can heir, you will be able in the end to
establish your rights.

"Believe me, my dear Jessie, I know of nobody in our family to whom I
would rather see fortune come than to yourself and your dear ones. If
I can be of any assistance, financially, or otherwise, in helping you
obtain your rights in this event, believe me, I stand ready to give such
aid. Do not hesitate to call upon me. My regards to your husband and
little girl whom I have never seen; Alice and John join me in expressing
our good wishes for your happy future. I remain, with the old love I
always had for you, Your cousin, Adair MacKenzie."

"Now, Robert, what have you to say?" cried Momsey triumphantly, while
Nan danced a fandango about the room.

"This much," replied her husband, smiling. "Our minds are relieved on
one point, at least. Kellam & Blake are respectable attorneys. We will
send our communication to Mr. Blake at once, without waiting for Mr.
Bludsoe's enquiries to bear fruit. Your Cousin Adair knows the Scotch
firm, and of course vouches for their trustworthiness."

"Dear me, Papa Sherwood, you are so practical!" sighed Nan. She meant
"vexing;" they were interchangeable terms to her mind at this exciting
point. "Can't you work up any enthusiasm over Momsey's wonderful
fortune?"

"Its existence is established, it would seem, beyond peradventure," said
Mr. Sherwood drily. "But our attempt to obtain the fortune is not yet
begun."

"Why, ee!" squealed Nan. "You don't really suppose anybody will try to
keep Momsey from getting it?"

"Exactly that," said her father. "The Blakes are a widely scattered
clan. There are probably a number of people as close in blood-tie to the
old man who has just died as your mother, my dear. These people may all
bob up, one after another, to dispute Momsey's claim."

"But, dear me!" gasped Nan. "The money was willed to Momsey."

"Nevertheless, these other relatives, if there be such--can keep Momsey
out of the enjoyment of her rights for a long time. Court processes are
slow, and especially so, I should judge, among the canny and careful
Scotch. I think we would better leave it to the lawyers to settle. We
cannot hasten the courts by worrying over the fortune.

"I think," pursued Papa Sherwood judiciously, "that instead of spending
our time discussing and dreaming of the fortune in Scotland, we would
better go right on with our tasks here as though there were really no
fortune at all."

"Oh, my!" whispered