The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1899-04-08

Justin had stout club in his hand. anr.
with the stealth of a cat. hi advanced.
When he was within two feet of the
back of his victim he raised his club
and cried: "Ah. you rascal! I've GOT
you now. If you try 10 run III brain
you"
But the figure did o move. Justin
graSped the left arm of the man. and
as he pincheG the loose coat sleeve h.
could hear the cracking of straw with
III it. The seeming man was 4 scare
crow. which John Smith had placed in
the garden just after supper that day.
Tor the purpose of diyerting the atten-
ton of Justin while the Young man
and Flora drove away from the house.
Mortified ard Disguised. Justin re-
turned 10 his abode only TO search for
Flora in vain. He next walked toward
the barn and shouted for John. hut the
hired man did not appear. Entering
the stables. Justin discovered that the
swift mare that Flora was accustomed
10 drive was gone.
With an agility surprising in one of
his years he harnrsSed his carriage
horses ana drove 10 the nearest village
ut a ~firiUIls rate. But when he reached
the village he was told that the couple
had left the horse AT Il livery stable and
had departed on Il train for Albany u
minutes before his arrival.
For the first time in his life he uues-
toned whether he was Il wise man. In
spite of all his precautions the girl
would he married before she was q
years old. and would obtain possession
of the Edwin Smith farm. which he
hoped to control as long as he might
live. She had di>graccd herself. and
had also deprived him Of the farm.
whereas if he had only consented to her
marriage 20 his son the property would
AT least have been kept in hi> own fam
lily. Justin was forced to acknowledge
that he had made Il lamentabIr Dutch Of
tn" whole business.
He learned from an Albany pape
thai the marriage had taken place on
the day the couple had fed. and three
days later the happy pair returned
home.
Justin received them with distant po-
likeness. r~efrainiu@ from all scolding.
He himself had acted so unwisely that
It felt too much Disconnected TO find
fault with others.
of course. now that Flora WAS legally
married. il was useless for Justin TO OPP
pose the stipulations in the Edwin
Smith will, and Il deed of the farm was
Immediately given to Mrs. John Smith.
Hen husband at once took charge of the
farm. hut hi> wife started on a journey.
the destination and object OF which
were unknown to Justin Smith.
Three weeks later Flora returned.
and with her MAS John Smith. the son
of Justin. The two. accompanied by Il
Young German woman named Anna
ichWarZ. whom Flora had hired to be
i,r house urNaHt entered the home of
til: old farmer. The sight almost para
lived Justin with establishment.
What Gue> This mean?" he gaSped. az
he looked at his son.
III means that Flora i my wife. and
have COM" home To take charge
o. the Edwin Smith farm.
"i'ut the girl j. already married tc
John smith"
"I0u are wrong. Miss Anna Schwar<
here. | acknowledge. successfully act
ed The part al q mythical John SMITH
mems clothes. bur il is no longer nee
es>ary for her to practice IauGabIc de
crptiuu fora living"
But the ceremony MAS fraudulent
Their. and the farm belongs to me Still?"
1T does not belong To r0m for Flora
Flurirgtr has been twice married to Il
John Smith. the second time in a legal
way. to myself. The ceremony took
place in Florida. TOO so you anHOt dis
me"
We'll. this beats all | ever heard of
the old farmer. but I'm so "lad
to have it turn out better than | could
hoped for that | forgive you. One
farm belongs to her now. and both
after my death. will belong 10
You and your wife, as they should
'.-,L,, D.. !