The Washington times., 1923-07-28
BY Charles C. Norris.


rate real estate people-and
m going to make him take me
on and I tell you, Philip old boy.
when the times ripe, I'm going
CHASING the big stuff myself Do
you realize, man, that the real
estate game is one of the few
businesses in the world where a
man doesn't need any capital?
Calder's got to give me a job, and
as soon as the salary warrants it,
Lucy and I are going to get mar
ried. Say,-could a man
want better little wife than that
girl? Isn't she a peach?"
Philip often used to think Will
bur had some mysterious power
OF compelling people to do what
he wanted. It was part of the
mans engaging personality. He
must only want what he was
after badly enough. AS a bow.
Wilbur had been rather happy-go.
lucky, but now he was deadly in
earnest, and within a week he
was busily at work in the Offices
or Calder & Stubs, and had de-
cfded he and Lucy could be mar
ried on her seventeenth birthday.
CHAPTER VIII.
Several weeks later Philip re-
ceived an extraordinary letter
from his father.
My dear son." wrote the Judge.
1T is with profound regret that
/ feel compelled to turn to ycu
with a request to execute a COM
mission for NE which my infirlni-
ties prevent me from undertake
ing in person. Though aware of
the indelicacy in selecting yoI
as my emissary, I nevertheless
feel that 1 can with safety appeal
to your affection and loyalty, and
can depend upon you to represent
me effectually and with intelli-
gence.
Long befre I met your mother
i'm the early sixties-a Spanish
woman by the name of Dolores
Mendoza and made our home to-
gether. She was a good woman
and was nothing sordid in our in
timacy, although there was never
any talk of marriage between US.
We lived together as man and
wife, and when I was stricken
with a malignant fever at the
time 1 enlisted in support of the
case Of the Confederacy, she saved
my life by her devoted attendance
at my bedside. Three children
were born to us, only one of
whom-a girls still alive. In
every possible way 1 have met my
obligations to Sonora Mendoza and
have provided for her support and
the support of our child unfailing-
ly for the past thirty years. /
have acquitted myself generously,
and that whatever sentiment d.
lores still feels with regard to me-,
q sense of gratitude predominates.
II am advised by post that this
lady is now upon her deathbed.
She importunes me, through her
daughters hand, to visit her be-
fore the end. and in this, her last
request, I would not fail hr. were
1t possible for me to make the
Journey. AS evidence of nv
friendship and deep interest in
her welfare, and my profound
sense of gratitude to her for the
devotion to which l owe my life,
! ask you. my son, to go to her
in my stead. Tell her of the afflic-
ton which rerders me HELPLESS.
assure her Of my affectionate in
terest, give her the sealed en-
Velope I entrust to your care, and
report to me If there is any ma
terial help I may provide which
will in any way contribute to her
peace of mind or bodily comfort
during these, her last houra.
II am aware you will under.
take this commission with a GER
tain reluctance which is. of
course, regrettable, as is the I'M
fortunate necessity which compcls
me to turn to you in my extrern-
fly. However you may regard the
matter, l do not believe l should
weigh your personal feelings in
the face of so pressing an appeal,
even at the risk of detracting from
your filial repect and affection for
me. / am trusting you TO treat
this affair IN the strictest conf
dence. particularly with regard 10
your brother and sister, and your
mother.
II am, my dear son, always
Gour affectiOnate father,
SAMUEL BALDWIN,"
Philip with difficulty located
the address his father included IN
q postscript. Although cognizant
mission, as his father had warn
ed him, he had also a certain
curiosity, and he lost no time in
setting about his errand.
The Spanish Woman.
Sonora Mendoza lived in the
49,