The Caldwell watchman. (Columbia, La.) 1885-1946, 1911-04-14

J. lSSllly dllel lue usual CeIeulOulOu
e words of greeting, "and l have ap
= pealed to Bullivants in the forlorl
8 hope that you will be able to at once
5 clear up the mystery and expose TIT
} beggar."
! Il am familiar only with the bare
facts as they have appeared in the
newspapers" explained, so with
your lordship's permission I will put
a few queries. First, has this-er-
pseudo viscount put in his claim
legally?"
"Oh, yes, counfound him." was the
answer. Hes engaged counsel of
the very best, though where he got
the money l can't see for the life of
me, and they and our old family law.
yers have muddled over the thing.
or course, l 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. care 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
hrst and Immediately hailed him as
her long-lost Lionel! There's no
manner of doubt that he's got what
the Yankees call a fine line of talk:
ne knows or processes to remember
things about our family history which
l myself never knew or have forgot.
ten. Then, too, some of the older
servants profess to recognize him as
their Master Lionel so l fancy he
1eels pretty secure. Nevertheless 7
am certain he's an impostor, a rank
outsider"
"Why?"I inquired.
How do you tell the difference he.
tween a gentleman and a cad?' coun.
tered Ashley. by hundred tricks
of voice and manner that with us are
INFORM"
How does he account for his long
aosence?" was my next question.
Says he travelled all over the
world, sailoring, gold.mining, sheep.
growing, prospecting, and don't know
what. Explains his roughness by the
TACT that he's been deprived of polite
society all these years. But tell me
mis-: If you'd ever spoken French like
native would you have totally for.
gotten 4? Or would you have learned
Q drop your HIS? lGr forgotten "a Fl
use good English. Or the proper
lse Of knife and fork, handkerchief
md napkin?"
/ shook my head. Doesn't seem NOS.
ible," | admitted.
wen, it's by such things 1 test {
I'm. He says he's forgotten his
rench, his English, and his good S
tanners because all these years he's s
cen mixed with riff-raff. Now II
ont remember my cousin Lionel I
was too young. BIT we've got his
ortrait, and while this bounder does
,ok something like LIONEL might look j
tier ~ years of rodghing it, I'm t
lofally certain that he's a cheat and
q impostor." .,
Where is he now?" I manfred
Vlscount Ashley gave an embar. a
lssed laugh. >,
TO tell you the truth" he said v
We got MIN bottled up down at Fair. m
, Castle" ~
AT this he noted my surprise, for he IL
emit on apologetically: "You see Sc
ant to avoid as much fuss AZ nos.
Die. AS long as the dowager's on
sloe' hes got US hip and thigh. W
le mad him over at the dower-honse tn
tne next county, where she cried dr
or MIN till the fellow cursed her
q told her to shut up. So, to ston sh
rural talk and to get him under to
own eye, l invited him over to the &C
sue. But l can't keep him there
u know. He frightens my wife half er
DEATH" ~ -'''A "a
while the viscount was speaking 7 Sc
q determined to try and solve the
'stery. ~ 'no ex
are you going down to Fairlie to. Isl
mt" l inquired. consulting NV BIZ
tch. Ivy ole
That was my intention" said rot
hley, unless" me
Then I'll ask you to put me IN for
Jay or two. I'd like to study this T. uu
lnder OF yours at close range" ~
BY George! Callister. that's M ond III
"a OF you," exclaimed my client.
ell Just have time to make the I'd
y at Paddington and be home he.
dark" Fairlie Castle. It should .,.
explained was charmingly situated I'M M
the Thames valley about an hour's LAY !.
from London. :.
may as well confess that my first a a.s
nee at Lionel Ashley, as he called .,,
lseif' was disappointment-from A. e
standpoint. For, although he .>,,
wed all the signs of hard living ~. Az
was no worse looking than many o Ia
ian knocking about London town o'q u
was sober. and had shown ~.
&c to dress for dinner. But he a Ing
9 MS evening clothes like a rail. h; 81.
! navy and the instant he opened LII.
mouth !, Il, to talk the illusion wan. W.,
q. The tone. the accent. the m. t w.,