.
What is the nature of these so
called proofs?" inquired Stennis.
Roger considered a moment, then:
Mostly documents-copies of mar
riage and death certificates. and afi-
davits of various persons bearin'J on,
the case. OF course. my story comes
in an makes the hull thing plain; but
shall be mum IL you come to terms"
Il see." said Stennis. appearing to
fall in with Rogers proposition. But
suppose you go a little further and
outline the situation for me- Mr.. Hews.
You need not mention names or dates
unless you choose. I may as we'll tell
you plainly am not going into this
thing with my eyes shut. must know
how the case stands"
Roger Hews put on his thinkingcap.
Apparently the young upstart" was
coming around, and n could do no
| r. tn Lat IN 1t1h to
past. So he said with some show Of
frankness:
We'll, l guess that's only fair.
Here's the story in a nutshell: Nearly
30 years ago. when y'r uncle was
man OF As, he married a girl much
.younger'n himself. By all ! can make
out she had a pretty face an devil
of temper. When they'd been mar
ried a month they quarreled, he quit
her, and enlisted. The wife thought
he'd deserted her, SO, havin' to shift
for herself, she left the place where
she was known, went to another town
some miles away. dropped her married
name, resoomed her maiden name,
and passed herself OF as widder. In
due course a daughter was born and
about the same time the news come
to her that she really was a widow,
Andy Meleen being reported as killed
in battle. So bein' as she supposed,
legally free, she married again, and
died a year later, second infant also
girl, DIN with her. Your uncle
heard Of this latter event and thought
it was his child that died. But this
wasn't SO. The Meleen girl thrived
and grew up under the care Of her
stepfather. who never knew that his
marriage to her mother was Illegal,
Andy bein' alive all the time