Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-08-07
CHAPTER X
Nhnt Docs II Mdttcr2

SfyHE days Immediately following the
s i receipt of those three remarkable
f1etters by the Blaisdell family were
Nerve-racking for all concerned. Held
Nv Mrs, James insistence that they
weren't sure yet that the thing was
true. the family steadfastly refused to
rive out any definite information. Even
th4 eager Harriet yielded to Jane on
this point, acknowledging that 1t would
be mortifying, of course, II they should
talk and nothing came of 1t.
Their enigmatic answers TO ques-
lions. and their expressive shrugs and
smiles. however, were almost as eXcit-
ins as the rumors themselves; and the
Biaisdells became at once Nerltaple
storm center of surmises ana gosslp-
4 state of affairs not at all unpleasine
20 some of them, Mrs. Harriet III par
Miss Maggie Duff. however. was not
40 well pleased. To Mr.. Smith' one
"a a,ay' So s"s Seldom ldg freed her mind that Mr.
Smith was not little surprised
II wish" she began. 20 WlSn ;lSrr
that IL that Chicago iawyer IS :. c9''1.,E, rnE,
he'd come and get done with II NeT
tsiniy the present state of affairs is al
most unbearable.'' ~ g..
TT does make It all the haraer ,hiS I%
Scs.r,t. n p, rnurmured Mr.. Smith un-
easily.
THAT you are not lncluueu VI "
bAouest, / mean.
She gave an impatient gesture. .,,i,l.-
81 didn't mean that. I WASH n INNS, M,
ing of myself, Besides; as I've ou Toip wby ~ !
should have been included. It's the % ue-
law. 1 mean, for the Blaisdells-for ,,iii ne e
whole town. for that matter. ms ms
eternal Did you know and 'lheg say
A. my
why. Miss Maggie. ! didn't suppose
Won had any nerves" bantered the
"sn she threw him an expressive glance.
.sHayent IT, she retorted Then asain
4 ahe gave the impatient gesture. n%u. %
even the gossip and the ouesiiHnlne
aren't the worst, y us,f,as tne 'TH pmIIins one
way and Jane the other ! feel IKE
bone between two auarrelsome pupP.ts,
Hattie is already house-huntins, on .me
siy. and she's bought Bessie an sNpen-
eiy. watch and a string of gold beads
Jane. on the other hand. insists tnal
Mr.. Fulton will come back and claim
the money so she's running nm s,s ntr ,os, os"ss
hundred thousand dollars; and so mus,
economic in every possible way YOU
can imagine it :" .., $3.50.
INJURED the man. Miss Maggie laughed.
"I forgot. OF course you don't 1ot
Ae live there. don't you? But ina
! restaurant the other day and ordered
Al turkey, and now she's worrying
for fear the money wont come ano
justify her extravagance. MeillGenl
with implicit faith that the hundred
thousand is coming, wants to wear her
heat frocks every day. And. as II sne
were not already quite excited enough
young Pennock has very obviously be-
gun to sit UP and take notice
you don't mean he is trying to- come
back-so soon! :" disbelieved Mr.. smith.
well, he's evidently caught the gilt
ter of the gold from afar. smiled MISS
Maggie. AT all events. he's taking no
.And-Miss Mellicent?" There was 4
note of anxiety in Mr.. Smiths voice.
.'Doesn't see him. apparently. Bu
she comes and tells me his every las
move land he's making quite a numne,
Of them just now), so | think she does
The Young rascal, But she doesn'
II think not-really. She's just eN
cited now, as any young girl would be
and I'm afraid she's taking NTH
wicked pleasure in--not see Ing MN.
"Humph. ] can imagine it, chnck'e'
Mr. Smith
Miss Maggie again Don't You see
It's neither one thing nor another
That's why do wish that lawyer woul'
come, 10 he's coming
y ri reckon he'll be here before long
: r1urmured Mr.. Smith. with an elabor
attly casual air. But wish you wer
coming in on the deal" His kindly eye
were gazing straight into her face now
She shook her head.
..Im a Duff, not Blaisdell--excep
when they want" She bit her lip
confused red suffused her face. II NEAR
I'm not a Blaisdell at all she fntshe
hagtily.
"Humph, That's exactly it, Nj
Smith was sitting energetically erec
you're not a Blaisdell-except whe
+ thew want something of you. -
.sOh please, | didn't mean to say
didn't say-that,", cried Miss Maggie,
very genuine distress.
"No. | know you didn't Gut I did
hAred the man. Miss Maggie. it's
dovnrighl shame-the way they impoS
on you sometimes.
.'Nonsense | like to have them
mean, 1 like to do what can for them
she corrected hastily laughing in spi
Of herself
.'You like to get all tired out, | SUI
pose"
ssy get res,
And 1t doesn't matter. anyway,
course" he gibed.
mot a Bit" she smiled.
Yes suspected that" Mr. Smt
vas still sitting erect, sill speaking wi