San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1926-01-26

Before We learn anything addition
al of Arlcttc," l said, as we went into
the den where DR.. Willis lay as il
asleep, 81 want to explain a few
things about your friend the doctor.
You ought TO know them. Mr.. Lin
gard. You are a stranger to these
parts-a foreigner-not born here.
This is community Of artists and
ignorant folk who never 90 beyond
their little world. 1t is Bohemian and
narrow-minded, too. You have &C.
cused yourself of being the cause of
the doctors death. Can You see what
you have brought on yourself
glove. You're shrcwd one,
Anne" Jim exclaimed admiringly. even
while Mr.. Lingard was pleading:
what must I do? What can j
do? / am all at sea. Is Arlette really
his grondchild? Why didn't he tell
mc?"
"Arlette herself didn't know" ]
began, but BERTHE Lingard broke in
with a shrewd:
The bar sinister! That was what
ne intended telling me-what he was
|
That was what-killed him. He was
afraid Of me-
afraid of you," jim asked scorn-
fully.
BERTHE met him with a proud and
clearly thought out:
"Yes. Afraid of my English tradi-
tions--of my family. He didn't marry
| Arlette's grandmother-did he? He
wouldn't expect me TO marry girl
who has no-legitimate family tree"
"And you wouldn't, of course"
Jim said impatiently. you're like
Perry and all the rest of the wolves
waiting to devour that poor, pretty
little creature
BERTHE Lingard's fist doubled and
started toward Jim's chin-but even
as it dropped at his side again it came
to me with a flash that Jim had
named the ugly attitude with which
men are wont TO regard girl Of
Arlette's family history. Does he re-
gard her as the rest?
We had no chance to go further into
the matter, for the officials who were
to take matters in charge arrived just
then. For some time they were ugly
and surly, regarding us and all we
said with suspicion. But suddenly the
sheriff caught my name as the old
housekeeper addressed me. And he
leaned forward to ask dourly:
BE you Mrs. HARRISON
YES" I replied, wondering what
new turn things were taking.
Mrs. Anne Harrison, wife of
james," he asked.
"That describes me- l answered.
II am Sheriff McCandless," he said
and waited.
"Yes. sheriff." / murmured with
out seeing what importance there was
to this going around in circles.
Il am witness to the will that
makes you guardian TO the little GAL y
he said.
A light dawned on me and grew in
power as the sheriff cleared the room
of all save jim, BERTHE Lingard. the
coroner AID me. And rs soon as the
big. shabby yet coy living room was
cleared Of most of those who had
come to investigate DR.. Willis death,
Sheriff McCandless turned to the
coroner and explained CURLY:
Doc had little sweetheart long
ago afore he come here and married
Nick Perry's ma. She were poor
little French Canadian gal he mt
when he were nothing but lad. They
were natural young critters and he
come away without knowing he ought
to of stayed and married this Berther
And when Rosine Nalleau come here
to live and Doc were called to bring
her May into the world, Doc recalled
his old sweet heart and heard enough
to know that Rosine were his daugh-
ter. But she had been brung up 10
hate him. Her nav had died when SUI
come. And Rosine wouldn't hev moth
ing to do with Doc. May. she knew,
but kept it all from Arlette, the little
gal. And it pears like Arlette she looks
the spittin' image Of this Berther. lie
that all clear?'
Yes, sheriff." said the coroner
rolling it over on his tongue like the
juicy morsel Of gossip it would appear
TO the wrong type of man.
Keep it clost," admonished the
sheriff. miss Harrison she naterly
knows, because when the old Doc
drew bis will last week and called me
in TO witness. like was right-seeins
was the only one of his neighbors
hereabouts that had enjoyed his con
fidence-he done named Miss Harri
son guardeen of this little ArlettC
what don't even know she has 9
grand dad"
The sheriff pushed back his horn
rim spectacles on his broad brow
swelled out his chest and teetered for
ward and back ON heels and toes witt
evident pride in his position as conf
dent to the old doctor.
knowing that. Friend Simpson,
he went on, the coroner, you go or
help your man determine just how
Doc come by his death. And I'll bid;
here a while and see which Of thesI