The Marietta journal. (Marietta, Ga.) 1918-1944, 1920-03-19
IN THE DEPTHS
By MURIEL LEE

his estate to Edward Rutter, was up-
neld. chuckle of satisfaction es-
capped the lips of the fortunate legatee.
In strong contrast to his mean
raced, turtive-eyed half cousin. was
Marvin Walters, who had been the
neir at law until the will was discoy.
cred. Not for moment did he doubt
that the instrument produced by a
relative whom John Black had abb
horred was a base forgery. How.
ever, one Of the witnesses TO the will
was produced who swore to his sig
nature. He had once been a servant
OF Black. The other alleged signature
was that Of Hugh Marston, who had
at one time been an agent for the de-
cedent. The whereabouts of this man
could not be found, but several wit
nesses swore to his signature.
1t was after eight O'Clock In the
evening and Walters faced a high
wind accompanied by Filters of snow.
what little means he possessed had
Deen exhausted in litigation. He turn.
ed into the first pawnshop he came
to, left his watch with the proprietor,
took a street car and alighted at a
transfer point. He stood waiting for
connecting car, scarcely noticing a
little girl who crowded close to his
side seeking shelter from the ftfui
wind. until just as the car approached
she Uttered little cry.
BE quick, the car is here!" spoke
Walters, urging the child forward by
the arm.
But l can't" walled the child. "My
transfer. The wind has blown it
away. Oh, find it, please! please, for
have no money to pay a new fare
and it is two miles TO home"
Walters urged the child toward the
car platform. 'Never mind the trans.
fer, little one," he said, "Tn attend
to your fare"
The child looked up with wonder
ing, grateful eyes as ne led her to a
seat in the warm, comfortable car.
He scanned her fragile form and
pinched wan face with sympathy and
interest. His kindly act had won her
confidence and she answered his ques-
tions clearly. She had been to a dis
lance with note for the keeper Of
the mems furnishing store for whom
her mother had made neckties.
Mamma asked him to send her
some new work." said the child, "but
he had none now, and she is sick, and
we haven't any coal, and she hasn't
got any money to get medicine. Won't
you get her some?" the little prattler
asked artlessly.
Because he had become one of the
lowly and poorly himself, the mans
heart went out to the distressed and
unfortunate. He left the car with his
tiny companion, and she took his hand
confidingly and led him to a poorly.
kept tenement building and to a room
which she entered, with the glad cry {:
"Oh, mamma! there isn't any work
for you, but I've found great friend
who paid my fare, and Is going to
get you some medicine"
The room was sparsely furnished
Upon bed lay a young woman of
twenty-five. She turned dull, glazed
eyes upon the child and her cheeks
showed the presence of a burning
fever. She uttered some feeble inco-
herent words.
"Your mamma is very ILL.," Walters
told little Flora. SIS there not some
woman neighbor who would come and
attend to herr"
"There is the lady who rents this
floor out, but she would want money
to nurse anybody" replied the child
Walters located the woman. He
gave her some money, instructions to
care for the sufferer and, learning
that she had furnished room to rent
took the apartment. 1t seemed re-
lief to forget his own troubles amid
earnest interest In the more vital ones
of others.
Slowly Alice Warren came back to
consciousness to learn of the good
Samaritan who had reached her
threshold. Her beauty attracted Wal.
ters, and her sad story drew him clos.
err into her life. She had lost father
and husband within the same year
and had been left homeless.
Walters set at work to remodel his
life, but before the month was out
maGn a discovery which changed the
whole aspect of affairs, He was seat
ed in the room Mrs. Warren occupied
one day when he Glanced to pick up
a book lying on the table. AS he
opened it quick thrill permeated his
fame. The owners name was given
on the fly leaf-"Hugh Marston."
"Where did you get this book, may
/ ask?" he questioned.
est belonged to my rather" was tbs
reply.
us that his own handwriting"
pressed Walters, strangely moved.
eyes. He died three years ago this
August" ),
A sharp exclamation on the part Of