The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1929-11-09

and uncover the rich ore. I gather
you don't exactly dote on your
Uncle Bill. You wouldn't mind earn
ing an honest penny at his ex-
penSe?"
Moo" said Andy slowly. "but I
don't get you. Cut out the mys-
terry"
"All right here 1t is: This book
is a dairy kept by your uncle's
wife-your Aunt Frances-who died
a few years ago. 1t reveals that
your so-called Cousin Sheila is not
your cousin. She is not the daugh-
ter of your uncle or your aunt"
Incredulity succeeded astonish-
ment in Andy's face. "Sheila not
Uncle Bills daughter" he .ex-
claimed, wake up, you're dream
ing!"
ITS as true as gospel" Mention
replied. furthermore, Sheila was
a waif and not even legally adopted.
The whole story is set down here in
black and white. There were good
reasons why she could not be
adopted, and those same good rea-
sons still operate to compel WILDER
to do everything in his power to
keep the facts from becoming
public.
Put yourself in Wilber's place."
! he went on. Suppose you had taken
a baby into your family and in do
ing so had placed yourself outside
the law. Suppose, for instance, you
had kidnapped the child-that is
hypothetical and not what hap
pened in this case, but from legal
; standpoint it is analogous.
You lived for a while in con-
slant fear of discovery. Then, as
time passed and nothing happened,
, your Tears disappeared. You be-
came attached to the child; she
> grew up as your own daughter,
8 wholly unaware of her origin, which
even in your own mind had become
, an infrequently recalled memory.
You attained prominence in
$ business; the girl moved in a de-
! Sirable social set and was about to
r contract marriage alliance with a
member Of an old, conservative fam
lily.
Then" Mention continued I'M
pressively, because of the indis-
, erection of a sentimental woman in
! putting this carefully guarded Sc
cret in writing and through the
+ theft of this writing you suddenly
, are confronted with the possibility
9 of pitileSs publicity.
You would writhe in anticipa-
, ton of the StareS of the curious, the
ribald chattering Of the gossip mon
, gers. the humiliation of the girl
4 upon whom you had lavished the
E affections of a real father-posSibly
i, her eStrangement, a shrinking re-
!, vulsion from the man who had
played her such a scurvy trick and
>, tumbled her house of cards about
. her!"
y You're a wowl" Andy exclaimed
+ in admiration. mo wonder the jul
4 rieS turn loose all the crooks you
: defend. You sure can tell 'em! And
i you can bet I'd like to see that old
\ skinflint writhe-he's made me
writhe often enough"
e =
e "THATS not all" continued Men
Il tone with a fleeing pleased
u smile at the effect of his word
painting. Bear in mnid that Sheila
never was adopted legally. Can't you
see. man, how that would affect
y you? Has WILDER ever made will?'
II DOL Iii,
about will the other day and said
. one wasn't necessary, as everything
would go to Sheila by direct inher-
itance. He thinks I still have plen-
: ty Of my own. OF course, this may
: make a difference
!, "You bet it makes a difference,
: said Mention. "Sheila wouldn't have
- a shred of claim to a penny OF
. Wilbers estate if the contents Of
: this little book were offered in court
Even a will could be shot full Of
q holes.
;, "You are the only legal heir, anc
almost any court, if it didn't award
; YOU the entire estate. would at leasi
& order a fifty-f1fty distribution. Il
y Sheila's lawyers were shrewd they
!, would hurry to effect settlement
> out of court on some such basis
: You'll be sitting pretty. my boy
< when the old man caShes in"
q "Yeh, in about million years.
Andy said derisively. "Uncle Bill:
too blamed tough and too contrar,
d to go west until he's good and ready
S If he thought his death would helI
me- he'd never die. need money
: now. not in twenty or thirty years.
k yes. dollar In the kicks Is bet.
e ter than two on the moon. but yot
Il won't have to wait even twenty o.