Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-03-22

we have Just had somewhat dlsquietins
adventure, and IL has made me forget my
manners"
The lawyer accepted the apologies ana
the proffered seat.
You have come prepared with your
proofs, Miss BallantyneT' he said, COM
ing to the point with promptness which
seemed habitual
Yes sir; they are all here-the mar
riage certificate Of my father and mother.
some family portraits the certificate OF
my birth, my baptlsmal record | have
even brought some merit-records from my
early school days, so that you might
be quite sure"
Miss Ballantyne had opened Russia
leather bag which looked like n music
case before the lawyer, or agent. as he
had called himself in his correspondence
| She had carried II herself, refusing the
offer of both Craig and the walter to
relieve her of 1t, when they entered the
| dining room.
The lawyer ran through the documents
| with a quick and practiced eye
Very good, l think" he said approx
| ingly 81 must make a few notes to COM
pare with records in our offlce. And,
! Miss Ballantyne, II is necessary am
acting exactly according TO the instruc-
tlons set down in the will Of a deceased
client, you understand---lt is necessary for
alone.'
Miss Ballantyne seemed entirely undis-
turbed by this strange condition, but
Rutherford heard It with dsmay.
so I have understood, Mr.. Leclerc,"
she replied You may not know the
reason for such a provision; but my uncle,
Geoffrey Ballantyne. did my father an
lrreparable wrong in life. and now seeks
this means to prevent him from regaining
his property and, what is dearer, Its
reputation.
The girls face glowed in her enthusias-
tic defense of her father, but the lawyer
was impassive and attended strictly to
the business In hand
You can furnish me with the required
proofs?" he said.
Certainly" she replied with an assur-
ance to which Craig listened with grow
ing perplexity,
Are they with these papers," the law
yer asked, indicating the leather bag.
"They are" she answered. turning
deftly to the desired document.
IT see," nodded the lawyer "Affdavlts !
to the effect that you live alone--that Is. |
that YOU do not live with your father or
he with you"
Yes. do not suppose such affidavit |
excludes my maid"
Rutherford stared at Miss Ballantyne. |
Surely she must know that she was ut
tering deliberate falsenood-yet her face |
was the very mirror of innocence. She |
must have forgotten that he had heard |
her fathers voice in the West 10th street |
house not once but twice. He had been |
denied an invitation to the house on the .
night Of their visit to the little cafe be-
cause of her father-and because of
something else-a mystery that he could
not fathom.
The lawyer was examining this paper
more closely than the others.
You understand, Miss Ballantync that
am concerned only with your futllment
of the conditions of this remarkable will
to the very letter ! must be convinced
that you are practically separated-actu-
ally estranged-physlcally separated from
your father"
~ will leave that paper or any others
with you. Mr.. Lecerc. You will find also
in the packet an affidavit from my father
in which he swears that we have never
lived under the came roof since coming
to this country"
Miss Ballantyne!
Rutherford could not repress the ex-