Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1921-09-08
just . Scuatter on
Abandoned Land

By KATE EDMoNDs.

Cephas Merritt was dead-Merrifs,
the rich. eccentric. phiianthropic old
merchant OF Grand boulevard. whose
naine had been . synonym for integ-
rify In Martinsville for forty years.
And the big store and the bank and
the tnnumerable pieces OF real estate
that he had owned here and there IN
the state capital hae fallen TO his
miseriy nephew. Hamilton Hall.
Hamilton spent i've days with his
lawyer. and at the end OF that period
discovered that one-fourfh of CepIas'
tenants had been living rent free for
years.
But not all OF Cephas' tenants had
been poor. One OF them. Miss SIdo
MIA Trayers. occupied the old Travers
mansion ON Hurlane Heights. which
had come 10 her on tire death Of her
father twenty years previously. When
Hall read this name he whlstled; and
when the lawyer told him that she.
too. lived rent free. ne whistied again.
.You see. It's this way. Mr.. Hall. !"
said the lawyer, Miss Sldonia be-
lieves that the property % hers. She's
got only a tiny income of six dollars
q week outside II, and IL she lost Il
she'd be practically a beggar-she
end her niece. Mary Trayers.-
Mary Trayers was prettier than
ever. In Halls eyes. When he saw
her enter the old-faslIoned drawing
room q flame Of jealousy Of Blaine
burned In his heart. His greeting OF
Mary was in itself a triumph.
''Sit down. Miss Travers," he said.
Il have something to say to you. You
know. OF course. that my uncle Is
dead7"
"yes." answered Mary. "He was q
good man and an old friend OF my
aunt's. / am sorry, Mr.. Hail."
well, that's more than I am, by
long Odds" Hall answered. Don't
you know that I've fallen heir to
everything he had? Yes, and l find
that I'm worth a cool eight hundred
and fifty thousand at the lowest estI-
mate. Now, Mary. j want you to be-
sensible. Be my wife. Don't be In.
fatuated by that man Blaine. He's a
good. honest toiler. no doubt, but he'll
never be anything"
mfr. Hail." said Mary, rising. II
cannot hear any more"
what, you won't snarry me nowr'
"Never!" she cried angrily, con-
fronting him with blazing eyes. u
bate and despise you"
Then why don't you marry
BiaineF sneered Hamilton Hall. And.
as she did not reply, he continued:
"I'll tell you why. You're waiting un-
til your aunt dies SO as to get her
But Il isn't hers--It's
mine"
This house is not my auHt'sf" she
cried.
"No, Miss Mary, it's mine" Hall an
swered. "But IL you'll throw Blaine
over and marry me I'll settle IL on
Miss Trayers for life. Give me q
kiss and then I'll make you love me
T."
Vincent Blaine was at the door. Hall
turned. to see Blaine advancing upon
him with clenched fists.
WHAT'S tic matter with your" Hall
shouted.
Blaine did not strike him, for Hall.
was a much smaller man. Instead. he
quietly wrenched his chair from his
grasp and. taking his shoulders In n
nrm grasp. shook him backward. and
forward tilt the mans head wagyed
foolishly upon his shoulders.
There goes Travers House." MUIR
INJURED Mary, as she nestled into her
overs arms.
What do you mean?" asked BIaIne.
yrimiy. And Mary told him.
Vincent, DEAR" she said presently.
we have a hard fight before. u.
Now that we must fight shoulder TO |
me ont, Vincent"
He pressed her in his arms.
'When?' he asked. kissing her.
Next month"; she whispered back.
But long before the date set for
heir marriage arrived Hamilton Hall
lad begun his legal battle.
Were at the end, Mary" said
Elaine. despairingly. 1.-THE case In
cheduled for next Tuesday, and we've
10 answer To make"
THAT means a death sentence TO
Aunt SiConla," answered Mary, weep
ne.
"Ry the way. did tell you I've got
new lawyerT asked Blaine present
y. "He used so be n partner OF old
man who acted for Mr..
ierritt so many years. He wants us
o attend a conference the day before
he trial, 10 be held I'm his Offices.
lie seems to have a card up his sleeve.
III call for you on Monday at nine"
Blaine called for Mary and took her
o the lawyers Office In a cab. There
hey met Hall with his attorney. and
he five seated themselves around the
able. Blaine's lawyer. n lank New
highlander named Robertson, made his
roposal.
Il find" said Mr.. Robertson.
with his papers, that Miss
rravers has occupied the premises
fOr-er-twenty years
our months. and nineteen days. You
re aware. Of course. that under the
0mmon law, as amended IN this state
hat gives her indisputable owner
hip"
But she thought II was her house"
elled tile other.
"A great blunder." answered Mr..
robertson. "We confess unreseryed
that IL was not. She was squat
er-jus: plain squatter on alan
"ned land. But I guess she'll squat
here fer good many years longer.