The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1920-07-29
STRANGE
CLIENTS
By ALDEN CHAPMAN

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tcopyrighL 1920. Western Newspaper union.b
II was good deal OF satisfaction
10 Lucius Mangod to reckon up profits
and prospects at the end Of two years
practice of the law. There had been
progress that was gratifying and
encouraging.
ut ls reward for good hard work.
falthfulness and self denial" he com
plimented himself.
Mangold looked up as step
echoed at the Office threshold. The
doorway framed modestly dressed
young girl of about nineteen. She had
face that showed character and
true womanliness. At a glance he
aoied that her attire. while neat, was
somewhat worn. Her gloves were
mended aud the handbag she carried
was old aud fnded. To his analytical
superior mold but with certain traces
Of care in the shadOwed eyes.
II come as client" she spoke. Il
noticed your name as a lawyer, but ]
have no money to pay for your serv-
ices"
BE seated, please" Invited Man
gold. setting q chair for this plain
speaking visitor, and they faced one
another. she slightly embarrassed, he
endeavoring to set her at her ease.
~ am Elita vayre," she spoke "and
need advice. | have to work for n
living as stenographer and live with
an invalid aunt. About a month since
firm Of lawyers, Parker & Merton,
wrote me to call at their office. Do
you know the firmP"
Mangold simply nodded. He indeed
knew the dlscredited pettifoggers and
nothing good of them, but he did not
commit hlmself verbally.
"They were looking for one Elita
Vayre, heiress to portion of the es-
tate of Robert vayre, they told me.
Was that the name of my uncle? 1t
was, / informed them. The rest was
easy. they said. If | would sign "A
contract awarding them twenty per
cent and swear to my Identity they
would secure for me legacy of over
$4,000. | was quite stunned at the
proposal, hut did not like the secret,
sinister way of those two men, |
asked time to think it over. / have
come to you"
ITO see that your rights are con-
served? Yes" submitted Mangold
"No, for have no rights at all in
the matter" was the amazing reply,
''for am not the rightful Elta Vayre,
and believe they know 1t. BY acci-
dent | noticed among some notatiOns
they had that their Robert Vayre died
two years ago. My uncle has been
dead five years"
The wonderment and interest Of Lu-
cius Mangold were alike aroused.
"And then" hurredly went on his fair
client, There came to me a singular
suggestion of memory. A year since,
when | was living at Columbus in
cidentally heard of young lady work
Ing in the same building where | did
whose name was the same MS mine.
can give her address af that period.
The surname is not a common one. |
believe that she is the rightful hciress
of the rghtful Robert Vayre, and
wish you would ascertain If this is not
true. she was poor girl like myself,
and the legacy would probably mean
great JOY and happiness for her"
The nobility in the mind of this
conscientious, unsefish girl awoke the
deepest respect and admiration in the
mind of Mangold. He showed it so
clearly in his face that his caller
flushed.
"Please tell me further details II
you can" he suggested. "Your ad-
dress, and ! will let you know the re-
suit of my investigation in a few
days"
| Mangold wrote at once to the Miss
Vayre at Columbus. Four days later
an animated, buoyant young lady
called In person, announcing herself as
the recipient Of his letter.
81 can scarcely realize that ! am
the person you have described" she
said, "but my uncle was Robert Vayre
and l can establish other points of
which you advised me-"
| Within two days Mangold fully es-
tablished the fact that his present
client WAS the real heiress to the
yayre legacy, but he did not work
through Parker 4 Merton. but with
the administrator of the vayre estate,
/ and his vivacious and delighted client
insisted that she who bore the same
name should be sent for at once.
/ Mangold's first client happened to
come to the Office when he and her
double az to name were cOnversing
pleasantly, and the picture of young
girl 0f means and an attractive young
man seemed to cause the visitor to
contrast her own forlorn condition de-
pressingiy.
you dear. sweet friend" spoke the
heiress warm heartedly, "do you com
prehend what you have done for met
I have Just told Mr.. Mangold that you