The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1889-08-08
A WILD GOOSE CHASE,

Mrs. Jeanette Borroughs, for many
years a client of the law-firm of Hidden
* Holden, in whose Office was under
clerk, was at last dead; and by will
had left the greater part of her comfort
ablo little property to certain Miss En-
ma Brookos, who had 70. five years lived
with her rs companion.
Mr.. Holden was appointed executor Of
the will, in which capacity it became
necessary thuJ he should immediately
communicate with Miss BTooics; but
here an unexpected difficulty presented.
Everybody knew that the Young lady
had left Mrs. Royal some six months
since to take charge of her father, who
had become blind and paralyzod; but be-
yond the fact that she was in New York,
nothing was known of her address. Ad-
vcrtisemsnts were inserted in the papers;
but, as after two weeks no answer was
received, Mr.. Holden began to think of
cmployin a detective 90 hunt on. the
missing legatcc.
IL was jus. at this moment tina. Mrs.
Royals late cook suddenly remembered
that shortly after she herself came into
the old lady's service, Miss BrooScs had
visited relative in Grcenyilc, whom she
called "Cousin Mary Dixon"
Here was at last clue, and Mr.. Hol-
den straightway directed me to proceed
to Greenvile, and there hunt up Mrs. or
Miss Mary Dixon, aud through her ascer-
tain the whereabouts of Miss Emma
BroOkcs.
As Grccnyilc, though a considerable
town, could not boast oi directory, |
had no other alternative but to canvas
the place as il were; and thus, after
days arduOus work, learned from n clcr-
gyman that member OF his congrepa-
tiOn bore the name of Dixon, and also,
he thought, the Christian name of Mary
She was "a widow, and resided on Or
chard street. lie did not remember the
number, but the street being short one
/ could easily find her.
This indeed | did, for the first person
of whom | inquired ON the street in quos-
tion-a small bOy-not only pointed out
to me the house in which he said Mrs.
Mary DIXON resided, hut volunteered to
arouse the inmates, which The did by a
vigorous pounding on the door, until l
bought him oil with The present of a
nickel.
In answer to the summons, neat wo-
man presented herself with broom in
her hand, which she quietly dropped at
sight Of me.
apologized, explaining that the per-
formancc on the door had not been mine,
and inquired if Mrs. Mary Dixon lived
there.
"ics, she lives here" the woman re-
piled. "She owns the house and ana
my son rent par, of it from her Do you
want to see her particuar!"
Il wish to see her on little business
MATTER
"What sort Of business"
"A little private matter, which will
oNplain to hlrs. Dixon herself"
"Oh, there's no call to be 50 particular
l asked merely because she ain'tat home,
and thought could explain when she
comes back. Shc'sgone to Middleton to
help nurse her sisters children, that's
down with the measles"
was veXed to find myself thus baked
just as my search seemed crowned with
success. But there was no alternative
save to follow Mrs. Dixon 10 Middleton
"A Journey Of two hours by rail-and |
accordingly inquired her address in that
town.
"Wcll, | don't know the number; it's
at Mr.. John Smiths she's staying, Some
where on Cherry Street Or, stay! it
may be Peach, l dare say my sons wife
knows
Then lifting her voice, she called;
"Nlariarn
There was no answer, but from the
kitchen came the strong odor of baking
bread, and the woman hurried oil, eX-
claiming;
"Jest wait minute and I'll send Tom's
wife"
In minute, accordingly, there came
quietly along the passage II tall, ladyikc
young woman, with pretty child in her
arms.
She was neatly and tastfully dressed,
and struck me mt once as being OF AN
order quite superior to that of her
mother-in-law.
Glancing at her from head to foot as
she advanced, | noted her handsome,
pleasant face and intelligent look, and in
my own mind set down Tom as a FORUM
nate individual.
took down the address as she gave it
to me and the next day was in Middle
ton, where | experienced no difficulty in
finding Mrs. Dixon, though the finding Of
| her relative, Miss Emma Brookes. seemed
nearly rs remote as ever.
Mrs. Dixon gave me an account of the
family, and described Mr.. George Brookes
as "a gentleman-b born, and one of those
clever men who could do ererything ex-
cept work and support his family"
His wife had done the last, until, broken
down in health, she died, and one
daughter had married and gone to Ne
braska, and the other, Emma, answered
an advertisement for a companion.
She was a fine, selfrcliant girl, Emiaa