The Virginia enterprise., 1913-06-27

l OK one Oh CuACaSCS 6Tedt
AA. hotels; l had watched the
crowd in the lobby below
until my eyes were tired-and still
Miss Clement, due long before, had
not arrived. I waited another fifteen
minutes-another twenty-and then,
small, trinity dressed woman whose
face was that of happiness and
whole being spoke of joy.
1--WE been having more fun," she
said excitedly.
1T looks that way" answered jok-
ingly, holding up my watch.
She seated herself beside me and
began pulling off her gloves.
Haven't seen the inside of a police
station today" she began. Instead,
I've been doing-guess what?"
It'll give up"
'1've been Judge at a baby show.
And there were more cute little kid
dies there than l ever saw before in
my life. 1t reminded me of when my
own little girl used to be about that
size, and when"
Suddenly she stopped and looked at
me laughingly.
"All of which reminds me of a
story" she added, and then without
waiting for the request she knew was
sure to come, she began the telling
of it.
1T was shortly after had gone on
the force. One morning walked into
the office, looked in the mailbox and
pulled forth a letter from the captain,
addressed to me- 1t told me that l
had been borrowed by an attorney
from the police force for few days
and that was to report to him. And
incidentally, let me say right now be-
fore mention any names, that of
course they will all be changed.
don't like this business of holding up
a persons real name after a things
all over and probably forgotten about
by everyone except those vitality con-
cerned"
A look Of seriousness came into the
eyes with that, and I remembered, as
the little woman at my side raised a
hand to wave 1t daintily in time with
the music of the hotel orchestra, that
there had never been a time when she
did not shield the real names Of those
with whom she had come in contact in
her detective career. And for that bit
OF soft heartedness toward the less for
tunate of this morbid old worlds peo-
pies, respected her. The music was
lulling a bit. Miss Clement began the
active recital of her story.
When I got over to the Chamber of
Commerce building. met my lawyer
employer and was taken to his office.
And then for the first time learned
of the case on which l was going to
work.
1T seemed that a very rich man
named Edwards had died, with an es-
tate SO tied up by the will of his father
that 1t died with him. He was sur
vived by his widow and one daughter,
thought to have been adopted Ed
wards himself had been prohibited
from making any kind Of will. The
estate must go on to the next direct
heir, II there was one, or to the wife.
The attorney told me that he felt sure
that there was direct heir, since
adoption could be classed that way.
but there was nothing to show for
1t. Since her foster fathers death. the
girl, who believed she had been adopt
ed in early infancy. had been cast out
by the foster mother who had claimed
all the estate. There were no papers
to back up the girls claim. All the
mother would say was that the girl
merely had been taken in and that she
had never been legally adopted. And
so, since the will Of the grandfather
insisted that legal papers were neces-
sary, there seemed to be little chance
for the girl to get any share Of the
money.
"A pretty little thing she was too,
about nineteen, with brown wavy hair.
eyes that were as blue ard as deep
as the ocean, with heart that was
clean and pure. Until the time of her
foster fathers death, Louise Edwards
had never known what it was to want
for anything. Luxury had been hers
until death had intervened Then ev-
erything had changed. Mrs. Edwards
was OF different type from her hus-
band. Morbid, cold hearted, mercen-
ary, she had driven the girl out, had
denied herself to everyone and was
now locked in the Edwards mansion.
refusing to see anyone concerning the
case, determined that there should be
no chance of the girl ever learning
whether or not she ever had been
legally adopted.
And there, said the attorney.
when he had finished his story to me.
is your case. l want you to see Mrs.
Edwards someway and find out from
her whether or not this little girl de.
serves a share Of that estate. I feel
sure that she does; believe that old
Edwards legally adopted her, but we
have been unable to get at the facts.
Now, Miss Clement, it is up to YOU
81 looked at him and laughed. -
TITS just about as easy as catching
counterfeit in Africa said, but ri
try anything on earth once. Do you
think you can borrow me a six months,
old baby somewhere? Ny little girl is
too DID,
"a what?' The attorney looked
surprised.
"A six months old baby
"'What do you want it for?'
II laughed at him again. If there is
anything I do like, it's my little Joke
when l am looking ahead on a case.
and when fha nthar norcon aeez,I