Omaha daily bee., 1918-08-12

/ Bob has written me, know these
facts"
j He paused, pulled small note
book from his pocket and consulted it.
There are two sons and daugh-
ter, children of Rufus Blaisde1l. Rufus
died years ago, and his widow mar
ried a man by the name of Duff. But
she's dead now. The elder son is
Frank Blaisdell. He keeps a grocery
store, The other is James Blaisdell.
He works in real estate Office. The
daughter, Flora, never married. She's
about forty-two or three, I believe,
and d.es dressmaking. James Blaisdell
has son, Fred. II, and two younger
children. Frank Blaisdell has one
daughter, Mellicent. That's the ex-
tent of my knowledge at present. But
it's enough for our purpose"
; "Oh. anythings enough--for your
purpose! What are you going to do
first"
I've done it. You'll soon be read
Ing in your morning paper that Mr..
Stanley c. Fulton, the somewhat &c
centric multi-millionaire, is. about to
start for South America, and that it
is hinted he is planning to finance a
gigantic exploring expedition. The ac-
counts of what he's going to explore
will vary all the way from Inca an
tiquites to the source of the Amazon.
I've done lot of talking today and a
good deal of cautioning as to secrecy,
~ etc. 1t ought to bear fruit by tomor-
row, or the day after, at the latest, I'm
going to start next week, and Pm
really going exploring, too-though
not exactly as they think.
Il came in today to make busi-
ness appointment for tomorrow
please. A man starting on such a
hazardous journey must be prepared,
you understand. I want to leave my
affairs In such shape that you will
| know exactly what to do-in emerg-
ency. ! may come tomorrow"
The lawyer hesitated, his face an
odd mixture of determination and If
resolution.
"Oh. hang it all-yes. OF course,
you may come. Tomorrow at ten-if
they don't shut you up before"
With a boyish laugh Mr.. Stanley
G! Fulton leaped to his feet.
Thanks, Tomorrow at ten, then"
At the door he turned back jauntily.
"And, say, Ned, what'll you bet I
don't grow fat and young over this
thing? Whatll you bet | don't get so
| can eat real meat and 'taters again"
CHAPTER II.
Enter Mr.. John Smith.
1t was on the first warm evening
in early June that Miss Flora Blais-
dell crossed the common and turned
down the street that led to her BROTH
er James home.
The comon marked the center of
Hillerton. Its spacious green lawns
and elm-shaded walks were the pride
of the town. There was trellised
bandstand for summer concerts. and
tiny pond that accommodated few
boats in summer and a limited num-
Der of skaters in winter Perhaps,
most important OF all, the common di-
vided the plebeian east side from the
more pretentious west. James Blais-
dell lived on the west side. His
wife said that everybody did who was
anybody. They had .ately moved
there and were, indeed, barely settled.
Miss Blaisdell did dressmaking.
Her home was a shabby little rented
cottage on the east side. She was
a thin-faced little woman with an
anxious frown and near-sighted, peer
ing eyes that seemed always to be
looking for wrinkles. She peered
now at the houses as she passed slow
ly down the street. She had been
only twice to her brothers new home.
and she was not sure that she would
recognize it. in spite of the fact that
the street was still alight with the last
rays of the setting run. Suddenly
across her worried face flashed re-
lieved smile.
We'll, if you amt all here out on
the piazza" she exclaimed, turning in
at the walk leading up to one of the
ornate little houses. MY, amt this
grand"
"Oh, yes, it's grand. all right"
nodded the tired-looking man in the
big chair, removing his feet from the
railing. He was in his shirt sleeves,
and was smoking a pipe. The droop
of his thin mustache matched the
droop of his thin shoulders-and both
indefinitely but unmistakably spelled
disillusion and Encouragement. It's
grand, but / think it's too grand--for
us. However, daughter says the best
is none too good-in Hillerton. Eh,
Bess"
Bessie, the pretty 16-year-old
daughter Of the family, only shrugged
her shoulders little petulantly. 1t