Omaha daily bee., 1918-08-25

Checks for 100000 apiece have been re
ceived by Frank Bisisdell, James Blais
dell and Flora Blsisdell from a cousin
Stanley g. Fulton, o multimillionaire. A
letter received with the money from Ed
ward D. Norton. his lawyer. says Mr.. Full
ton went to South America with instruc
tions that the checks be sent six months az
ter his departure There is another letter
TO be opened In two years In the event o.
Fulton not being heard Of before that time
The fortunate recipients Of unexpected
wealth are debating the advisability Of
wearing mourning for Fulton. presuma bl,
dead.
As a matter Of fact, Fulton Is with them
them for six months. 1t was his wish tina,
he should know them s'before and after
taking great wealth.
| CHAPTER TX (Continued).
| Her mother sighed sympathetically
Poor Maggie! How she is left ou,
-alwaysH .
"But we can give her some of ours
mother-we can give her some OF
ours" urged the girl.
1T isn't ours to give-yet," re.
marked her mother bit coldly.
"But. mother, you will do it." i'm
portuned Mellicent you've always
said you would, if you had it to give" D."
"And I say it again, Mellicent.
shall never see her suffer. you may
be sure-if l have the money to re-
lieve her. But" she stopped
abruptly at the sound of an excited
voice down the hall. Miss Flora. evil
IDENTIFY coming in through the kitchen,
was hurrying toward them.
Observation-Disclosures are you?
Isn't anybody here9 Mercy mep she
painted, as she reached the room and
sank into a chair. Did you ever hear
anything like it in all your life? You
had one. too, didn't you?" she cried,
her eyes falling on the letter in her
brothers hand. But t amt true. Of
course!
Miss Flora wore no head-covering.
She wore one glove (wrong side out),
and was carrying the other one. Her
dress, evidently donned hastily for
the street, was uneveniy fastened
showing the topmost button without
buttonhole.
"Mr. Smith, say it's true" tri-
umphed Mellicent.
How does he know? Who told
him t was true?" demanded Miss
Flora.
So almost accusing was the look
in her eyes that Mr.. Smith actually
blinked little. He grew visibly con-
fused.
"Why-er-ah--the letter speaks
for itself, Miss Flora" he stammered.
"But it can't be true" reiterated
Miss Flora. THE idea of a man |
never saw giving me hundred thou
sand dollars like that!-and Frank
and Jim. tool!
"But he's your cousin-you said he
was your cousin" Mr.. Smith re-
minded her. And you have his pic
ture in your album. You showed it
to me-"
Il know it. But my sakesl didn't
know he knew | was his cousin. l
don't s'pose he's got my picture in his
album! But how did he know about
us? It's some other Flora Blaisdell, 1
tell you."
There, I never thought of that"
cried Jane. 1T probably is some other
Blaisdells. Well. anyhow. if it is, we
won't have to pay that inheritance
tax. We can save that much"
Save! Well, what do we lose" de-
manded her husband apoplectically.
At this moment the rafting of the
front-door knob and an imperative
knocking brought Mrs. Jane to her
feet.
There's Hattie, now, and that
doors locked" she cried, hurrying
into the hall.
When she returned a moment later
Harriet Blaisdell and Bessie were
with her.
There was about Mrs. Harriet
Blaisdell new, indescribable air of
commanding Importance. To Mr..
Smith she appeared to have grown
inches taller.
well. l do hope, Jane, now you'll
live in a decent place" she was say
ing, as they entered the room, land
not oblige your friends to climb up
over a grocery store"
"Well, | guess you can stand the
grocery store a few more days, Hat
tie" observed Frank Blaisdell, dryly.
How long do you s'pose we'd live
any of us if t want for the grocery
stores to feed US? Where's Jim?"
isn't he here? l told him l was
coming here, and to come right over
himself at once; that the very first
thing we must have was a family con-
clave. just ourselves, you know, so as
to plan what to give out to the pub
lic."
"Er-ah-" Mr. Smith was on his
feet, looking somewhat embarrassed;
perhaps, then, you would rather l
were not present at the-er-family
conclave."
"Nonsense" secuted Frank Blais-
dell.
why, you are one Of the family;
it seems so," cried Millicent.
mo, indeed, Mr.. Smith don't Co."
smiled Mrs. Hattie, pleasantly. Be
sides, you are interested in what con.
Germs US, know-for the book; so, of
course, you'll be interested in this
legacy of dear Cousin Stanleys."
Mr.. Smith collapsed suddenly. be-
hind his handkerchief. with one of the
choking coughs to which he appeared
to be somewhat addicted.
"Ain't you getting a little familiar
with dear Cousin Stanley, Halter"
drawled Frank Blaisdell.
Miss Flora leaned forward earn
estly.
But, Hattie, we were just sayin,
fore you came, that it couldn't be
true; that it must mean some other
Blaisdells somewhere"
"Absurdp scoffed Harriet. There
couldn't be any other Frank and Jim
and Flora Blaisdell, in a Hillerton.
too. Besides, Jim said over the tele-
phone that that was one of the best
law firms in Chicago. Don't you sup
pose they know what they're talking
about? I'm sure I think it's quite the