Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1889-09-20
A WILD GOOSE CHASE,

81 Holden, in whose Office | was under.
clerk, was at last dead; and by will
had left the greater part of her comfort
able little property to certain Miss En-
ma Brooches, who had for five years lived
with her as companion.
Mr.. Holden was appointed executor of
the will, in2swhich capacity it became
necessary that he should immediately
communicate with Miss Brookcs; 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 parayzed; but be-
You'd the fact that she was in New York,
nothing was known of her address. Adj
vertisements were inserted in the papers
but, as after two weeks no answer was
received, Mr.. Holden began 70 think OF
employing detective to hunt out the
missing legatee.
1t was just at this moment chat Mrs.
Royals late cook suddenly remembered
that shortly after she herself came into
che old ladys service, Miss Brookcs had
visited relative i'll Grccnville, whom she
called "Cousin Mary Dixon"
Here was at last Il clue, and Mr.. Hol-
den straightway directed me to proceed
to Grecnville, and there hunt up Mrs. or
Miss Mary Dixon, and through her asccr-
tain the whereabouts of Miss Emma
Brooiles.
AS Greenvillc, though considerable
town, could not boast of directory. 7
had no other alternative but to caavas
the place MS 1T were; and thus, after q
days arduous work, learned from cIcr-
gyman that member of his conurega-
ton bore the name Of Dixon, AID also.
he thought, the Christian name OF 1far,;
She was widow, and resided on Or
chard street. He did not remember the
number, but the street being short one
could easily find her.
This indeed I did, for TIC FIRST ucrson
OF whom l inquired Oh the street in oues.
tion-a small boy-not only pointed out
to RE the house i'll which he said Mrs.
Mary DIXON resided, but volunteered TO
arouse the inmates, which he did bv n
vigorous pounding on the door. until T
bought him off with the present of n
nickel.
In answer to the summons, neat vo-
man presented herself with broom in
her hand, which she quietly dropped ut
sight OF me-
apolosized, explaining that the per-
Torrance on the door had not been mipc
and inquired if Mrs. Mary Dixon lived
there.
Eyes, she lives here" the woman re-
piled. "She owns the house and and
my son rent part of it from her. Do YOU
want to see her PARTICULAR"
II wish to sec her on little business
matter"
>HWhat sort Of business!n
VA little private matter, which l will
explain to Mrs. Dixon herself"
ooh, there's no call to be so particular.
asked merely because she amt at home.
and thought could explain when she
comes back. She's gone to Middleton to
help nurse her sisters children, that's
down with the measles"
1 was. veXed to find myself thus baked
just rs my search seemed crowned with
success. But there was no alternative
save to follow Mrs. Dixon to Middleton
"a journey OF two hours by rail-and I
accordingly inquired her address in that
town.
"Wcll, don't know the number; it's
at Nlr. John Smiths she's staying. Some
where on Cherry Street Or, stay, it
may be Peach, 1 dare say my sons wife
knows"
Then lifting her voice, she Called
"Mariarl"
Iherc was no answer, but from the
Kitchen came the strong odor of baking
Dread, and the woman hurried oil, cX-
claiming:
'Jest wait minute and I'll send Toms
wife"
In minute, accordingly, there came
quietly along the passage a tall, aladylikc
young woman, with a pretty child in her
arms"
She was neatly and tastfully dressed,
and struck me at once rs being of an
order quite superior to that of her
mother-in-law.
CHANGING Mt her from head to foot MS
she advanced, I 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 :s she pave il
to me and the next day was in Middle
AiShSCi no QllllCulCV 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 born, and one of those
clever men who could do everything ex-
cept work and support his family.n
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 companion.
She was fine, self-reliant girl, Emma
was, and Mrs. Royal had been very fond
of her; and for her part she wasn't sur
prised to learn that the old lady had lef
her legacy, for she had surely deserved
1t by her kindness and attention.
But where to find Emma she did no
know, except that she was somewhere il
New York, where her father always re
sidcd. He had been n deilv .or,e,o,,.