From Here to Paternity

pretty long string of feeble coincidences.“
    “But how could you prove something like that?“ Jane asked. “I mean, if you really wanted to—or needed to for some reason.“
    “Mainly by piling up evidence. And lots of times you can’t ever absolutely prove family relationships. But if you have somebody named—oh, let’s say Weirather, or something very distinct—and you know the first child of the couple was born in 1859 in Iowa, and you find a Weirather with a one-year-old child in the 1860 Iowa census with the same name as the person you know is your ancestor, and there’s nobody else in the whole state with that name—well, it’s not precisely proof, but it’s a good indication that it’s ninety-nine percent certain they’re the same person. It is circumstantial, but it’s a starting point. Then you can look up your Weirathers in church documents in that town and start really building your case with other evidence.“
    “But with a weird name like that, it makes sense,“ Jane said.
    “You know, it’s only in the last fifty years or so that we’ve gone crazy with forms and documents. Even at the beginning of this century, a whole lot of people were barely literate. They could write their name and do enough ciphering to pay their bills. But even names were changed pretty often. My own ancestors spelled their name L-U-C-K-E, like I do. But they also spelled it L-O-O-K-E and L-O-U-K and L-O-O-C and about a half-dozen other ways. Then the census takers came around and heard what they wanted to hear, and they spelled it L-U-T-E and L-O-O-D. Sorry, I’m on one of my hobbyhorses again. I’ve forgotten what you even asked.“
    “So have I,“ Jane said, “but it’s interesting anyway.“
    “Anyhow, that’s why we have our meetings here. Bill isn’t interested in being Doris’s Tsar, but his nephew Pete encourages Doris and got us to meet here about four years ago for our annual meeting. The place, completely apart from the connection with Bill, suited our needs down to the ground, so we keep coming back.“
    “You don’t think it’s sort of hard to get to?“ Jane asked, remembering the long, dark drive up the mountains the night before.
    “Well, we plan for that. Of course, a lot of people at the conference are local—we sponsor all sorts of general genealogy classes at our conference and a lot of people from Colorado come year after year. As far as the members of the Society go, we book all our flights to come in around the same time and hire a bus to bring us all up here at once. That is sort of a nuisance, but one we’re used to. Anybody who has to come in later or earlier can fly to Vail.“
    “Vail? There’s an airport at Vail? That’s close, isn’t it?“
    He did the “so-so“ motion again. “As the crow flies, yes. But there’s a mountain between here and there that you can’t drive over except in the summer with a four-wheel drive. In the winter, you have to backtrack a long way to get from there to here, so we just stick with the Denver airport and the hired bus.“
    Shelley had been listening with interest. “You have classes open to other people? Any for rank beginners?“
    “Sure. You interested?“
    “I am. May I sign up this late and sit in on some of your classes?“
    “We’d be glad to have you. It’s only twenty-five dollars to attend anything and everything you want. A real bargain, if I do say so myself.“
    While they’d been talking, Jane had gradually become aware of a faint repetitive noise in the background. In the silence following Lucky’s last remark, they all became aware of it.
    “What’s that sound?“ Jane asked.
    “Probably a radio turned up too loud someplace,“ Shelley said.
    But people on the other side of the restaurant, where the windows faced the front drive, were craning their necks and looking out at something.
    Lucky glanced at his watch. “Ladies, I’ve enjoyed talking to you. You’re very polite to let me run off at the mouth this way, but I’ve got to get going.“
    “It’s been a pleasure,“ Shelley said. “Thanks again for bringing me my message. I’ll probably see you at some of the classes.“
    As he departed, Shelley and Jane exchanged questioning looks and wordlessly agreed that they had to see what was going on in front. Shelley signed the breakfast tab, left a hefty tip, and they went across the room to an empty table to peer outside.
    At first Jane assumed that what she saw was a display of local color