The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1922-07-20
CHAPTER I.


presumable son of the elect
Sergeant Miles. You sent for me?"
John Wells gave him a swift glance
of appraisal and with a gesture indi-
Gated not only his youthful. feminine
client, but a vacant chair facing the
cold light of early spring.
Miss Drake, this is Sergeant Miles.
I should advise you to be as frank
seated here, sergeant, If you please"
''How-how do you do? I would
have consulted an anenist rather than
my fathers attorney had it not been
for the fact that feel I, at least, am
still sane. Sergeant Miles. Dc-do
you know anything about psycholo-
gy?"
Psychology" from a big-eyed. 1s-
year-old kid Owen Miles, university
graduate, pauperized by his fathers
mining operations and member Of the
police department through an innate
passion for criminoIogy, pricked up
his ears, repressed a smile and replied
gravely:
"a little. Miss Drake. Enough.
think, for practical purposes"
1t was John Wells turn to conceal
surprise at the cultivated, veiledly
amused accents Of this most eXtraor-
binary esmissary from headquarters,
but the girl merely hesitated a mo-
ment and then spoke in a quick little
rush.
Then perhaps you can understand
why, with no insanity in the family,
three dignifed, middle-aged gentlemen,
brothers, should suddenly become VIC
tins of the widest Authorizations, like
like three Mad Hatters, and do such
queer, ridiculous things that they are
the talk Of the town." There was a
hint Of tears in her voice at sup
pose this will seem disrespectfuI when
I tell you that it is Of my father and
my two uncles am speaking, but it
is the TRUTH
What sort OF Authorizations have
they, Miss Drake?"
Perhaps" the attorney interposed
IN his urbane, well-rounded tones, cit
will be well for me to tell you a little
of Miss brakes family. She is the
daughter Of Hobart Drake Of the New
York Stock Exchange. His wife died
when Miss Patricia, here, was born,
and she was brought UP by his maiden
sister. Miss Jerusha Drake, a lady
of the soundest practical common
sense. They have always lived in the
old family residence out on Long
Island; at Brooklea-'f
Five years ago Roger Drake. the
oldest of the family and a scientist OF
worldwide reputation. returned from
Europe TO the old home at Brooklea
and few months since the other
brother, Andrew, came back from
Australia-where he had amassed a
fortune in sheep-ranching. You can
see that the three brothers are widely
dissimilar in character and tempera-
ment, yet a very great affection has
always existed between them. I have
known them all since they were mere
boys and I can speak from personal
observation.-Pat," Wells turned to
the young girl, did all three exhibit
the symptoms at the same timer
mo. Poor father was the first to
to break out" Her lips quivered.
People put the most-most scandal
Gus construction on it, connected
with the wine cellar and I know that
it wasn't true!
fancied that father was worried about
something. I don't think very seri-
ously about it until that dreadful
time a fortnight ago when in the
middle Of the night we were all awak-
ened by a local knocking on the front
door and finally Carter, the butler.
went down and opened it.
II was leaning over the balustrade,
and what do you think I saw? Our
local policeman, Sam Clark. was
bringing in stout figure, dressed all
in flowing white like a ghost, that
reeled as it walked. I've brought Mr.
Hobart home.s Carter Sam said. I'D
get him to bed real quiet, but in the
morning you tell him if it happens
again Wen have to confscate what
he's got left in his cellar
He was down in front of the sol
diers' monument Sam explained.
rugged out in these here bed-sheets,
and spouting like a Fourth of July
orator that he was julius Caesar.
Lucky it was so late or he'd nave
had the whole town round him.
Soon's I touched him he seemed to
sort of collapse and he come along
home without any trouble. He'll likely
be all right in the morning"
Patricia had given an unconsciously
graphic imitation of the country con-
stable, but as she paused and covered
her face with her hands there was
nothing of amusement in the express
sions of either of her hearers.
did you get a closer view of your
father, Miss Drake?" the latter asked
after a moment.
Yes, I heard a sort of gasp behind
me and turned to find Uncle Roger
there, staring down at father with
such a shocked. Mortified expression
that / thought he was going to nave
q stroke or something. We stood
watching them bring father upstairs"
And where was your other uncle,
Mr.. Andrew Drake, during this timer"
Uncle Andrew slept through it
ALL" Patricia paused. He is awfully
jolly and the next morning he tried
to make light of it, but when he
learned how really i'll father was he
was terribly worried
Your father was seriously i'll
them"
Eyes. It was week before he went
to his Office in Wall Street, and he
hasn't gone to the village once-I
don't blame him." Her small gloved
hands clenched on the arms of her
chair. 1.-The things that were said