Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1910-07-29

TRAITS what / mean. exactiyts
calculated Hews with cool effrontery.
Stennis studied the mans face. with
its assumption of easy swagger and
a CLEAN In the eyes of deadly hatred
and malice, Then he spoke in low
and level tones:
Before we go any further. Mr..
Hews, let me have the satisfaction of
telling you to your face that you are
an internal scoundrell"
I've been told that before in my
business" retorted Hews. with cal
'lous laugh. 1T don't hurt any The
question is. Are you in on this deal?
There's othersll pay for the stuff If
You won't"
you 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 placer
All" said Hews. with a cunning
ehuckle, that's where | come in You
didn't know you had such an uncle:
she doesn't dream she had such a 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
Wilirid Significantly IF what you
say be true, l am probably her near
est relative. Besides, you idiot, don't
you suppose | can find out after what
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 long breath and
mostened his lips neryously. 1t was
crucial moment.
Now you're talkin'," he began. Il
won't be too hard on you All the
same, / want a fair rake-off Suppose
we say $4,000 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
grayely.
Don't try any of your fine sar-
casms with me- growled Hews. Il
know what I'm about"
And supposing that l close with
this very liberal offer of yours, what
assurance have l that in the near fu-
ture you will not be at my heels again
with a similar demand? I've always
heard that the way of the transgres-
sor who pays hush-money is hard"
'Tll 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 preofs?" inquired Stennis.
Roger considered a moment, them
Mostly documents-copies of mar
riage and death certificates, and aft
davits OF various persons bearin' on
the case. OF course, my story comes
in an makes the hull thing plain; but
I shall be mum if you come to terms.
Il sse." said Stennis, appearing to
fall in with Rogers proposition But
suppose you go a little further aud
outline the situation for me, Mr.. Hews
You need not mention names or dates
unless you choose. | may as well tell
you plainly I am not going into this
thing with my eyes shut. must know
how tho case stands"
Roger Hews put on his thinking-cap.
Apparently the young upstart" was
coming around, and it could do no
harm to let in a little light on the
past So he said with some show of
frankness:
Web, guess that's only fair.
Here's the story in a nutshell: Nearly
80 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 a temper. When they'd been mar
ried 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 off as wilder 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 year later, second infant, also
a girl, dyin' with her. Your uncle
heard of this latter event and thought
1t was his child that died But this
wasn't so, The Meleen girl thrived