The Caldwell watchman. (Columbia, La.) 1885-1946, 1911-05-05

'P>As 'AAS 'dCdtiOuS at christmas and
Easter. But l will say that he was
awfully nice-nicer than ever.
thought Martin could be.
vi course, picking him up on the
street as We did, he had no clothes
but what he stood up in. Pray ex-
cuse my appearance he said; in
day or two, no doubt, my things will
arrive Before we went in to dinner
l introduced him to my niece, Sylvia
Galloway, and I'm bound to say his
manners were irreproachable. They'd
never met before, you know, and
could see that he and Sylvia were at
once impressed with each other But,
to cut long story, short-the things
been going on for three months now,
Mr.. Valentine-I'm convinced that this
man. whoever he is, and although he
Is the exact image Of my son, Martin
Benson. is not my Martin. True, he
favors him In every respect-face,
voice, manner and carriage-but you
cannot deceive a mothers heart, you
know"
Finney Valentine almost lost his
head over this curious narrative. 1t
was foreign to anything that had ever
come into his varied experience.
You say the servants all recognize
this man as your SOM" he queried.
Every one" said Mrs. Benson, land
they have been with us for years
Parkes in particular"
"And your niece?"
"She never met him until three
months ago. She's not really my
niece, you know, only the daughter of
half.sister. But-and here's the fun
ny part of It'd always hoped that
Martin, my Martin, you understand,
would fall In love with Sylvia. Well,
that's exactly what has happened; the
new mail can't really call him my
son-has completely ,bewitched Sylvia,
and they are as good as engaged"
THE impudent impostor!" ex-
claimed Finney Valentine.
But you must not call him that"
quickly interposed Mrs. Benson. Hes
really nothing of the kind"
"How's that?" queried Valentine.
Well, it seems that he doesn't
know exactly who he Isl He claims
that he has lost his memory-When or
where he doesn't pretend to say-but
Of one thing we may be sure-the
mans a gentleman Of course it wasn't
his fault that Parkes seized him on
the sidewalk in front of Beeman's and
forced him into my carriage. Parkes
insists that he is his young master.
Martin Benson, Jr., as do all the other
servants. Sylvia takes him at his
face value-which is simply nothing.
II say he Is my son, Martin Benson,
that settles it. But himself, he doesn't
know, consequently the young man,
whoever he Is, Is no impostor."
II should like to speak with Parkes,"
said Valentine.
"I'll send him here this afternoon"
promised Mrs. Benson. Il understand
the reason; you may question him
freely"
Finney bowed. "And after that" he
went on, IT shall probably have to
interview the young man himself"
|"Oh, I'm sure Martin wouldn't
mind" came the quick answer. you
see we have fallen into the habit of
calling him Martin, although he says
he doesn't believe that's his real name
or identity. But you won't be cross
or harsh, Mr.. Valentine? Promise me-"
begged the old lady.
"On the contrary" said the inspec-
tor, "our one hope Of arriving at the
truth is to coax 1t from him by gentle
means. And, by the way, Mrs. Ben
son, suppose you have a photograph
OF your son-the real Martin Benson,
mean? Yes? Then please let
Parkes bring 1t when he comes"
The old coachman must have start
ed right back after driving home his
mistress. When he presented himself
at Valentines Office his first act was
to hand over q square envelope, which
the former laid to one side. Then he
led the old servitor to talking about
his finding of the young master.
TWAS this way sor; had bin wait
In for tn mistress, an had just put
her In tn coopay whin sees comm
down tn strate tn very man we'd all
bin longin' t. meet. Course he was
bit thin about tn gills, an pale, an
his close was shabby; but twas tn
la-ad himself, glory be! Afore he cud
get away I'd grabbed him be tn arm,
an pushed him inside tn coopay; then
I whips up tn bosses for home. Was
I sure? Now what sort Nv a question
do that be? 'Coorse I was sure!
Didn't l tache him t drive his first
powny? sure!"
And old Parkes grew redder than
ever In the face at this fool question.
So Valentine, seeing that he was hope
less, let him 60 after writing brief
note to Martin Benson, ESQ.," re-
questing g call at his earliest conven-
fence ito discuss a matter in which
we are both interested"
When ,Parkes had gone dumping
down the tiled corridor Valentine took
up the photograph, which was that of
a rather good-looking and well-set.up
youngster Of about four-and.twenty.
critics to form society for the pro-