)
SERIAL
i n STORY
xZ7
cAn Heir
to
Millions
By" Frederick Reddale
Author tf
"The Other clan"
etc.
Illustrations by Ray Walters
(Copyright, by J. B. Lippincou Co.
I
SYNOPSIS.
Andy Mfleen, aged and eccentric mil
lionaire miner, la dyltiK and orders his
attorney to draw up a will leaving all hta
property to the son of a sister from whom
he was separated years before and of
whose name even he Is ignorant. Andy
tells the attorney that he was married in
his youth, but left hia wife after a quar
rel In which he struck her. He learned
afterward that she and his daughter were
3ead. The scene shifts to New York,
introducing Wilfrid Stennis, who is tell
ing his fiance, Eunice Trevecca, what he
would do if he were the possessor of
twenty or fifty millions. In the law of
fice of Carboy, Passavant & Conine, at
torneys for the estate of Andy Meleen,
Roger Hews reports the result of his
search In the east for heirs of Meleen.
He conceals the fact that a daughter of
Meleen Is alive. Wilfrid sees an ad
vertisement for Information concerning
Martha Meleen or descendants. He rec
ognizes the description as that of his
flead mother and decides to answer the
advertisement.
CHAPTER IV. Continued.
"She occasionally spoke o( an elder
brother somewhere In this country,
but she never heard from him, that I
can remember, and we always sup
posed he was killed in the war."
"And his name surely you have
heard her mention his name, Mr. Sten
nis?" "Why, certainly. It was Andrew
Andrew Meleen, of course!"
The lawyer's indifferent manner had
disappeared, and he had leaned for
ward anxiously in his chair pending
this answer, but now he resumed his
former position, with as much satis
faction shining in his fat face as the
legal proprieties ever permitted.
"Well Mr. Stennis, I am warranted
in going so far as to say that this in
terview has been eminently satisfac
tory up to this point, and I am de
lighted to have made your acquain
tance. I will have those little" details
to which I alluded looked up, and if
you will do me the honor to call here
at the same hour this day week I may
have some interesting news for you
some ex-ceeding-ly Interesting news,
in fact."
"But but," stammered Wilfrid, "I
am not a bit wiser than when I came
in! You've pumped me dry, and I
should like to know something about
the advertisement what it means
and so would my my friends."
Mr. Passavant looked at the quiver
ing Wilf compassionately and dispas
sionately over his gold-rimmed glasses.
"Your impatience is quite excusable
under the circumstances, my dear sir,
but until we have in our hands the
collateral proofs of which I have
spoken, it would be manifestly im
proper for me to commit myself fur
ther. Good-morning!"
"And so," as Wilfrid ruefully told
Eunice that evening, "I came away
like the king of Fiance, who marched
up the hill and down again, and got
nothing for my trouble."
Eunice made him tell the story of
the interview twice over, and then sat
quietly ruminating, her forehead and
eyebrows puckered in a puzzled frown.
"It must be I am sure of it, Wilf,"
she exclaimed at length. "The ad
vertisement has something to do with
that long-lost uncle Andrew of
yours!"
"Do you really think so?" said Wilf
dubiously. "Why, all old Passavant's
talk was about mother; he only men
tioned uncle Andrew once."
"You silly boy!" the girl exclaimed
with pretty petulance, giving him a
little push, "that's the very thing that
makes me sure!"
From which K may be seen that
Eunice Trevecca possessed what has
been called the "leaping mind."
So there was nothing for it but to
wait the week out with what patience
the trio could muster for Eunice and
old Trevecca were equally interested
with Wilfrid. The time passed in all
sorts of feverish conjectures, and Wilf,
it must be confessed, was a somewhat
idle and careless apprentice all that
week.
Hence It was with a beating heart
and all sorts of nameless and formless
expectations that Stennis presented
himself in Temple court at the ap
pointed hour one week later.
This time his reception was cor
diality itself, tempered with such
marked respect as to be positively em
barrassing to a youngster so inex
perienced in the ways of the world.
There was a third person present
also, introduced as Mr. Phineas Car
boy, the senior member of the firm.
Both partners impressively shook
bands with their visitor and were
quite deferential in manner. Mr. Pas
savant's demeanor might even be de
scribed as parentally affectionate.
Wilfrid sat on the edge of the prof
fered seat in some trepidation, and
found himself focussed by a battery
of four eyes and two pairs of eye-
ao respectfully solicitous wu j
the manner or his reception. Mr. Tat
savant led off in one of his pompously
rounded periods:
"It is a pleasure to renew the ac
quaintance of so presentable a young
gentleman as yourself, Mr. Stennis,
and to be the bearers of what will, I
am sure, be most grateful tidings. Not
the least Item In our gratification con
sists in the fact that you bear a most
dignified and euphonious name one;
eminently fitted to grace the good for
tune we are about to announce: 'Wil
frid Stennis, Esquire' ah!" He rolled
out the full title in his best forensic
manner, and our unsophisticated Wilf,
who was staggered by all this unex
pected homage and flattery, hardly
recognized his own familiar appella
tion. Here Mr. Carboy, with an Impatient
cotigh, took up the tale, as though he
would say: "We have had the fancy
touches and the flummery; now let's
got down to business."
"The facts are briefly as follows,
Mr. Stennis: This firm for many
years past has numbered among Its
most valued clients your late la
mented maternal uncle, Mr. Andrew
Meleen, whose reputation in the west
was largely merged in the town
named after him in the state of Ne
vada." Wilfrid could not repress a gesture
of surprise at the mention' of old An
drew's name. Eunice was right, after
all.
"Three months ago, Mr. Stennis,
your uncle died, not very suddenly,
but full of years, and childless. He
was, I am happy to say for your sake,
a very wealthy man. I had the honor
to draw his last will and testament, in
which he named Mr. Passavant and
myself as co-executors. The estate
will foot up at $25,000,000, partly in
paying mining properties, but mainly
in cash and available securities. Be
sides this principal, there is also a
yearly income, at the present market
values of silver and copper, of some
thing like $1,000,000. Your uncle's will
makes you sole legatee, and it be
comes our very pleasant duty, Mr.
Stennis, to congratulate you upon your
good fortune. From what we can
learn of you personally, I have no
hesitation in expressing the opinion
that this vast wealth could not have
fallen into better hands."
Both partners rose to their feet at
this peroration, and each grasped a
hand of the dumfounded Wilfrid, who
"stood speechless before them, saying
never a word," vainly essaying to
moisten his parched lips. Then he sat
down, saying piteously:
"I'm afraid I don't quite take it all
in, gentlemen! You must give me
time to realize the news!"
"Oh, you will soon get used to the
situation, my dear sir," said the bland
and beaming Passavant, with a return
to his fatherly manner.
"Surely!" echoed Mr. Carboy, with
a compassionate smile. "You will be
one of the richest young men of the
age twenty-five millions in realty and
a yearly income of a million besides!"
It was more than poor Wilf could
comprehend at a moment's notice.
With these words ringing in his ears
he staggered out of the office and
gained the street, there to "walk it
off."
CHAPTER V.
Horatio Passavant occupied a resi
dence on Park avenue, that dullest of
New York's many dull uptown streets.
The place and its furnishings, like
their owner were heavy, eminently
respectable, pompous, and quite pre
tentious. The household consisted of himself,
his daughter, and his spinster sister
the latter tolerated chiefly because
she made an admirable sheep-dog for
the second, being conveniently deaf,
quite colorless as to opinions, and
capable of complete self-effacement
upon occasion.
Clara Passavant, the daughter, was
commonly accounted a handsome
woman, of a pale, blonde, stately type
of beauty; she was thoroughly mer
cenary, brilliant as an icicle and near
ly as cold, heartless, vain, and ambi
tious. Her all-consuming aim in life
was to contract a splendid marriage;
in her eyes money was the indis
pensable requisite for human happi
ness; and, although she probably
never shaped the thought in so many
words, she would undoubtedly sell her
self to the highest bidder.
Father and daughter were sitting
over their dessert on the evening of
the day which brought to Wilfrid the
tidings of his stupendous change In
fortune. The scene was far as the
antipodes from the humble interior
over in Macdougal street, where an
other and a more momentous inter
view was at that very moment also
taking place.
"Now tell me about this Mr. Stennis
of yours, papa," said Clara after the
servants had retired. "Is he at all
presentable?"
"Not half bad, my dear," returned
the lawyer; "a trifle raw and un
formed, perhaps, but under the proper
tutelage I imagine he will become a
very valuable adjunct to society. He
is one of the richest young men in the
world, remember!"
"How rich, for example?" queried
Clara, absently admiring the flash and
shimmer of her bracelet.
"His income from his mining prop
erties alone is $1,000,000 a year, and
there Is a capital nest-egg of at least
twenty-five million back of that."
"A million dollars a year", mused
Clara aloud; "one could support an
establishment anywhere very com
fortably on that!"
Her father gave vent to an excla
mation that was very like a snort of
disgust "One year of bis Income is
more than I have amassed in all my
professional life!"
"When' does he come into his prop
erty?" was the beauty's next ques-Uoa.
"Oh, practically Immediately, There
are but few legal formalities to be ob
served." "I should think he would feel very
grateful to you," continued Clara, "for
rescuing him from poverty and ob
scurity." "Well, you see, my dear," said Mr.
Passavant, rubbing his double chin
dubiously at this characteristic fem
inine bit of logic, "the facts being as
they were, we could hardly help find
ing him; there was really no trouble at
all; any other firm could and would
have done as well. I do not exactly
perceive why he should be especially
grateful on that score. No doubt the
young man feels kindly towards me I
have every reason to believe that he
does, in point of fact."
"What has he been doing for a living-
all these years?"
His vocation has been that of a
bookkeeper In a large export house
downtown."
"I suppose he knows nothing what
ever of society, papa? He could have
no really nice people among his ac
quaintances?"
"Highly improbable, I should say,'
was the rejoinder. "I was thinking,
Clara, that we might do the poor fel-
low a signal service by taking him
up introducing him in the right quar
ters, and all that sort of thing," with
an airy wave of the hand.
"Very likely he gobbles his soup and
eats with his knife! Do you suppose
he ever walked through a cotillion In
his life?'' said Clara, with supercilious
disdain. Her father gave a ventral
chuckle.
"Come, come, my dear, we must not
be too hard on young Stennis. He
has really quite passable manners,
and impresses me as a man who
would quickly fall into civilized ways."
"Oh, you men do that better than
women anyway," commented this ma
ture girl satirically. "Has he any
drawbacks in the way of detrimental
relatives any sisters?"
"He is absolutely alone in the world,
my dear. He was 'the only son of his
mother, and she was a widow. His
father was a civil engineer by pro
fession." "That's something In his favor," ad
mitted the daughter of the house.
"What is his full name, papa?"
"Wilfrid Stennis."
"Does he spell it with an 'i or with
an 'e?'"
"With an T W-i-l-f-r-l-d. Rather a
well-sounding natne-don't you think
so?"
"Oh, it will do," said Clara Indiffer
ently. "Suppose we invite him to dinner
some night?" suggested Mr. Passavant
at length; "just by ourselves, you
know. Then you can take his meas
ure and er er form your own esti
mate of his possibilities."
This was precisely what the sche
ming Clara had been leading towards,
although she knew full -'well that.
Was More Than Poor Wilf Could
Comprehend.
man-like, her father would probably
claim credit for the idea should the
experiment turn out well.
As you please, papa. Shall we
say a week from next Wednesday?"
"The sooner the better, my dear."
And so Wilfrid's social fate was set
tied, In the privacy of her own room that
eight, before she slept, Clara Passa
vant went to her dainty escritoire and,
taking pen and paper, wrote several
times in a dashing, bold hand the
words "Mrs. Wilfrid Stennis," scan
ning the sheet at arm's length. Then
she tore the paper into shreds, laughed
softly to herself, and proceeded to
make her quite elaborate toilet for
the night.
Almost at the same hour another
equally interesting episode of talk was
in progress amid far different sur
roundings, and yet the subject was al
most identically the same, the actors
only being different.
(TO HE CONTINUED.)
Broadminded Norwegians.
Ecclesiastical recognition has been
given the sport of skiing in Norway
in the special short, early services
held in all the churches during the
season for the convenience of skiers.
These services are called skiing pray
ers and a stranger coming into the sa
cred edifices on such an occasion
might think he had blundered into the
barracks of a ski corps. However, the
services are much li!:cd and very well
attended, and there Is no difference ot
opinion about the wisdom of the
church authorities in thus encoura
ging a sport making so strongly lor
healthy bodies and therefore going a
long way toward making healthy souls.
Outing.
Live In the Light.
Never do anything that Involves
secrecy or the want of candor, or tt
may lead to dark methods oX Inquiry
JPf
it
POVERTY NOT ALL AN EVIL
Writer Unable to Perceive Manifold
Advantage In Helng Heir to
Great Riches.
Passing more or less friendly com
ment on the recent birth of another
Rockefeller, a grandson of the elder
Rockefeller, the Denver Republican
says: "If the tinkerers with and dab
blers in psychology and sociology can
show how to nmke this new boy a
Rockefeller in more than name they
will render the world a real service."
This latest possible heir to one of
the world's largest material fortunes
Is a problem. What manner of man
he will make cannot be determined by
all the psychologists, sociologists and
biologists of the world. Some allow
ance must be made for predisposi
tions, for the inherency of the child,
and for environmental forces which
may either accentuate or check and
weaken his inherent inclinations. Like
begets like only sometimes. The law
of variation, in favorable circum
stances, is as unfailing as the law of
persistence. Often the boy is his
father or his grandfather enlarged or
reduced, or merely modified in order
to fit Into his own social groove.
Born to a fortune of staggering
magnitude, the Rockefeller baby can
not be regarded as a promising bio
logical asset; not that any fair man
will hold aught against him on ac
count of his wealth, but it must be
realized that such a child can or
dinarily have little chance to develop
the carving qualities of the pioneer.
Initiative and originality of thought
and action, and, therefore, must be in
constant danger of lapsing into a life
of Indifference, ease and Indolence.
Poverty is too much lamented,
riches too much praised; mere pov
erty makes a beggar of no man; on
the contrary. Want, lean-faced want,
Is one of the world's greatest bene
factors, and the man or woman who
has not at some period of life known
the spice and Impetrs of this Influ
ence, has missed something worth
while. Seattle Post-Intelligencer.
Frenchwoman Kills Boars.
Shooting down three boars after
being surrounded and threatened by
fourteen of these savage animals Is a
record that has been established by
a courageous chatelaine of Spezet.
near Brest. The Inhabitants of sev
eral neighboring communes had been
complaining of the ravages made on
their lands by wild boars, which were
even threatening the lives of the
farmers. A number of the landown
ers assembled to get up a regular
drive around the woods known as the
Bols du Couvent; in the hope. of shoot
ing down the beasts. The mistress of
the chateau of Menez, Mme. de Bols
fleury, joined the expedition, carry
ing a gun herself. It was lucky for
her that she did so, and also that she
was a good shot. Being quite alone
some distance from the rest of the
party she was suddenly surrounded
by a troop of wild boars, fourteen In
all, which ran at her savagely. She
leveled her gun at them and shot
down three of the animals. The rest
soon dispersed when the other mem
bers of the parly, after hearing the
shots, came to the lady's rescue. One
of the boars that Bhe had killed
weighed more than 255 pounds.
Paris Correspondent, London Tele
graph.
Dog's Brave Effort Futile.
A touching story of a dog's fidelity
was tolS at an inquest held before
the North Carnavonshire, Wales, cor
oner, on the body of William Hughes,
a carriage proprietor living at Llan-
falrfechan, who was found drowned In
the sea not far from his home. A son
of "the dead man stated that his
father, accompanied by a dog, wen
out for a walk, and he followed him
but failed to find him. He was told
that the dog had been seen near the
bridge, and he found it there with Its
coat wet. He asked the dog, "Where
Is he, Nell?" whereupon the aniraa
proceeded towards the sea, and the
dead body of the father was dlscov
ered. A boy named Jones said he
saw a man slipping into the water,
and a big black dog which was with
him rushed Into the water and tried
to drag him out by the coat, but the
waves were too strong.
Her Recommendation.
Richard Carle, the actor, lately en
gaged as cook a Swedish giantess who
proved unsatisfactory. On departure
she asked for a written testimonial
and Mr. Carle presented her with the
following: "To whom It may concern:
I have lately had in my employ Hulda
Swanson, who was engaged to cook
for a family of three and do such
things as would be possible when not
cooking. Under this head might come
a little dusting and dishwashing and
answering the doorbell. Taking these
things into account, I wish to say that
Hulda is absolutely the tallest cook
I ever saw."
Heroism.
A woman is charged with bringing
gems Into this country Imbedded in
Oorgonzola cheese. Persons familiar
with Oorgonzola cheese and we dont
see how anybody can be will faintly
appreciate the heroic measures that
customs officers are called upon to
take at times in the pursuit of duty.
Probably they worked In relays dig
ging out the Jewels the asphyxiated
being carried from the field as fast
as they dropped, and fresh volunteers
taking their places.
But what's the punishment tliat
will fit a crime like that? ClevelaM
pUia Dealer. i
CAP
and
TAKING THE HOPEFUL VIEW
Jury In Case of Man Charged With
Stealing Ham Find Him Guilty
Despite Brilliant Plea.
The prisoner's lawyer was address
ing the Jury.
"Gentlemen," he $ald, "the attor
ney for the prosecution refers to my
client as a "double dyed villain.'
That's what he is, gentlemen, and
that's all he is! He is only a villain
by reason of the dye the double-dye,
if you please with which the infa
mously false testimony in this case
has colored htm! And those dyes
are not fast colors; they will come
out in the wash. I confidently look
to your verdict, gentlemen of the
jury, to remove those spurious stains
from the character of a cruelly and
unjustly persecuted man and reveal
him as he really Is, an upright, hon
est citizen, white as the driven
snowi"
Thereupon the 12 Jurors, good men
and true, without leaving their seats,
unanimously found the defendant
guilty of stealing the ham.
In the Far West.
What Is the cause of such up
roarious mirth?" demanded the new
arrival in the western town.
. "Lot of motorists have arrived on a
tour," explained Amber Pete, "an' the
cowboys are laughing at their funny
looking bearskin coats."
"And what are the motorists laugh
ing at?"
"Oh, they are laughing at the cow
boys' b'arskln trousers."
Sorry He Asked.
"Have you any special terms fo
automobilists?" asked the man in
bearskin and goggles.
"Wal, yes," responded the old toll-
gate keeper, whose gate had been
broken down by speeding machines,
"Sometimes I call them dead beats
an' sometimes I call them blamed
rascals. Anything else you want to
know, mister?"
DIFFERENT WAYS.
He When a woman says no, she Is
always ready to be convinced.
She Yes; and when a man says no
he only wants a litle persuading to
make him say: "I don't care if I do."
Not Always.
"Distance lends enchantment to the
view," remarked the man with the
quotation habit.
"It doesn't," objected the man with
the quotation habit.
"It doesn't," objected the contrary
person, "when you have to go the
Ustance!"
Reputation Is Known.
"I say, a man of the same name as
mine has Just been run in for fraud
by credit. Beastly awkward, you
know."
"Don't alarm yourself, my dear fel
low. Everybody knows you can't get
money or credit at all." Fliegende
Blatter.
All Off With Them.
"The Chinese government has is
sued an edict commanding all the
Chinese to cut off their queues."
"But it has been a Ilf-'ong custom
with the Chinese to wear queues!"
"Well, they will be ex-queused from
it from this time on."
After Her Gum.
"Why did you ask Miss Rich to
change places with you at the dinner
table?"
"I left my rum under her chair and
I wanted to get It before we left the
dining-room."
Almost a Necessity.
1 see where a writer says
some
snakes are useful."
"Trained biting snake art
T7)
II
weful la prohibition territory."
Barks Herbs
That have great medicinal power, are
raised to their hifrhext efficiency, for
purifying and enriching the blood, aa
they are combined in Hood's Sarsa- ,
pari 11a.
40,366 testimonials received by actual
count in two years. Be sure to take
Hood's Sarsaparilfa
Get it today in usual liquid form or
chocolated tablets called Sarsatabs.
Wearing of the Hood.
Ta England the bood was not flnaV
lr riven up until the early part o(
fifteenth century. The "great velvet
hat furred" worn by the mayor of Lon
don, John Welles, in 1432, is cited as
a singularity by Stow, who states that
previously "the coverture of men's
heads was hoods, for neither cap or
hat is spoken of." In point ot faot
there are a few earlier Instances of
hats being worn by nobles and even
vhe middle classes.
Refreshing Disinfectant
The following is a refreshing dlslr
fectant for sick room or any room
having an unpleasant odor pervading
It: Put some fresh ground coffee in
a saucer and in the center place a
small piece of camphor gum, which
light with a match. As the gum burns
allow enough coffee to consume with
It The perfume is pleasant and
healthful, being far superior to .pas
tilles, and much cheaper.
A Use for Salt Bags.
I have found a use for the little cot
ton bags which salt comes in. I wash
them very carefully to get the letter
ing out, then put them away for use
as wanted. When I bake poultry, aa
well as some kinds of meats, I make
an extra lot of dressing, stuff one of
these bags full, sew It up, and bake
it with the rest. It makes a roll of
Just the right size to slice with cold
cieata. Suburban Life.
Don't Tell Everything.
Do not tell everything, even to a
friend. When you undertake great af
fairs, confide in but few. Never love
a mean man; he will not rescue you
from calamity nor share what he haa
with you. To do good to the base is '
like sowing the sea. The mean are
never satisfied; one slip cancels all
former benefits. Comrades in feast
ing are plenty; not In serious matters.
Theagnls. .
Sheep Flocks Diminishing.
Because sheep need such extensive
ranges in order to get enough to eat, -
sheep flocks are uniformly diminish-,
ing In all countries, even in Argentina,
where sheep farming was believed to
be one of the best sources of wealth
for an indefinite time. Only in dis
tricts where the immense area of pas
ture land Is out of proportion to the
hands available for tilling it can sheep
be kept at a profit.
Knowledge.
Knowledga is indeed that whicb .
next to virtue, truly, and essentially
raises one man above another. It fin
ishes one half of the human soul. It
makes being pleasant to us, fills the
mind with entertaining views, and ad
ministers to It a perpetual series of
gratification. It gives ease to solitude .
and gracefulness to retirement Ad-,
dison.
Making Papoose's Cradle.
The poorest of Indian mothers
must have a beautiful bnby basket or
cradle, fashioned by her own careful
fingers. The general design depends
upon the customs and traditions of
the tribe, and the materials used are
determined by the natural resources
of the region Inhabited; but the or
namentation Is dictated by the moth
er's liigen'-'"- - n.rceptlona
Fabric t-rom atone.
The Russians are manufacturing t
fabrlo from the fiber of a -filamentous
stone from the Siberian mines which
is said to be of so durable a nature
that it is practically Indestructible,
says Tit-Bits. The material is soft to
the touch and pliable in the etxreme.
and when soiled has only to be placed
In a fire to be mode absolutely clean.
Long as the Stream.
The state of Sao Paula, in the r.
pubUc of Brasil, says LEtolle du Sud.
a rrench paper, published in Rio de '
Janeiro, has a river that carries one
of the longest names of any stream in
the world. The name is of Indian
origin and Is "Tamanduaetehy," and
Is also called without saving anything
in length, "River of the Great Ta
manolr." The Best Way.
Wben you resist the temptation to
go the Sour Way, don't go too far and
go the Sweet Way. Some people have
such sweet dispositions that they are
disagreeable. The beet way Is the
Quiet Way to let people alone aa
much as pclh!e. Atchison Globe.
Are Like Chestnuts.
Many Christians are like chestnut
very pleasant nuts, but Inclosed in
very prickly burrs, which need vari
ous dealings of nature and her grip of
frost before the kernel is disclosed,
Paul Chatfield.
wallowed Toothbrush Fatal. '
Howard Bolton, on whom an lnaueati
was held at the London, England, hos
pital, died from the effects of swal
lowing a toothbrush while endeavor
Ing to dislodge a piece of meat thai
iad stuck In his Uroat i
. '
Found Fossil Stsg.
While French railroad builders wto
digging a tunnel recently a toSX
tag was unearthed In elay one kus
dred feet below the surface of" Us
groaaa,