Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1920-11-20
The
Substitute
Millionaire
BY
HUBERT FOOTNER

Dec. 18th: Yesterday Miriam had
a talk with somebody over the tele-
phone. She used the instrument in
her boudoir. | had perfectly natur-
al excuse to enter the room while
she was talking, but she ordered me
out. l made out this much That
somebody was insisting on something
tilat she objected to-somebody that
she was in awe of. Thinking per-
maps or the danger of somebody lis
tening in, she made date to contin-
ne the talk from an outside phone.
This last entry on Hates report
was dated only the day before. Since
her communication gave Jack moth
ing to go on, all he could do was to
wait until he head from her again.
she would learn of the arrival of
the Lohos from the newspapers, and
would without doubt call him up at
his hotel at the first opportunity.
A nine o'clock that night Jack got
his call, and heard the voice that was
dearest to him.
jack
Kitty. dearest!"
"Oh, my dear, it's so good to hear
you! Are you quite well?"
Right as a trivet! And your
oh, I'm well. But / can't stand
that woman much longer!"
'roor 1littyLsI know. Where are
you 'phoning from?'
Booth in a drug store"
rs it safe?"
"Oh, yes! They've gone to the
theater, and to dance afterwards.
They won't be home until three or
after. She insists on my staying up
70 put her to bed, but they know
so out while they're out"
Have YOU any news for me?"
Yes. think | have"
shoot"
You remember in my last letter
said Miriam had had a telephone
conversation yesterday that seemed
to agitate her?'
YES"
We'll, think have the explana-
ton. Last night when l was putting
my lady to bed-oh, my dear, youl
never know what have meen thru!
---Bobo/ said, aprepos of nothing, but
only anxious to propitiate her. 1t will
be nice to have some relations, won't
it? Miriam replied i'll temperedly:
I'm not so crazy about it, What's
Uncle George like? asked Bobo.
Just business man, she answered,
"a manufacturer of stoves or some
thing Well fixed 2" asked Bobo. He
must be or he couldn't have RETIRED
she answered"
Kate went on: "Well, Uncle George
and Aunt Sally turned up for lunch
today"
"Ha!' said Jack. Whats he like p"
HE doesn't fit the description of.
Mr., b."
He wouldn't! Go on"
Hes man of fifty-odd, bald.
clean shaver, blue eyes"
Short and stocky?"
Eyes"
$50 far so good. Go on
Tie was very jolly and good-na-
tured: full of jokes; courteous to
everybody. even TO me- Just the
same, Miriam is afraid of him She
is quite subdued when he is there"
Good! We're getting warm.
What's Aunt Sally like?'
How do you describe an old lady?
She's just like another. She probably
set up to be belle in her youth, be-
cause she still wears a false front
She's very quiet. Uncle George talks
all the time, and she just listens and
mods and smiles. 1t appears they live
IN Buffalo and have come to New
York for little gayety. They want
ed to see dear Niriams husband. of
course, SO they looked her up at once.
They're staying at the Hotel Aber-
cromble, but have decided to move to
the Madagascar to be nearer dear
Miriam"
What's your opinion, Kitty?"
I'm not dead certain yet. The
most suspicious thing is Miriam's
attitude. Why should she be in such
awe of her agreeable uncle? That
they have not seen each other for
years, as they give out, is certainly
false. One Of Uncle's features fits
all the descriptions of Mr.. b. that
we have received. His piercing blue
eyes"
Good" said Jack. That's the one
feature he couldn't change
III we were not looking for Mr..
-. to appear on the scene, and did
not know that he was fiendish1v
clever, must say would never sus-
pect Uncle George. He PLAYS his
part to perfection He lets on to be
prosperous man, and asks no favors
OF Bobo. l gather that he insists on
paying his half everywhere. But to-
day got hint of his possible game.
He and Bobo had long talk in the
Dutch room. I made an excuse to
pass thru as often as I could, and
picked up some scraps of their con-
versation."
Well?" said Jack eagerly.
Uncle George was posing as an
experienced and successful man of
affairs, see? Without appearing to pry
into Bobo's business, he was setting
himself to win his confidence in such
matters. Bobo is obviously such a
fool that Uncle George no doubt an
ticipates gaining complete ascen-
daney over him, and perhaps sees
himself in the position of directing
all Bobo's affairs. But he's an ar
tisti he carries it off so WELL find
myself wondering sometimes if nv
suspicious aren't all imaginary"
We'll make sure of that" said
Jack.
What do you want me to do?"
Get me scrap of his writing if
P9n-fa