The Delta independent., 1910-06-03

rorary shelving of the difficulty did
not prevent them from recurring again
and again to the fascinating topic all
through the remaining hours of that
momentous 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, Wilfrid called at Temple court.
OF course, he was hours too early; a
sulky and stupid boy was the sole rep
resentative of the majesty of the law
in the quarters occupied by that emf
nent trio, Carboy, Passavant & Cozine
of New York, Chicago and San Fran
cisco.
So there was nothing for it but to
curb his impatience 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 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 office.
This is a quicker nibble than we
dared expect, Mr.. ah = Stennis,"
quoth the great man, putting pondey-
ously, and waving him to a seat. May
/ inquire in what way you are inter-
ested?"
Il 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 a 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 l am what l say" began Wilfrid,
getting hot under the collar. why"
Mr.. Horatio Passavant deprecating-
ly waved a fat hand literally studded
with rings. I'm the law young sir.
every statement must be substantiated
by proofs-unless it be automatic.
You assert that you are the son of
artha-er-Stennis. born Meleen. l
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
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:
Il 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. l was born here. and here
she and my father died"
Very sensibly put-could not have
Passavant soothingly, nodding his
bald head like mandarin image.
thereby bringing into prominence no
less than three separate and distinct
double chins. sq
Now, as to your mothers place OF
nativity: You say she was born In
New York;"
81 didn't say So" Wilfrid impulsive-
ly blurted out; 'she was native OF
Cardiff, in Wales"
Yes. yes, to be sure. And your IA
ther, now: Was he a Welshman?"
my father was a New Yorker; he
died when l was very young. and l
can hardly remember him. Mother
was a widow for over 20 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 questioner 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
nis?"
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