The Chesterfield advertiser. [volume] (Chesterfield C.H., S.C.) 1884-1978, 1922-03-30

now thOusand-fold; 1t amazed half
frightened, half dizzied him. Now, as
The motor suddenly swung around a
corner and shut the sight Of the lake
from him, Alan sat back breathless.
about the middle Of the block and
came to stop. The house before
which 1t had halted was large stone
house of quiet, good design; it was
some generation older, apparently
than the houses on each side Of 1t,
which were brick and terra Gotta Of
recent fashionable architecture; Alan
only glanced at them long enough to
get that impression before he opened
the cab door and got out; but as the
cab drove away, he stood beside his
suitcase looking up at the old house
which bore the number given In Ben
5amin Corvet's letter, then around at
the other houses and back to that
again.
The neighborhood obviously pre-
cluded the probability of Corvet's be-
Ing merely lawyer-a go-between.
He must be some relative; the ques.
tlon ever present in Alan's thought
since the receipt OF the letter, but held
In allegiance, as TO the possibility and
neaness OF Corvet's relation to him,
took sharper and more exact form
now than he had dared to let II take
before. Was his relationship to
Corvet. perhaps, the closest Of all re-
lationshiDs2 Was Corvet his
father? He checked the question
within himself, for the time had
passed for mere speculation upon II
now. Alan was trembling excitedly;
for--whOever Corvet might be-the
enigma OF Alan's existence was going
TO be answered when he had entered
that house. He was going to know
who he was. All the possibilities, the
responsibilities, the attachments. the
opportunities. perhaps Of that pernon
whom he was-but whom, as yet, he
did not know-were before him. He
went up the steps and, with fingers
excitedly unsteady, he pushed the bell
beside the door.
The door opened almost instantly
SO quickly after the ring, indeed, that
Alan, with leaping throb Of his heart,
knew that some one must have been
awaiting him. But the door opened
only half way. and the man who stood
within, gazing ont at Alan question
ing!y, was obviously servant.
what Is itf" he asked, as Alan
stood looking at him and past him to
the narrow section of darkened hall
which was In sight.
Alan put his hand over the letter
In his pocket 'Tve come to see Mr..
Corvet," he said-"Mr. BENJAMIN
COrvet."
what Is your name"
Alan gave his name; the man re-
peated Ii after him, in the manner OF
trained servant, quite without In.
Election. Alan, not familiar with such
tones, waited uncertainty. SO far as
he could tell. the name was entirely
strange to the servant awakening
neither welcome nor opposition, but
indifference. The man steppcd back.
Dut not In such manner as to invite
Alan in; on the contrary, he half
closed the door as he stepped back.
leaving ii open only an inch or two:
but 1t was enough so that Alan heard
him say to some one within:
"IIe says he's him."
ASK him in; will speak to him"
1t was n girls voice-this second one.
IL voice such as Alan never had heard
before. IT was low and soft but oulte
clear and distinct with youthful, I'm.
pulsive mOdulations and the manner
of accent which Alan knew must 90
with the sort of people who lived in
houses like those on this street.
The servant, obeying the voice, re-
turned and opened wide the door.
"Will you come I'm, sIr?"
Alan put down his suitcase on the
stone porch the man made no move
to pick 1t up and bring II In. Then
Alan stepped into the hall face to face
with the girl who had come from the
big room on the right.
L.