LAWYER BELL FROM BOSTON.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume X, Issue 495, 18 January 1900, Page 17

LAWYER BELL FROM BOSTON.

By Robert Lee Tyler.

SYNOPSIS: Chapters I. and H.—Lawyer Bell, while in New y° falls in love with a beautiful unknown and, pretending to be a doctor, makes her acquaintance when she sprains her ankle while skating. Chapter HI. —— Admiral Elliston, an Englishman and guardian to Miss Elliston, finds out Lawyer Bell’s imposture, and forbids any acquaintance. Chapter IV. —Isidore Jones, a suitor for the hand of Lawyer Bell’s sister, arrives and brings a letter from Bell's father, requesting his return to Boston as a possible journey to Europe is in view. Chapters V. and VI. —Lawyer Bell tries to find out more about the Admiral and his ward, and makes friends with Miss Elliston's maid. Chapter Vll.—Lawyer Bell obtains an interview with Miss Elliston Dy sending up a card bearing a fictitious name- Chapter VIII.—The Admiral and his ward leave for Cincinnati, and .Lawyer Bell, finding this out, travels by the name train the train is boarded by robbers, who take the Admiral’s pocketbook ; they are pursued by i ell and a companion, named Hoskins who shoot two of them and are wounded themselves; ths pocketbook is recovered, and the train goes on, leaving Hoskins (in possession of the pocketbook) tramping along the line, having forgotten all about Lawyer Bell. BOOK TWO—Mr Detective StubbsCHAPTER XIII. At Lady Claradale’s Reception. While Mr Bell, sen., is electrifying his naughty cousin, who has for twelve months kept secret the death of his brother Edwin, and been living in ease and wickedness upon Mr Bell’s money, the hero of this story is working out a theory. He is glad to hear that his father is successful in frightening the cousin whom Lawyer hell does not know, and has no desire to. He gives his father snatches of advice, hears that the cousin has fled, and is very glad of it, for mere monetary considerations are as nothing compared with the business that he himself has in hand. That business vitally concerns himself and his sister. That business also concerns Miss Valerie Elliston and Gerald Grey, and he tells himself that the most blessed, joy, or the most unutterable misery, depends upon the outcome. Mr Bell, jun., returns to London after two days’ absence, and is jubilant. The cousin has fled, after confessing to the existence of a will in Mr Bell’s favor, and the affairs are left in the hands of a respectable attorney to wind up. He finds that his wife has numerous English and American friends about her who forecast a brilliant London season Royalty is out of mourning, and the influence of court is felt in all fashionable circles, who claim the distinction of moving in the orbit of the upper ten Theatre parties, balls, *■ at homes,” rides in the Row, etc , have firm hold upon the somewhat aesthetic mind of Mrs Bell, and for the first time in her life this refined American lady is brought into actual contact with British culture in its most perfect form. The wealth of Bell, sen., is reported to be ten times greater than really is. His daughter is lovelier than a houri freshly imported from the dreams of paradise, and credentials such as these are quite sufficient to launch any American family into the very laps of the nobility, who, by chance, have any impecunious offshoots among the masculine gender. . As a result, the Bells are promptly honored by callers of the very bluest blood, and Bell, sen.; discovers upon his return„to town that various specimens of effete British aristocracy are dangling around the brilliancy of his home circle and his gold. The-te are two lords, three knights, and no end of honorables, who talk about “ my brother, the duke, you know,” and profess to be awfully chummy with the Prince of Wales —so much so, indeed, that they call him a “ dear old chappie.” Bell, sen., feels honored beyond measure, for, beside these splendid creatures, poor Iddy Jones’ attempt at dudism is but milk and water —is but as the trashiest paste when compared with the real simon.pure. It deceives people in America —ay —even in Boston ; but here —never ! Iddy seems to know it, too, for of course he has turned up according to promise, and after being mistaken five times for a waiter, he retires into the background, more spiteful than ever. Under the somewhat faded wing of Lady Claradale, Mrs Bell and her daughter are received everywhere with open arms. Lady Olaradale is a distant relative of Mr Bell’s Londe n banker ; at least, one of the directors of the 1 ondon bank. He is penniless, but, being an earl, his name attracts the plebian traders. It is in their eyes a guarant< eof stability. There is no stain upon the ancient escutcheon, and nobody out of his own set guesses that he is ‘ hard up.” He, in vulgar parlance, gives Lady Claradale the “ tip,” that there are heaps of money and an unmarried son. Lady Claradale is sister to a marchioness. Lady Claradale boasts of a long line of ancestors, more or less famous, and is yet a maiden — passe, and forty. She owns to twenty-eight, affects a giggle, looks archly about her, and paints —her face.

She is immediately charmed with Lawyer Bell. The American product astonishes her. He is good-looking—robust-looking, and a gentleman. This is the surprising part of it. She had no idea that there were any gentlemen in America — except aristocratic Englishmen who cot descended to visit that benighted coutry. She considers that he will make quite a model husband, and blushes. It is quite a novel sensation. Lawyer Bell is looking at her, and thinking what a fool she is to paint so badly. He endures all this mild torture to please his mother, and because he has nothing better to do until his man Hutton arrives. He cabled lor Hutton to come over at once, and hopes that he has started. Then a sudden idea strikes him. 'They are at one of Lady Claradale’s receptions, and the splendid drawing-room is full of slenderlegged men, and attenuated girls who are “ somebodies,” for their names are frequently in the .court circular.

Miss Evelyn Bell is attended by lords of creation whom she despises, and her mamma is warding off the attempted flirtation of an ancient dude whose vocabulary contains about a score of words, among which are “ Really ! ” “ Nevaur ! ” “Charming!” “ He-he he ! ” Mr Bell, sen., has not yet arrived, and Iddy Jones is elsewhere holding a consultation with Mr Slade. Lady Claradale has artfully drawn young Bell into an alcove, intending to make an impression at the earliest possible moment. She hears that his private fortune, inherited from an aunt, is at least a hundred thousand a year —either pounds or dollars. And she feels that she could take him with much less ! Bell is quite aware of her de signs. He has been a student of human nature too long to be deceived, so he humors while he pities her. Like all men, he is a little vain, and thinks that his personal charms have captivated the lady’s heart. He is not yet cognisant of the fact that the furniture that adorns the spacious room is only hired, and the.rent is months overdue. “Is it not a lovely evening ? ” says Lady Claradale, sentimentally. “It is, indeed,” replies Bell, absently. He is wondering where Miss Valerie Elliston is at this precise moment. “ There is no weather so delightful as an English spring,” continues Lady Claradale. “ And that is one reason that all our poets, from Shakespeare downward, celebrate the vernal season in song.” “ In the spring a young man’s fancy ” quotes Bell, and Lady Olaradale blushes, but she adds, coquettishly : “ Lightly turns to thoughts of love! ”

Bell sighs, for he has a vision of a piquant face and two golden-brown eyes. He sees it under the influence of various emotions of the heart. Pitiful, angry, scornful, forgiving—and all are beautiful. Then between him and his vision Lady Clara ale bends forward and taps his hand with her jewelled fingers. The vision is dispelled, and her rouged cheeks disgust him He is almost inclined to be rude, but his annoyance is hidden by his good breeding. This shows what good breeding will do for a man. By nature we are savages. Take the babe of cultured parents into solitude and it grows up a natural savage. Thus is obliterated, at a single blow, the civilization and culture of a hundred centuries.

Had Lawyer Bell not been well-bred, in the ordinary significance of the term, he would have thrust Lady Claradale aside, or at least have turned his back upon her. He does neither, although she has shattered a charming series of mind pictures—has ruthlessly broken the chain of his sweet thoughts. He simply smiles, and bends gracefully forward, although he inwardly wishes her at Jericho or some other spot equally distant. “ Dear me, who is that extraordinary gentleman ?’ she whispers. “I did not catch his name. He must have found his'way in here by mistake ! Ido not know the creature ” Bell looks in the direction indicated, and his blood runs cold. “ What an oddity !” continues Lady Claradale. “ My guests will be shocked.” In the centre of the room stands Mr Bell, sen., looking around for his family or any one he knows. He is perplexed, and makes a very odd figure indeed. He is attired in an immaculate dress-suit sent home not an hour before from a fashionable Bond Street tailor, at Bond Street price. He could not come to Lady Claradale’s earlier through having to wait for this suit, and he has dressed very hurriedly. The idea of a body servant he will never entertain. The result is a very strange ensemble. On his feet, and incasing his legs up to his knees, are an immense pair of overshoes, or “ monkey-boots,” as the English term them. At his throat is a orgeous blue scarf. He always favors blue for a necktie. When he was a ' boy blue was the color adopted by the Ultra-Radical faction, and as his father of blessed memory was an Ultra-Radical, blue was the color of their household god. The moment his feet again pressed his native soil the old love and the old allegiance to his father’s party came back to his heart in a great full tide —all Blue! In his bosom are two flashing diamonds, in his hand his hat (for by some miserable freak of circumstances he had passed in unseen and unannouced), in his mouth a. real twenty-five cent. Paterson cigar, and on his face a happy smile. “ Must be one of the performers, only he has come two hours too soon,” Lady Claradale says, distressfully. Then she gives a slight scream, for the extraordinary figure has “ spotted ” Miss Evelyn Bell, and has rushed across to her with an exclamation of recognition and pleasure. “ Hello, Evie ! Plenty of friends about you, I see—and all of’em dudes, too. Sly puss ! Mashping all the bon ton chaps. Just as easy as if they were all Iddy Joneses. Introduce me, Evie. Where’s your mother and Jack ?” Lady Clarada e’s eyes are distended with amazement, and her insulted friends gaze upon the intruder with an hauteur that would be chilling if he understood it. Fortunately he does not. He thinks they put that kind of thing on with their high collars. Iddy Jones generally does, and he has seen Iddy Jones in all kinds of moods. “ Is —is that a friend of yours ?” gasps Lady Olaradale to Lawyer Bell. “Yes —a—very slight acquaintance,” smiles Bell. “I knew that he could not be —a —a —anything more than a very slight acquaintance,” she murmurs. “ What a terrible man, to be sure. Did he come over with you—that is, in the same vessel?” “ Yes.” With a laugh. , “ What is his name ? Of course you know his name ? ’ “ Yes. By an extraordinary coincidence it is the same as mine!” “ How annoying !” ejaculates Lady Claradale, and she knits her brows. “ Really, unless there were considerations —very important considerations —I should disclaim the acquaintance.”

“ There are very important considerations, Lady Claradale. I am under the greatest of obligations to that old man.” “Indeed!” She is still more annoyed, but must not show it if Bell thinks so much of the old savage. It is not pleasant to think that he must visit them when she has married Bell.

“ Yes,” proceeds this young lawyer, a twinkle in his eye. “ You see, Lady Olaradale, he is my father!” ..

Lady Claradale gasps. Had she been twenty instead of forty she would have fainted. She is too diplomatic — too self - possessed — has too much savoir faire to faint now. Besides, it would be very risky. Bell might damage her paint, or catch too close a glimpse of her neck. Women’s necks tell terrible tales.

Alabaster arms, and necks, and bosoms are very nice. They don’t last long, though—anyway, not forty years. The erstwhile lovely necks of the fair ones —particularly of the angular women—gradually grow yellow, and too conspicuously porous. Paint, gas-light, exposure, and careless bathing do this. Lady Claradale knows it, too!

“ Oh, you tiresome boy! ” says Lady Olaradale, indulgently. She recovers herself with a splendid effort that Bell cannot help but admire, and jumping up, advances quickly to Bell, sen. She has never Seen him before, but she soon puts everybody at his ease, and Bell, senr., after shaking hands with her,’ thinks her one of the charming women on earth ! The young lawyer watches all that is going on with the keenest amusement, and is curious to see how his fair hostess will approach the unfortunate subject again. “ So eccentric ! ” she says, turning to her seat in the alcove. “ Such a charming old gentleman ! But of course the manners and customes of the far West are so different to ours ”

“ My father has never been to the far West,” smiles Bill. “ And I believe that this is the first time a lady’s drawing room has ever been graced by his presence. You see, his life has been devoted to business, and he left England for America —a stowaway or something of that kind —at a very early age. But for his shrewdness and thrift I might have been in vastly different circumstances. At home, in Boston, my mother and sister are fashionable people, but my father is not. He thinks that it is duty to do as Rome does, now he is here, and is specially dressed for the occasion.” Bell laughs merrily. The overshoes have quite upset him. But his father explains later that he put them on to keep the bottom of his new ‘ trousers clean. It would be a pack of foolishness to get them bespattered with London mud. London mud is a mixture of dust, soot, axlegrease, powdered steel and iron, from ten million ever revolving tires, and other flavors. It is the most awful stuff ever churned for black dress suits, and Mr Bell, sen., knows it. He explains these things to the nobler dudes, and they smile in a well-bred manner that tantalizes him. They become very indulgent when they realize that it is Mr George Bell, the millionaire himself —that it is the father of the heiress in person! “ Pardon me,” says - Lady Claradale, suddenly. “ I am neglecting my old friends !” She trips away in a manner that she hopes is girlish, to greet a tall old man who is ushered in, and Bell starts, despite ths command he usually holds over his nerves, and other such inconvenient things. He starts because the name the servant announces is Elliston ! He is certain of that. Lady Claradale’s attention is occupied by various people for some time, and Bell has to explain to a creature called the Honorable Augustus Playfair, the mysteries, of the silver question as between England and America. The Honorable Augustus says “ Haw—haw !” to show his appreciation of the lucidity of his companion’s remarks, but Bell knows that is so much talk thrown away, for the aristocrat’s face is nearly all nose. It is possible to keep the strain of a game-cock so pure and highly bred that in successive generations it will degenerate into something totally different. it is with the Honorable Augustus Playfair. Debrett says that his ancestors came over with the Conqueror. No doubt his ancestors did, if Debrett says so, but if they were anything like the Honorable Augustus it is a pity they didn’t stop at home. The “ haw-haw ” acknowledgments have so delighted and encouraged Bell that he has slipped away to speak to his father, and his eyes are continually after the old gentleman named Elliston. He watches his opportunity, and begs of Lady Olaradale to introduce him. “ If I am not mistaken,” he says, “ I know the family—that is, some members of it.” “ You take the consequences upon your own head,” she warns him, playfully, “ Sir Jerome is sure to snub you. He hates young men !” “ Well, I must grin and bear it,” says Bell. Sir Jerome ! There can be no doubt about his identity. Sir Jerome is the man who has been robbed by his nephew ! And when Bell looks at the stern, cold face, he does not marvel longer that he hunts his own flesh and blood to the gallo a s ! He is introduced to the old baronet, and the baronet acknowledges the introduction with a half-questioning glance and a grunt. He is turning away again when Bell speaks quickly: “I begged of Lady Claradale to bring me to you, Sir Jerome, because I am acquainted with your brother, Admiral Otto Elliston.” “ Indeed!” Sir Jerome is interested. He measures the young man from head to foot. “ Yes, we are very great friends!” proceeds Bell, with his usual daring and impudence. “ Lived at the same hotel in New York for a long time. I was with him when the train was robbed on the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad. His—er —niece was with him. They are in Europe now, I believe.” His voice trembles with eagerness.

“ Yes. France or Italy. lam glad to meet you, young man. You know my nephew also ? The admiral’s son ?”

“ Ah, yes—slightly! Gerald, you mean ?” Bell immediately wishes that he had been more cautious, for the face of Sir Jerome has turned deadly white, and his lips tremble with rage. “Mr Bell from Boston, do you know him? Answer me, sir! Where have you met that scoundrel, who shall soon be brought to justice !”

“ Really, Sir Jerome,” Bell says, coldly. “I object to being catechised in this way, or to hear my friends called scoundrels !” “ Your friend ! Gerald your fiiend !” “ Yes, sir! An honourable man who is being hounded from society for crimes which he never committed.” “ You are mad !” “It is you who are mad,” Bell retorts. “ I am a lawyer, sir, and your nephew’s troubles have interested me ” “ Did he send you here ?” demanded Sir J erome. “No. He has never mentioned you to me by name. This meeting is purely accidental.” Bell is determined to go on now that he has the thin end of the wedge inserted. “ Grant me an interview,” he continues, “and I will prove that Gerald is innocent.” The old man looks at him fixedly for a moment, and he mutters, huskily : “ He has swo n this to me !” Then he tells the young lawyer where and when he may be seen at his own house, and Bell scribbles the address and the time on his white sh rt-cuff. Sir Jerome goes away soon after, and he whispers ; “ If my boy is innocent I will atone!” And now the American realises the absurdity of his position. He has undertaken the defence of a man whom he has never seen. He has undertaken to prove him guiltless without one atom of evidence! He laughs in the greatest of good humor. He considers that this is a wonderful stroke of business. Not in his most sanguine moments had he deemed it possible to make such headway as this toward the solution of the mystery that surrounds the Ellistons. “ So my object is attained,” he soliloquises. “ I had a faint hope when I consented to fool among these fools that I might hear something of the Ellistons in society ! Behold, the result! And the admiral has a son ? H’m! How soon the old iceberg melted ! I see where his heart lies, but if he catches me fibbing ! By George, it will take all the nerve of Lawyer Bell from Boston to ” “ Why, Mr Bell, what are you doing here, tiresome boy !” says the crooning voice of Lady Claradale, and the American hero is taken off to a tete-a-tete over ice-cream ! {To be continued.)