The Ripley advertiser. [volume] (Ripley, Miss.) 1843-1897, 1881-05-21

money"
"Look at the letters on the back
of this locket and tell us what they
mean. From Victoria to Benia.
min is engraved on the back"
'sI am not able to tell you, be-
cause ! never saw that locket un-
til this moment"
"Don't you know that you had
that locket made at F. H. Clark's,
and ordered those letters engraved
on itg"
"NO, l do not; that was some Of
Mr.. BowIes's own doings."
"You acknowledge, then, that
the picture is yours"
81 suppose it is my picture"
"Oan you explain why the name
Of Victoria is engraved on lOcket
containing your picture, when you
say that your namei is Helen|
II suppose Mr.. BOwles has had
my picture put in a lOcket that had
been given TO him by some one
whose name was Victoria"
MRS. Ragland, don't you know
that your maiden name was ViCtO-
ria TOtten, and that you have been
the mistress Of Benjamin Bowlesg
"No, / don't; and | don't think
you have the right to insult poor
woman, just because you have the
advantage"
"Mrs. Ragland, please examine
this letter and tell me whether or
not you ever saw it before"
This was the came letter that
Mr.. Dabbs found in the pocket of
the blue silk dress; and Mrs. Rag
lands agitation increased as she
examined it. Her hands trembled,
and the color on her cheeks became
more ghastly.
"This is the first tine ! ever laid
my eyes on this note, and | suppose
it was intended tor Miss Bran
lett"
"Do you know the hand writ
ing!"
mo" a
"ls it not Mr.. BOwles's hand-writ-
ings"
Il don't think it is; though il
resembles his writing to some ex-
tent"
SWELL, l want you now to exam
| inc this envelope and tell whether
or not you ever saw it before"
IL don't think ever did"
"DOn't you know that that was
written by Mr. Bowles9"
II do not; neither do | know who
did write it."
Lottie now whispered to Mr..
Rockland requesting him to read
it to the jury"
"If the Court please, said Mr.
Rockland, "we now offer this let
ter as evidence, and ask permission
to read it to the jury"
"Let me examine it first" said
Mr. Outlet.
The letter was handed to him; he
read it over two or three times
and then said:
ave object to the reading Of this
letter, unless my learned friend
can show wherein it can be
applicable to the case now on trial
This is document Of very myste'
rious character, and with no name
signed to it, and can not be compe'
tent evidence until it is clearly
shown who wrote it,"
awe think we will be able to dc
that" replied Mr.. ROckland.
"Read the letter" said the Judge
''and if you fail to connect it with
this case, it can, and will be ruled
out"
Mr.. RockIand then read the let
ter in q clear, firm tore. Here il
the identical document:
"Dear ":
Strychnine is the besI
medicine for rats. | will settle the
hash with the old rat, aud you mus
take care Of the two young ones
Be cautious, and success is certain
Remember we play for valuable
stakes. Love and fortune will b.
ours. Burn this and meet me a
Is o'clock precisely.
Yours forever, 3.
IfMrs. Ragland had been chaineC
10 a flaming fire, she could not hav'
exhibited greater evidences Of sui
fering than she did while Mr.. Rock
Hand was reading that letter.
SNOW, Mrs. Ragland," said Lot
tie, Il want you TO tell the Cour
and jury how and whore you go
that letter."
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