The Irish standard., 1916-01-15

& speaking world. Real names Of &
! 3 persons and places are some. &
| 3 times disguised. In all other re. 3
4 spects the amazing, often thrill. 3
& Ing, always gripping facts are &
recorded just as they happened. s
&sssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssa
incident until, some hours later, it was
recalled to his mind in a surprising
manner.
A card was brought to his desk by
one of the young men whose duty it
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 tall, slender blonde
woman, pretty and smartly gowned.
who carried herself with 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 disfngenuous 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 q
word"
The fair visitor appeared thoughtful
for moment. then she asked:
us the name of H. Sydenor Gray
familiar to you?"
Il have heard the name," was his
reply, "but it is not familiar to me-"
WELL" the girl pursued, che 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.
"Mr. Gray never married, but dur.
ing his life he acquired 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 hoan ahlo IN find II
Before we go any further I want to
make my position clear. When Mr..
Gray returned to Unaminee 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 it
had run down shamefully. Indeed,
mother made no attempt to keep it 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 l 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. It was
then uncle informed me that was to
be his heiress, intimating that it was
in his power to make me rich. I have
much to be grateful for to my uncle.
He provided the best musical educa-
ton available, so that 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 I have
been much away from home, and some.
thing over year ago 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 80 that uncle for.
gave him.
Uncle, however, repeatedly assured
me that Edwards coming in no way
would affect my position; as q 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 I should
inherit the bulk of uncle's money, and
he made no secret of the fact that it
was no inconsiderable fortune. In.
deed. nobody could have kept up IN
welcome, and their welcome will be