Tensas gazette. [volume] (St. Joseph, La.) 1886-current, 1911-05-05

words OF greeting, ana nave dp-
pealed to Bullivants in the forlorn
hope that you will be able to at once
clear up the mystery and expose the
beggar."
81 am familiar only with the bare
facts as they have appeared in the
newspapers" / explained. $50 with
your lordship's permission will put
a few queries. First, has this-er-
pseudo viscount put in his claim
legally?"
"Oh, yes, counfcund him!" was the
answer. He's engaged counsel of
the very best, though where he got
the money i can't see for the life Of
me, and they and our old family law
yers have muddled over the thing.
OF course, admit nothing--one look
at the fellow would convince any fair
minded man that he originally came
out of the gutter. But unless we can
show him up there's nothing to pre-
vent the case coming to trial. and
that means terrible expense, to say
nothing Of the scandal"
nodded. "Are you alone in your
skepticism?" inquired.
why. Mr.. Callister, there's the
rub" answered Ashley Unfortunate
ly my aunt, the dowager, who's al
most in her dotage. saw the rascal
first, and Immediately hailed him as
her long-lost Lionel, There's no
manner of doubt that he's got what
the Yankees call fine line Of talk;
! he knows or processes to remember
| things about our family history which
/ myself never knew or have forgot
ten. Then. too, some of the older
servants profess to recognize him as
their Master Lionel so / fancy he
feels pretty secure. Nevertheless l
am certain he's an impostor. a rank
outsider"
'Why7''I inquired. A.
How do you tell the difference be-
tween a gentleman and cad?" coun-
tered Ashley. by a hundred tricks
of voice and manner that with us are
| Unborn"
How does he account for his long
absence?" was my next question.
Says he travelled all over the
world. sailoring, gold-mining. sheep
growing, prospecting, and I don't know
what. Explains his roughness by the
fact that he's been deprived Of polite
society all these years. But tell me
| this: If you'd ever spoken French like
native would you have totally for
gotten it? Or would you have learned
| to drop your HIS? Or forgotten to
use good English? Or the proper
use of knife and fork. handkerchief
and napkin"
shook my head Doesn't seem pos
sible," / admitted.
well, it's by such things l test
him. He says he's forgotten bis
French, his English, and his good
manners because all these years he's
been mixed with riff-raff. Now,
don't remember my cousin Lionel
l was too young. But we've got his
portrait, and while this bounder does
look something like Lionel might lool
after 20 years of roughing it, I'm
morally certain that he's a cheat and
an impostor."
Where is he now?" l inquired.
| Viscount Ashley gave an embar
raised laugh.
II ITO tell you the TRUTH" he said
I've got him bottled up down at Fair
lie Castle"
At this he noted my surprise. for b,
went on apologetically: You see.
want to avoid as much fuss as pos
; sible. AS long as the dowager's OF
his side, he's got us hip and thigh
She had him over at the dower-hous'
J in the next county, where she criet
J over him till the fellow cursed he
: and told her to shut up. So. to stol
! the rural talk and to-get him undel
! my own eye, l invited him over to tn,
castle. But can't keep him there
you know. He frightes my wife hal
: to death"
: While the viscount was speaking
had determined to try and solve thu
mystery.
Are you going down to Fairlie Ia
night?" inquired. consulting m,
watch.
That was my intention" sal,
Ashley. unless"
, Then I'll ask you to put me up 10
, a day or two. I'd like to study thi
bounder Of yours at close range"
|. by George! Callister, that's no EN-
| good Of you." exclaimed my client
: Wen Just have time to make tn
, 6:10 at Paddington and be home BIZ
fore dark" Fairlie Castle, it shout
DO explained was charmingly situate
, in the Thames valley about an hour
! run from London.
| may as well confess that my frs
, glance at Lionel Ashley. as he Gale
7 himself. was isappointment-fror
our standpoint For, although h
J showed all the signs of hard Twin.
: he was no verse looking than man
man knocking about London tow
; He was sober. and had shown tn
, grace to dress for dinner. But b
Z wore his evening clothes like q raj
: road NAVY and the instant he cpene
. his mouth to talk the Illusion val
ished. The tone. the accent the N,