Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1911-12-08

not prevent them from recurring again
and again to the fascinating topic all
through the remaining hours of that
momentous Sabbath.
Under the rather skilful question
ing of Eunice sWilfrid recalled many
half-forgotten fragments of his moth
er's 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, Wilfrld 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 E. Cozine
OF New York, Chicago and San Fran
| cisco.
So there was nothing for 1t 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 slip of paper
to the resident member of the firm,
Mr.. Horatio PassavaAt, 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 seat May
| inquire in what way you are inter-
ested?"
Il am the son of the late Martha
Meleen," said Wilfrid simply.
An, yes, very pertinent, of course
Glad to know you, Mr.-er-Stennis.
But the proofs, now. In such a case
as this, you see, with colossal inter
ests at stake, we have to proceed with
the utmost circumspection. You fol-
low me, do doubt?"
IF by proofs you mean to question
that ! am what I say" began Wilfrid,
getting hot under the collar, why"
Mr. Horatio Passavant deprecating-
ly waved fat hand literally studded
with rings. I'm the law, young sir,
every statement must be substantiated
by proofs-unless it be automatic.
You assert that you are the son of
Martha-er-Stennis born Meleen. l
ask you for proofs-such as the GER
tificate of your mothers marriage, the
register of your own birth and par
entage, the official evidence of your
mothers death-all very simple mat
ters in these days of carefully kept
statistics, but vital, my dear sir, es-
sentially vital"
This old fellow likes to hear him
self talk" was Wilfrid's irreverent
inward comment as he listened to the
deliberately well-measured periods, de-
livered with due oratorical effect as
though the speaker were addressing a
jury. But aloud he said, with a
smile:
Il haven't brought them with me,
not knowing what might be required,
or, indeed, what was the object of
your advertisement; but all the things
you speak of ought to be easily OBJ
tanned. My mother was married in
this city, was born here, and here
she and my father died"
Very sensibly put-could not have
presented it better myself" said Mr..
Passavant soothingly, nodding his
bald head like a mandarin image,
thereby bringing into prominence no
less than three separate and distinct
double chins.
Now, as to your mothers place of
nativity: You say she was born in
New York;"
81 didn't say So" Wilfrid impulsive-
ly blurted out; "she was native of
Cardiff, in Wales"
YES, yes, to be sure. And your ia.
ther, now: Was he Welshman?"
MY father was New Yorker; he
died when I was very young, and l
can hardly remember him. Mother
was widow for over 20 years. was
her sole support nearly all that time"
Exactly; kind and dutiful son, and
all that sort of thing" commented Mr..
Passavant, beaming benignly. But
had your mother no relatives to whom
she could appeal for assistance?" The
question vas asked in the dry legal
tone, as one of no special moment,
the questioner absently lingering some
paper on the desk before him.
"She occasionally spoke of an elder |
brother somewhere in this country,
but she never heard from him, that l |
can remember. and we always sup.
posed he was killed in the war"
"And his name-surely you have
heard her mention his name, Mr.. STEM
nis?"
Why, certainly. 1t was Andrew
Andrew Meleen, of course!"
The lawyers Indifferent manner had
disappeared, and he had leaned for
ward anxiously in his chair pending
this answer, but now he resumed his
former position, with as much salts
faction shining in his fat face as the
legal proprieties ever permitted.
well Mr.. Stennis, I am warranted
in going so far as"to say that this in
terview has been eminently satisfac-