The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-12-26
WORTH THEE MILLIONS.
A Very Proper eff" in the Late Nicho
las Creedc's VIII.


Ghl oINNA1|
When old Nicholas Creole. a prosperous
Colorado miner and millionaire, died i'm
Los Angeles, In 1897. he left a will giving
the bulk of his property to little Dorothy.
his adopted child. That much was known
shortly after his death. but that this be-
quest was with a contingent 'if" was only
made known last week, when certain court
proceedings brought the odd provision of
the will to light.
Baby Dorothy-for the pretty. blackeyed
child is onIy five years old to-day-is to
get the nice little fortune of $~3.Oo0.0O0 in
silver mines. bank notes and real estate.
'if she had led a proper and upright life"
when she had reached the age of twenty
five. The future neiress is now living with
her mother. Mrs. Edith Scott Basford. in
San francisco. and is going to kinder
garten, and thus far IN her young life is
as properly behaved as any child of five
should be- Meanwhile she has an allow
ance" from her lawyer guardian, and she
lives on IL all unknowingly, and plays and
romps with her W little half-brothers in
the sunny back yard in the city's pic
turesque mission district.
IT was an odd freak of fortune that put
this baby girl in the way Of riches. When
Creede,- rich and eccentric, moved to Los
Angeles to enjoy the climate and have a
season OF rest after the hurly-burly life Of
his mining experiences, he built a palatial
house and thought to have pleasure after
the vain fashion of men who seek for the
wiIl-o'-the-wisp of happiness. The Creedes
were childless, and not long after locating
in Los Angeles husband and wife dis
agreed, and Mrs Creole went her way,
accompanied by a liberal income granted
by her husband.
In his LONELINESS Creole was attracted by
the sound OF a baby prattling out under
the palms Of the yard nexs door. 1. was
baby Dorothy, and soon the rich old man
and the ~sunny-haired child became fast
friends. The child's mother was Mrs.
Edith Walker, a young widow or excellent
family. abundant pride and little money.
When Creole offered TO adopt the child
and bring her up as his own the mother at
first said NO" firmly. But her own and
her baby's prospects troubled her greatly,
for Dorothy's father had forsaken them
both, and the young wife was compelled
to earn her livelihood upon the stage. aided
by her fine contralto voice. So she came
with Dorothy TO San Francisco.
Here falling health soon brought Mrs.
Walker to the hospital. and within a few
weeks il seemed as II the end were not
far off. The baby must be provided for,
so, as a matter of necessity, Millionaire
Creede's former offer was accepted. and
he became the legal guardian OF little Dor
othy.
The bright future before her darling
seemed TO put new strength into the dying
mother and she began TO rally rapidly.
Soon she was entirely recovered. but for "A
WnOIc year she was ColnpelieO 10 i've dpdfl
from her daughter. and what the separa-
ton cost her only a mother can know. At
the end OF that year Nicholas Creole passed
away and the mother CAME 10 her own
again.
IN leaving the bulk of his fortune TO
his adopted daughter Dorothy, the eccen-
trio old millionaire passed over three of his
brothers. They are j. l.. Creole, an at
torney at law of Manitou. Col: j.. W.
Creole. OF Leon. Ia. and Mcconnell Creole.
OF Forney, Tex.
Little Dorothy Is utterly unconscious of
her unique position. and is thoroughly un-
ization OF the fact that some day, Gin a
long. long time she will have a great
deal of money, but the fact is not half
so interesting to her as the wonderful
games she Is learning at the kindergarten
o. the decorations she is making for her
Christmas tree. or even her two baby halt
brothers. for Mrs. Walker is now Mrs. Bas-
ford.
The quarrel between Mr.. and Mrs. Creole,
which resulted in putting Miss Dorothy
into the enviable position she row occn-
pies. occurred In January. 1881. Mrs. Creede
left the fine home OF her husband in Los
Angeles. taking with her 5000 in cash and
reuouncing all further claims upon the
Creole property, Of which she had already
received a considerable amount.
Mr.. Creede's intention 10 bring suit for
divorce was preciuded by his death in the
July following. Only recently Mrs. Creole
has brought suit i'm the Los Angeles courts
TO secure a family allowance OF $3.50 per
month. on the ground that she q Mich
oIas Creede's legal wife at the time of
his death Among the lawyers range in
defense of Dorothy's property is Henry
u. Gage. Governor of California.