The Tomahawk., 1916-01-13

& whose name Is household =
3 word throughout the English 4
3 speaking world. Real names OF 6
& persons and places are some =
6 times disguised. In all other re. =
= spects tho amazing, often thrill. q
3 ina, always gripping facts are &
recorded just as they happened. =
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
incident until, some hours later, it was
recalled to his mind in a surprising
manner. E"
A card was brought to his desk by
one Of the young men whose duty 1t
was to intercept callers the instant
they stepped from the elevator into
the reception room. The card bore
the name, miss Crystal Gray" and In
q moment the names owner was ush-
cred into Hazards presence. ~
He beheld a tall. slender blonde
woman, pretty and smartly gowned.
who carried herself with a quiet, as
sured air. He rose at her entrance
and indicated the chair where all call
ers were invited to sit; one that faced.
across Hazards wide table-desk, two
high, uncurtained windows. Thus
were disingenuous persons placed at
q disadvantage, for the glare beat
upon them like q searchlight, while
Hazard, his back to the windows, was
in comparative shadow. -
AS he returned to his own seat the
girl gravely surveyed him
"This is novel experience for me-
she began, "and hope haven't been
driven to calling on you because of my
stupidity; but, really, am at my wits
end"
Hazard smilingly encouraged her.
Suppose you tell me. what is worry
ing you. Sometimes it is possible to
clear away another's troubles by a
word"
The fair visitor appeared thoughtful
for moment, then she asked:
us the name of H. Sydenor Gray
familiar to you?"
II have heard the. name" was his
reply, "but it is not familiar to me-"
"Well." the girl pursued, ''he was'my
uncle. He was an active man Of af-
fairs until about eight years ago, when,
his health failing with advancing
years, he returned to the old family
home at Unaminee, where he remained
till his death last May. LII,
"Mr. Gray never married, but dur
ing his life he acquired a considerable
fortune-or, at least, he was SO reputed,
and he led others to believe that he
had; but If he left any fortune nobody
has been able to find 1t.
Before we go any further want to
make my position clear. When Mr..
Gray returned to Unaminee I was thir-
teen years old. living with my wild
owed mother in the old home place.
We were very poor and unable to
maintain the property in anything like
the style it was intended for, and 1t
had run down shamefully. Indeed,
mother made no attempt to keep 1t up.
It was much too grand and imposing
to attract a tenant in small town like
Unaminee, and we were obliged to
cling to two or three Of the smaller
rooms because we had nowhere else to
60.
well, all this was changed when Mr..
Gray appeared. A landscape gardener
and host of assistants were hired
and the extensive grounds cleared and
beautified, and the house was repaired
and refurnished throughout. In short,
he spent money lavishly to put every
thing in order, and | daresay there is
no country place anywhere more beau
tiful than Gray Cables
Poor mother enjoyed the restored
splendors of her old home little more
than year, when she died. 1t was
then uncle informed me that was to
be his heiress, intimating that it was
in his power to make me rich. l have
much to be grateful for to my uncle.
He provided the best musical educa-
ton available, so that l am now able
to make fair living. I'm not grand
opera star, nor ever shall be; but sum-
mer chautauquas and lyceum engage
ments during the winter keep me en-
ployed.
During the last three years have
been much away from home, and some
thing over year ago a nephew OF
Mr.. Gray's, Edward Gray, showed up
at Gray Cables Years ago Edward
got into some sort of trouble that in
volved uncle; but he must have given
promises of reformation and in some
way made amends so that uncle for
gave him.
Uncle, however, repeatedly assured
me that Edwards coming III no way
would affect my position; as a matter
of fact, he told me less than year be-
fore he died that he could provide suit
ably for his nephew without diminish
ing my Inheritance. :, {, (.
Il am going into this so fully be-
cause I want you to see clearly that
from the beginning I was imbued
| with the idea that some day l should
inherit the bulk of uncle's money, and
he made no secret of the fact that 1t
l 49,. ~ ;ncons;dorah1o fortune In