The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-06-22
The FRAUDULENT CLAIM
BY HOWARD FIELDING.
PRIZE NOVELTIES, No. 6.
BY HOWARD FIELDING.

more Children take to Preble for his
good looks. The little fellow wanted to
make friends with him at once.
"Not used to square diet" muttered
the detective; "but he may be. However
it won't be right away"
With clever sleight Of hand he slipped
something out of his pocket, and tucked
II under big book on table.
"a fine boy is Albert" said Preble.
l am glad to have seen him. Now,
Mrs. Mcneil, must CO."
"But you have told me nothing. Why
is the insurance worthless? why''--
81 believe it is something about the
payments. You mustn't ask me any more
questions now. Believe me, it's best not
to. Very soon you'll know all about 1t. "
He got away, with the exercise Of inf
mite tact, avoiding further questions. In
the lower hall he paused a moment. There
was a curious piece of antique furniture
near the door-a table with an open, up
right back, bearing a small mirror. Per-
haps dressing table once, whereat ladies
OF the old school sat and admired
their images while their maids were Mt
work making corkserew eurls. Time had
dealt unk indy with it, and there was
wide crack between the top and the
back.
"She wasn't at home when the letter
came" he said to himself. alt was
tossed upon that table. Did | lie when /
said that knew where 1t was? j think
not"
He explored the crack i'm the old table,
and found that it led to various recesses.
Nobody came to disturb him, and he car
ried his researches to a successful issue.
On.the following morning the detec-
tive appeared bright and early in the
office of Mr.. Hersch. That gentleman had
not arrived, but Preble waited patiently,
leaning against the magnificent carved
mantel piece. He was looking particularly
well that morning; so well, in fact, that
the experienced Mr.. Hersch, when his
eyes lit ON the young man, remarked in
wardly that he had rarely seen a safer
risk.
"Well, sir" said the detective, 81 fiat
ter myself that have brought this busi-
mes to a satisfactory conclusion"
"Have you got the letter?'
"Wait a bit; I've something to say
first. It's in the nature Of advice.
When you engage a detective, why didn't
you tell him the whole story?''
"What do you mean9'
"Why, I've learned that Mcneil was in
sured in your company four years. Now,
your policies permit man to commit sui
eide in less time than that, if he wants to
it's one year, isn't it?'
"Yes; it's one year."
"Then what sort of FOOLS errand have
been on2''
"No FOOLS errand, Mr.. Preble, as
you shall confess when you touch the
money. This Is the explanation. Our
agent, Mr.. Stanton did I mention him
to you? Well, he was friend OF Mcneil,
and brought him into our company
That was all right. He was good risk.
But about six months ago, when Monell's
affairs became so terribly involved, and
he got to worrying over them, Stanton
came to mel manage that part OF the
business, you know-and said he was
afraid Mcneil would kill himself.
"So-I mention tin cofidence-we put
up little job. Stanton persuaded Mcneil
to change his policy for better one, and
brought him down here The policy was
changed. The suicide clause was the
same in each, but the limit of one year
ran from the date of the new policy, not OF
the old one. l fixed that so cleverly that