who names himself Andrew Blake, for
preliminary work on the case. We haven't much; but if he is baiting for
hundreds of Blakes in America he may secure, in the aggregate, a very
tidy sum indeed."

"Oh, Father!" cried Nan. "That's perfectly horrid!"

"But perfectly possible. Let us not swallow this bait, hook, line and
sinker. You see, he sends no copy of the will in question, or
that codicil relating to your mother's legacy; nor does he offer
identification or surety as to his own standing. Don't let the
possibilities of this wonderful thing carry you off your feet, my dear."

Nan's lip was quivering and she could scarcely crowd back the tears. To
have one's hopes rise so high only to be dashed-----.

"Don't completely crush us, Papa Sherwood, with your perfectly
unanswerable logic," said his wife lightly. "We'll remember all these
strictures, and more. We can at least put the matter to the test."

"Quite so," agreed her husband. "We will prepare the papers requested
by this Scotch attorney. I will even inquire of a good lawyer here
something regarding the Scotch laws in such a matter as this, if it will
be necessary to make a personal appearance before the local courts
over there. And perhaps we can find out the true standing of Mr. Andrew
Blake, of Kellam & Blake, Edinburgh. It will cost us a little money, and
we can ill spare it now; but to satisfy ourselves-----"

"We will throw a sprat to catch a herring," quoted Momsey cheerfully.

"Quite so," repeated Mr. Sherwood.

"But, dear, DEAR!" moaned Nan. "Is that all it is going to amount to?
Don't you really believe it's all true, Papa Sherwood?"

"I can't say that I do, my dear," returned her father gravely. "Such
romantic things as this do not often happen outside of story books."

"Then, I declare!" cried Nan desperately, "I wish we lived in a story
book!"

"Your father will make inquiries at once, honey," said Momsey easily,
seemingly very little disturbed herself by her husband's doubts and
fears. To her mind this wonderful turn of fortune's wheel was in direct
answer to prayer. Nothing could shake her faith in the final result
of her husband's inquiries. Yet, she was proud of his caution and good
sense.

"I do think it is dreadful," murmured Nan, "to believe one's self rich
for only a minute!"

"Have patience, honey," said her mother.

"Meanwhile," added Mr. Sherwood, rising, "I will go back to sifting
cinders."

But Nan did no more sweeping th