and whar
she cum from. Since then we have never heard a word from no one
regardin' her people, or whether any was livin', till last winter I cum
across a notice in a paper sayin' information was wanted 'bout an heir
to an estate in Sweden, and tellin' facts that made me sure Telly was
the one wanted. The notice was signed by that lawyer, Frye, that I asked
ye 'bout, an' I went to see him. He wanted proofs an' all that, an' I
gave 'em to him, an' wussen that, he wanted money, an' I gave that to
him. He's kept askin' fer money ever since, an' I, like a dum fool, kept
sendin' it, in hopes, if Telly had anything comin', she'd git her dues.
I've sent him the locket and things that belonged to her, and all I've
got so far is letters askin' for more money an' tellin' 'bout expenses
an' evidence an' witnesses' fees an' bonds to be filed. Lissy an' Telly
know 'bout the case, but they don't know how much money I've paid out,
an' I don't want they should. That's the hull story, an' now as you're a
lawyer, an' I b'lieve an honest one, I ask ye what's best to be done."

For fully five minutes Albert said nothing. The story was so startling
and opened such a wide horizon of possibilities that he was speechless.
Then, perhaps, the distress in Uncle Terry's face and speech appealed to
him, for he said: "I see now, Mr. Terry, why you distrust lawyers, and I
do not wonder at it. To the best of my belief you have been swindled in
the most outrageous manner by Frye. He no doubt is acting for some law
firm who have instructed him to find an heir, if there is one, to this
estate, and they would naturally advance all expense money. Do you know
the vessel's name, where she sailed from, and who her master was?"

"She was a square-rigger, and the master's name was Peterson; in the
newspaper piece the name was Neils Peterson who cum from Stockholm,"
answered Uncle Terry. "I've got it in my wallet now, an' on the locket
was the letters E. P., an' on a piece o' paper that was pinned to the
baby's dress was the name Etelka Peterson."

"And did you send these proofs to Frye?" asked Albert quickly.

"I sent 'em six months ago," was the reply, "an' I've jest 'bout made up
my mind I was a fool to 'a' done it, an' a bigger one to keep sendin'
money."

"It would have been all right," answered Albert after a pause, "if you
had put them into an honest man's hands. As it is you are lame--in fact,
utterly at the mercy of Frye, who is robbing you." Then af