The Raymer enterprise., 1911-04-06

words OF greeting. "and ! have ap.
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, so with
your lordship's permission | will put
few queries. First. has. thls-er-
pseudo viscount put In his claim
legally?"
"Oh. yes, counfound him" was the
answer. He's engaged counsel Of
the very best, though where he got
the money cant see for the life OF
me. and they and our old family law.
yers have muddled over the thing.
or 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 longlost 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 rs
their Master Lionel SO fancy he
feels pretty secure. Nevertheless
am certain he's an impostor, rank
| outsider"
"Why?"I inquired.
How do you tell the difference be.
tween a gentleman and cad?" coun.
tered Ashley. by hundred tricks
OF voice and manner that with us are
| inbOrn."
How does he account for his long
absence?" was my next question.
Says he Travelled all over the
world. sailoring, gold.minng. sheep.
growing, prospecting. and 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: II you'd ever spoken French like
a native would you have totally for.
gotten 1t? 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.
We'll. it's by such things test
him. He says he's forgotten his
French, his English. and his good
manners because all these years he's
been mixed with rift.raff. Now, |
don't remember my cousin Lionel
| was too young. But we've got his
, portrait, and while this bounder does
look something like Lionel might look
after 20 years OF roughing II. I'm
morally certain that he's cheat and
an impostor."
Where is he now" inquired.
Viscount Ashley gave an embar.
rassed laugh.
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 he
went on apologetically: You see,
want to avoid as much fuss as pos.
, sible. AS long as the dowager's on
his side, he's got us hip and thigh.
She had him over at the dower.house
In the next county. where she cried
over him till the fellow cursed her
and told her to shut up. So, to stop
the rural talk and to get him under
my own eye. invited him over to the
castle. But | can't keep him there,
you know. He frightens my wife half
to death"
While the vlscount was speaking
had determined to try and solve the
mystery.
Are you going down to Fairlle to.
night?" ! inquired. consulting my
watch.
That was my Intention" said
Ashley. unless"
Then I'll ask you to put me up for
day or two. I'd like to study this
bounder OF yours at close range"
by George! Callister, that's no end
good OF you" exclaimed my client.
We'll Just have time to make the
6:lO at Paddington and be home be.
fore dark" Fairlie Castle, II should
be explained was charmingly situated
In the Thames valley about an hours
run from London.
may as we'll confess that my first
glance at Lionel Ashley. as he called
himself. was a disappointment-from
our standpoint For. although he
showed all the signs OF hard living.
he was no worse looking than many
a man knocking about London town.
He was sober, and had shown the
grace to dress for dinner. But he
wore his evening clothes like n rail.
road navy and the instant no ononed