Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1915-04-15

Il Ill lHt BUY yOu WIOle anu L
came to meet the lady and get me
fifty thousand-sce?" he said, with
elaborate toughnUss, presenting the
Letter.
The lawyer looked at the letter. and
then at Hampton, in astonishment,
ant. as the latter caught glimpse Of
himself in the mirror he did not won
der.
THE girl will refuse me SIRE" he
thought. She'll have to. One look
will be enough"
You sa. you are Hampton Gray?"
Mr.. Valentine asked.
"Surest thing you know" said
Hampton, with a swagger.
"Well-well! You have one of my
letter-heads, all right, young man;
but l don't know who wrote this let
ter. l certainly did not"
You didn't write it," exclaimed
Hampton. Then, who on earth did?"
Il am sure l can't say. You didn't
write it to yourself, did your" asked
the lawyer.
Say, are you trying to kid me?"
demanded Hampton, again remember
Ing that he must make his language
correspond with his appearance.
NO." said Mr.. Valentine, "but l
suspect that somebody else Is. How
ever, shall try to find out how my
stationery was obtained. Come into
my private Office"
He led the way into another room
and pressed button on his desk. A
trim-looking young lady entered, with
notebook and pencil.
Miss King" said the lawyer, do
You know anything about this letter."
Miss King read it through carefully,
and answered:
No, SIR"
Have you given any of our paper
and envelopes to anyone recently, or
at any time?"
mo, sir, certainly not"
VERY well; that is all, Miss King"
The girl went ont, and a moment
later loud voice was heard in the
next room.
Good morning, Miss King. Fine
morning, all but tie rain. Is the boss
in?"
Mr.. Valentines door was thrown
open and in walked no less a person
than Uncle Andrew Littleton, very
much alive and apparently in excel
lent health and spirits, followed b. a
very attractive young lady. Yes, you
have guessed it-she was 1.-The girl
next door,"
The double surprise nearly took
Hampton's breath away. The very
girl on whom he wanted to make an
impression, and here he was dressed
and made up like burglar!
Morning, Mr.. Valentine" shouted
uncle Andrew, in voice which in
dicated that he had many years to
live yet. Want you to meet my
ward, Miss Gertrude Lamont, daugh-
ter of an old friend of mine Miss
Lamont, Mr.. Valentine"
Again Hampton Gray gasped for
breath with which to revile his luck
The only girl who had even landed
over his heart in the first round" to
use his own shras and his uncle's
money later, even if he wasn't dead
yet. 1t any one ever said disguise"
to him again!
The introduction over, Mr.. Valen-
tine remarked:
by the way, Mr. Littleton, a Pc
culiar thing has just happened. am
this morning, as | had Just been in
formed of your death. The young
man" - indicating the chest-fallen
Hampton-"claims to be your heir.
He's little previous, isn't hep
What's that?" roared Uncle An
drew.
Yes, sir" continued Mr.. Valentine
Gray. and has a letter, purporting to
be from me, informing him that you
have left him fifty thousand dollars"
Ooh! l see," said Mr.. Littleton,
glancing at the letter which Mr.. Val
entine handed him. You know
have a nephew of that name, but he
has neglected me-hasn't paid much
attention to his old uncle of late.
None of my relatives ever knew 1 had
much money or he might have re-
members me oftener perhaps. But
this young fellow is not my nephew,
He doen't even look like him."
The lawyer returned to Hampton.
Young man." he said sternly, the
quicker you get out of here the bet
ter. l don't know how you came by
that letter. but You can be thankful
we don't have you arrested for at
tempting to obtain money under false
pretenses."
But Mr.. Valentino can explain
began Hampton.
That will do" snapped the lawyer,
THE less you say the better 1t will
be for you. Good day"
Such impudence!" clustered out
Uncle Andrew.
Miss Lamont was evidently trying
to keep from laughing, and Hampton
decided he was not cutting a brilliant
figure, so he took Mr.. Valentines ad-
a. 1t, q. I'm.