Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1902-06-28
DAILY SHORT STORY
Her Legal Guardian.
Copyright, 1859. by c. Il. Lewis.I


years old, her guardian, Mr.. Caulkins.
whom she had never seen, called at the
school where she was being educated
TO see her. He told her that on the
death of her father the courts had APP
pointed him her guardian. After his
departure she made inquiries and learn
ed that she had inherited $4,000 in
bonds and improved property. and the
interest had been more than enough to
meet her expenses. 1t was not above
four weeks when Miss Streeter's guard
ian paid her another visit. He took
more familiar tone this time, and she
could not help seeing that he was
making Il great effort to render himself
agreeable. His ardor was Instantly
dampened. however, when she began
to question him about business. He
Eeemed a good deal surprised and put
out that she had learned what she had,
and he took advantage of the occasion
TO read her Il lesson in law. During
her minority ne was responsible to the
courts alone. When she had attained
her majority. he would be obliged 10y
law to file Il report of and surrender
his guardianship and he hoped she
would be entirely satisfied with what
he had done.
In about three weeks Mr.. Caulkins
came again. If there had been any
thing unpleasant at the last Interview,
he had apparently forgotten it. for he
was all smiles and compliments and
good nature. Before the girl really
knew what he was at he had made her
an offer of marriage and smilingly
awaited her reply. She was embar-
raised, confused and indignant: She
had never even felt friendly toward
him. Except that she distrusted him
he was totally Indifferent 10 her. and
she thought his proposal born of impu-
dence rather than love. 1t did not take
her over a minute to set him right,
young girl though she was, and his de-
meanor showed that he was abashed
and chagrined. He attempted TO argue,
but she would not listen. He asked her
to forget that he had spoken of mar
rage, and she asked him TO cut his
visit short. He went away with words
of regret and apology on his lips, but
his eyes told n different story. They
had hard, cruel look. and she realized
that she had rejected husband to
make an enemy. An hour after he left
the school there came for her by mes
senger box of candy and Il bouquet.
She understood they were peace offer
ings, but she would not accept them.
She gave the bouquet to one of the
teachers. and the candy she laid away.
Another two weeks passed, and then
a dreadful thing happened in the
school. One of the women employed
to clean gave Miss Streeter's room n
Saturday busting and while so doing
came across the candy ON the shelf
and appropriated ii. Half an hour aft
or eating il she was screaming with
pain, and. though Il doctor was speedily
called, she fingered along for an hour
or two and died. \ doctor was brought
in. but his diagnosis of the case was
certainly wrong. She was n strong.
hearty woman and had been in the best
of health ami spirits up to the moment
of eating the candy. 1t could not be
shown that she had eaten anything else
to arouse suspicion, but the thing was
got over without anybody being held TO
blame.
The woman was buried. and as the
days went by the incident was being
forgotten when another dreadful thing
happened. The deceased woman's
clothes had been given to a sister re-
siding in the town, and in overhauling
the dresses piece of candy was found
in one of the pockets. This was eaten,
the same sort of an attack followed,
and another doctor pronounced it
case of poisoning. The woman died,
and after a postmortem examination
the case was given to the police. The
first death had not been connected
with the candy. but after the second
it was known that both women had
been poisoned tie same way. Miss
Streeter felt sure in her own mind
that the candy came from her guard
ian. although there was no note to
that effect. and that he had deliberate
~ planned her death. but she said
nothing until summoned at the inquest.
1t had been told, of course, that all
the candy distributed came from her.
and she had to testify as to how it
came into her possession. While she
was morally sure that her guardian
was the sender. she was so conscien-
tious that she would not testify to it.
The police went TO work with Il vigor.
soon get information in one way or
another, and then the third tragedy
took place. 1t was announced in the
papers that the guardian had fired
bullet through his brain while sitting
in his office. The police had a suspi-
cion of him, but he was high game to
attack, and they were hesitating and
moving very slowly in the matter. He
must have realized that it was only Il
question of time, however, and he had
other reasons than those connected
with his ward. As having other prop
critics in trust, he was defaulter TO
the amount of 100000. He had con-
verted about $4,000 of her money to
his own uses, and yet had she consent
ed to become his wife he could have
squared up and pulled through on the
remainder. After her death he would