Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-08-27

E1-t0at If I mean, peIntpS Sht
the best use OF the hundred thousand,
stammered Mr.. Smith. SHES been-er-the
happest."
why, yves. perhaps she has, when you
come to look at it that way"
But you wouldnt--er--advse this Mr'
Fulton to leave her--his twenty millions?
Mercy" laughed Miss Maggie throwing
up both hands. Shed faint dead away at
the mere thought of it."
"Humph Yes, ! suppose So" Mr.. Smith
turned on his heel and resumed his restless
pacing up and down the room. From time
to time he glanced futively at Miss Maggie
Miss Maggie her hands idly resting in her
lap, palms upward, gazing fXedly at
nothing
"Of just what-are you thlnking?" he de-
manded at last, coming to a pause at her
side
81 was thinking-of Mr.. Stanley G. Full
ton" she answered, not looking up.
"Oh. you were!" There was an odd some-
thing in Mr.. Smiths voice.
Yes I was wondering-about those
twenty millions"
"Oh, you were :" The odd something had
increased. but Miss Maggies eyes were still
dreamily fixed on space.
Yes. I was wondering what he had done
with them"
Had done with them?"
Yes, in the letter, I mean" She looked
up now in faint surprise. Dent you re-
member? There was letter--a second
letter TO be opened in two years time. They
said that that was TO dispose of the re-
mander Of the property-his last will and
testament"
"Oh. yes. remember" assented Mr..
Smith. turning on his heel again. Then you
thinli--Mr Fulton is-dead?" Mr.. Smith. was
very carefully not meeting Miss Maggies
eyes.
why. yes. suppose so" Miss Maggie
turned TO her meditatve gazing at nothing.
THE two years are nearly up, you know
I was talking with Jane the other day-just
next November"
Yes. | know" The words were very near
groan, but at Mr.. Smith hurriedly
repeated. Il know know" very lightly,
indeed. with an apprehensive glance at Miss
Maggie.
80 it seems to me II he were alive that
he'd be back by this time And so I was
wondering-about those millions" she went
on musingy What do you suppose he has
done with them?" she asked with sudden
animation turning full upon him.
why, IL How should | know" slut
tered Mr.. Smith, a swift crimson dyeing his
face.
Miss Maggie laughed merrily.
You wouldn't of course--but that needn't
make you look as if I'd intmated that you
had them was only asking for your opin-
ion, Mr.. Smith," she twinkled with mischev-
Gus eyes
"Of se!" Mr.. Smith laughed now. a
little precptately. But indeed. Miss Mag
gle. you turned suddenly and the question
was so unexpected that I felt like the small
boy who, being always blamed for every
| thing at home that went wrong. answered
| tremblinsly, when the teacher sharply de-
manded, Who made the world?' Please,
ma am. ] did but I'll never do it again"
| And now said Mr.. Smith when Miss
| Maggie had done laughing at his little story,
| suppose l turn the tables on you? What
| do you think Mr.. Fulton has done-with that
| money!"
| II don't know what to think" Miss Mag
| gle shifted her position her face growing in
| tently interested again. i've been trying to
| remember what know of the man"
| What you--know of him !" cried Mr.
| Smith, with startled eyes.
| Yes. from the newspaper and magazine
| accounts of him. OF course there was quite
! lot about him a the time the money came.
and Flora let me read some things she'd
| saved in years gone, Flora was always in
| terested in him. you know
| well, what did you fnd?'
| why, not much really about the man. Be-
sides, very likely what did find wasn't true
| Oh, he was eccentric Everything mentioned
that. But was trying to find out how he d
| spent his money himself. l thought that
! might give me clue-about the will,
| mean,"
"Oh, I see
| Yes: but I didn't find much. In spite of
| his reported eccentricites, he seems to me to
nave done nothing extraordinary"
on indeed" murmured Mr.. Smith
mop Mr.. Smiths eyebrows went up
Nor very good either, for that matter"
Sort of nonentity. perhaps" Mr.. Smiths
lips snapped tight shut.
Miss Maggie laughed softly.
| "Perhaps-though l suppose he couldn't
really be that-not very well--with twent,
millions. could he? But mean he wasn't
very bad nor very good. He didn't seem to
be dissipated or mixed up in any scandal or
to be recklessly eXtravagant. like so many
rich men.
| On the other hand. I couldn't find that
he'd done any particular good in the world
Some charities were mentioned but they were
perfunctory apparently, and I don't believe
from the accounts that he ever really inter.
ested himself in any one--that he ever really
cared for-any one"
| "Oh. you DON'T" II Miss Maggie had
looked up she would have met a most discon
certing expression in the eyes bent upon her
But Miss Maggie did not look up
| NO. she proceeded calmly. why II,
didn't have wife and children to stir hin
| from his selfishness. He had a secretary NJ
course. and he probably never saw half hi
begging letters. I can imagine his tossIn.
| them aside with a languid Fix them IN
James-give the creatures what they want
| nrltr rp't hrth thar