Evening star., 1923-06-14

had proved himself the next Of kin,
ana had gladly, even eagerly. taken
the reins Of government Of the az
fairs and home OF the dead man.
He was the son OF John waring 8
cousin, and though the two men had
never met. the credentials and rec
crds brought by Maurice Trask left
10 possible doubt as to his heirship.
Trask was not prepos5esstng OF
appearance, though he was well man
ne-ed and moderately well dressed.
His lack was that OF sophistication.
and he seemed ignorant OF the finer
conventions OF life. He was what is
known as sclf-made man. and
| men of home manufacture require
some sterling qualities 20 start with
If they are to turn out a satisfac-
tory product.
These qualities Trask didn't have.
and first glance at the sharp
featured face gave an impression of
greed and shrewdness.
There was also a slight air of
bravs da. which was quite evidently
kaused by an uneasy feeling OF in
feriority. He seemed TO say. Il am
as good as you are" because his con-
assertion to bolster II up.
In his seat as chief mourner. he
was decorum itself. His black garb
| was very black, and il II betrayed a
| provincial cut or At, such an effect
was more in keeping with the man
/ than correct apparel would have
! been.
His grief might have seemed a
! trifie ostentatious to one who re-
membered he had never seen his
! cousi n, but on the whole Maurice
Trask was accepted by those whose
factory heir to the waring estate.
Nor was this an inconsiderable
matter, for John Warlng. beside his
profession, had written several sue
cessful books, and possessed in all a
| goodly fortune.
| about Trask. His life was an open
book. the lawyers had said: his fam
! ply tree was of correct record and
Dis claim to the estate clear and
| true.
While as to that mink, Miss Mys-
| terry, nobody knew or could find out
where she came from, what she was
doing in Corinth, or who she was,
anyway Clearly she was mixed up
with Or. Waring in some unconven-
tional way-that is. IL the reports
were true that she visited him in his
household. No shadow OF blame was
attached to John Waring for this
/ although it would seem that the man
was old and wise enough to ward
off an attack from such a small vam-
pire.
That's what she is."' Helen Pey-
ton concluded, to herself, as she
mused on the girl who sat in front
OF her. She just plain vamped poor
DR.. Warins-and she got into the
After the funeral, the chief mourn
ers went back to the Waring home
to discuss matters. Mrs. Psyton had
tea served in the living room. for
all who came, and many neighbors.
drawn by curiosity, accepted her
Trask. rubbing his hands involun-
tarily. slipped easily into his new
role of host and rather overdid his
part
Yes" he. would say, yes. yes
a man my cousin was-yes, yes. a
noble character. Now. can't ex-
pecs to take ak his place in your com,
there! I'll get there! And yo1Tl
| all help me. won't your" he beamed
on them. Eyes. yes, you'll all help
| me to become one Of the first citizens
Of your lovely. tree-decked town.
Plate and cup in hand, he moved
| around among his guests, a little
awkwardly.. but full Of amiability
quite evidently. "the king is dead
long live the king" and he wanted
to get settled on his throne at once.
But the cousin Of John Waring
had another side to him.
This was shown when, later on,
he met a few people in the study.
Cray was there. by invitation, and
Morton, also Lockwood and the two
Peytons.
"Just a few words at the outset"
Trask began. and he was noticeably
| more at ease in this executive ses-
| sion than he had been in the social
atmosphere.
81 want to maintain this house
hold, for time at least, as I find Ii.
shall be glad, Mrs. Peyton. II you
will continue to keep house for me,
| and I should like you. Mr.. Lock-
wood, to remain as secretary, IL you
much to be done In settling the es-