The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1883-02-09

II fear so, but what-what makes you
think this?"
"He asked after my little boy, and /
have only little GIRL / fear he Is
slightly light-headed. He is vastly
changed-indeed, / hardly know him,
though of course, it is he. / could
swear to him by the birth-mark on his
chest"
Here Mrs. b. felt her senses going
at this risk which the twin had nearly
brought upon the scheme. How
account for the faint? She had but a
moment us there danger, doctor?"
Il fear so, said he, very slowly.
Down she fell, and DR.. Joke at his
great examination before the Syndicate
of Insurance Companies Directors
swore it was no pretense.
Ten days afterward Mr.. John Blake,
II. n. $50 the Times said, died Mt his
residence in Canonbury Park of rapid
consumption. 1t was rapid. A month
previously he had been passed by six
doctors, attached TO as many insurance
companies, as perfectly healthy, and
likely to live many years.
On the day after the funeral, Mrs.
Blake, without any reference to the
| family solicitor, wrote TO each of the
six companies for her EJO0. making the
statement on mere islet of white
paper, floating in perfect ocean OF
black-edge.
At the end of week, 10y the same
post, came six letters from the Secre-
taries of Us many insurance compan-
les, disputing the claim, but Offering to
compromise it. Each Secretary had
based his letter upon the decision of a
syndicate.
She wrote six notes as follows:
SIR: am informed that YOU are bound
| To ray the insurance money, due to me by
dear husbands DEATH at the expiration of
three months If by that time the amount is
not paid, on the folio ing morning / shay
make personal appeal TO the Lord Mayor
Yours in grief,
PROVIDENCE BLAKE Widow
Those six companies directors went
nearly wild with indignation. They
spent hundreds in detection, and de-
tected nothing; the doctors, the neigh
bors, the servant, all were tested, and
all testified for the widow. The body
was legally exhumed, and that gave
better evidence still. Seven old COM
panions of John Blake swore to the re-
mains-for, as you know, there had
been twin birthmark even.
Then they tackled the will made
early in the evening preceding that
night when the landlady of the seaside
lodging heard a great zeal of racket.
No question about the will-leaving
Prov. everything. Three clerks from
the Admiralty, who had known Blake's
handwriting through twenty years,
swore to the signature So the COM
panies paid the money, and the lady
insisted on six humble apologies, which
she also obtained.
Six weeks after that collective f3, 900
was paid some wonderful news came
from the oil-field district of the United
States. The firm of Messrs. Mittigen
Bros. had purchased the Rightaway
estate (2,000 acres), held by German
colony, and had tapped an oil realm
which had yielded as much as 1000
barrels in one day. The land had been
let on quarter-acre runs, al the rate of
81 900 per acre per annum and roy
atty of onefourth of the sales. Should
the field hold out, the Brothers Nit
tigen would be big millionaires. Al
ready upon the land town had sprung
up in fortnight. Two vigilance com
mittees had been formed TO protect the
property, and newspaper started.
A month passed, and each of those
life Insurance companies received on
the same day, and in the same hand
writing drafts each for $500. 1t was
Mrs. Blake who forwarded drafts and
letters, the latter intimating that she
had inherited large fortune in Amer
lea and could not condescend to keep
money which had been paid her SO
grudgingly.
She had kept her word-not soul
had actually been robbed of a penny,
and her sons might work untrammeled
by want of means-and as hard as they
liked.
This they have done, and are most
respectable members of society. But
poor, comparatively innocent, John
Blake! He has had to remain for years
dead to his own sons-but his wife has
promised him that when he is little
more changed he shall come 10 England
as his own brother and pass among
my dear boys" as their uncle"
The Rightawny oil fields are one of
the great properties Of America, but,
unfortunately, the Brothers Mittigen
are no longer interested in the concern,
having met with couple of "leaden
favors" ut "eucher" in the very saloon"
they had themselves opened at Right
away in order to make things pleasant
Millionaire Mrs. Blake receives scores
of offers by the week, but she refuses
ALL She is noble widow, devoted to
her three very clever and distinguished
sons.