Heppner gazette. [volume] (Heppner, Morrow County, Or.) 1892-1912, 1911-01-19
tnan wIlr at solving che temporary

flush in her pretty cheeks she scanned
the lines over and over again.
"Oh, we can't tell what 1t signifies!"
she at length exclaimed you will
see these people in the morning, wifi.
It's of no use worrying or exciting
ourselves in the meantime"
This was such an eminently SEN
sible view Of the matter that Wnfrid
was fain to acquiesce Yet this TEN.
porary 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 .N
Under the rather skilful question
ing of Eunice Wilfrid recalled MANY
half-forgotten fragments of his moth
ers 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 a slip of paper
to the resident member Of the hrm,
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 quicker nibble than we
dared expect, Mr.. - ah - Stennis,"
quoth the great man, putting ponder
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, Stennis.
But the proofs, now. In such a case
rs this, you see, with colossal inter-
ests at stake, we have to proceed with
he utmost circumspection. You fol-
ow me, do doubt?"
IF by proofs you mean to question
hat | am what ! say" began Wilfrid,
getting hot under the collar, why"
Mr.. Horatio Passavant deprecating-
y waved fat hand literally studded
With rings. In the law, young sir,
very statement must be substantiated
~ proofs-unless 1t be automatic.
lou assert that you are the son Of
artha-er-Stennis, born Meleen.
SIX you for proofs-such as the GER {
ificate of your mothers marriage, the {
egister of your own birth and par
ntage, the official evidence of your
death-all very simple mat
ers in these days of carefully kept
tatistics, but vital, my dear sir, es- c
entially vital" z
This old fellow likes to hear him s
elf talk" was Wilfrid's irreverent
lward comment as he listened to the s
well-measured periods, de- 8
vered with due oratorical effect, as i
lough the speaker were addressing a h
lry. But aloud he said, with
mile:
Il haven't brought them with me,
OF knowing what might be required,
r, indeed, what was the object Of
our advertisement; but all the things
ou speak of ought to be easily OBJ
aimed. My mother was married in
lis city, was born here, and here
be and my father died"
"Very sensibly put-could not have
resented it better myself" said Mr..
assavant soothingly, nodding his
aid head like mandarin image,
hereby bringing into prominence no
9ss than three separate and distinct
ouble chins.
Nov, as to your mothers place Of
ativity: You say she was born in
lew York;"
q didn't say so" Wilfrid impulsive-
z blurted out; she was native of
ardiff, in Wales"
"Yes, yes, to be sure. And your fa-
ler, now: Was he a Welshman?"
MY father was a New Yorker; he
led when l was veryBoung, and
an hardly remember him. Mother
as a widow for over 20 years. ! was -
er sole support nearly all that time" -
Exactly; kind and dutiful son, and
Il that sort of thing" commented Mr. -
assavant beaming benignly. But =,
ad your mother no relatives to whom
be could appeal for assistance" The
uestion was asked in the dry legal
me, as one of no special moment,
le questioner absently lingering some th
aper on the desk before him.
CTO BE CONTINUED) .,