The Roswell daily record. [volume] (Roswell, N.M.) 1903-current, 1904-10-11
HALF A o
O A FORTUNE
[Original.l

ldu1 oI AAA, ICAG OIL Co(0kO AL lEWC >
These she bequeathed to her adopted
daughter Mabel. but the drawing of
the will had been faulty, and the ties
tator's nephew. Archibald LongwelL
who without a will would have been
her sole heir-at-law. considered aim
self entitled to the property. His weak
point was that the jewels were in Ma
bells possession. His lawyers had ad
vispd him that since possession was
nine points Of the law the first thing
to do was to ecure the property.
One evening the late Miss Longwelrs
maIlservant, Tom Clarkenwsll. the
only servant she kept. was in the kitch
en- securing the knives and polishing
the silver. Mabel. who had lone the
cooking, was also there making some
bread.
Miss Mabel" said Tom Clarkenwell,
1.-The old woman was Gurus, wasn't
she?'
"You mean Miss Longwell. Yes. sht
was singular, but she was a very good
woman"
Il hear she left all her property il
di'mon's."
in precious stones
"Wherp did she keep 'em-in tho
bank"
The question was asked in a haltine
way that indicated self consciousness
Miss Mabel's suspicious were aroused,
mo. She kept them in Il stocking"
And where did she keep the stock
ing?"
Tiled around her waist under the
skirt of her dress"
flaws a-mercy! What a queer place
She can't keep 'em there now since
she's dead"
mo. have them in charge now"
Tom did not think it prudent to ask
any more questions, and Miss MabeI
iidn't eniighten him further. She put
The dough she had been kneading into
/ pan and left it TO rise. She then went
upstairs TO bed. but not to sleep. She
was suspicious Of Toms interest in her
aunt's property. There was an unused
fireplace in the sitting room with an
iron ornamental front. Mabel had
taken out this front and stuffed the
Jewels up the chimney. While she was
lying awake she saw a light in the hall
through a crack in the door. Jumping
out of bed. she was just in time 10 see
Tom going in his stocking feet to the
floor above. She listened to him hun
ing through the roOms till she heard
iron Scrape on stone and knew he vas
removing an iron fire front. She felt
sure that if he did the same on the
rr,,,nI dAor hn ,Un,I1 S,,1 thu no
ure. Slipping downstairs. she entered
the Kitchen. and, seeing the dough she
had kneaded, it occurred TO her to put
her fortune in it. Gliding noiselcsSly
into the sitting room, she secured the
jewels and buried them In the dough.
getting upstairs and into her room be
fore Tom came down. When he did so
he searched the second f1Oor and after
that the first. not emitting the fireplace.
In the morning Tom was not so
chatty as usual, and Mabel did not say
anything to indicate that she had heard
him moving in the night. At 10 o'cloc
she was about to start for the Office of
the late Miss Longwell's lawyer to ask
his advice about q safe place for the
jewels when she saw Tom go N be-
fore her. She kept behind him. his
way lying the same as hers. Presently
he turned into a building in which she
Ace. She hurried on and was just in
time to see Tom go INTO Longwells
office. Toms interest In the jewels
was explained. He was acting for the
heir-at-law.
Tom Clarkenwell reported to his en-
plOyer that he could not find the jew
els. and Longwell changed his plans.
He decided upon proposing a settlement
Of the question between himself and
Mabel by an offer of marriage. This
was carrying out a plan that had been
proposed by Miss Longwell and de-
clined by the nephew. Indeed. he had
V failed to snub his aunt's protegee
when an opportunity occurred.
In the afternoon a note came from
LOngwell to Mabel with his PROPOSE
ton. Mabel had been to her aunt's at
torney, and he had agreed to call for
the diamonds after office hours that
evening. keep them in his safe over
night and place them with a safe de-
posit company the next morning. Mabel
wrote a reply to Longwell. inviting him
to take tea with her that evening.
When LongweIl read this invitation
he considered the game won. 1t was
plain the girl was inclined to accept
him, but 1t might not be necessary for
him TO marry her. Once in her conf
dence he might secure possession of the
property.
Mr.. Longwell called at the hour APP
pointed. and Mabel invited him ntO the
tea room. He attempted a lovers de-
meanor. but was somewhat chilled by
the lady's GOODNESS. She entertained him
rather with dainty eatables than with
words. While they were at tea the
bell rang. and Tom. who went to
the door. announced the attorney.
by the bye. Mr.. Longwell." said
Mabel. Il want you to taste some bread
of my WI making" Taking up a loaf
beside her. she cut it through the mid
die. revealing an old stocking. This
goes to the gentleman in the other