Evening journal., 1905-05-30
CAUGHT RED HANDED
IOriglnall

", VINO possessed large fortune. LUIS f
lady had made several wills. at last
making one leaving all her property to I
her nephew, Russell. But. the tostator /
being healthy woman, there was lit /
tie hope that the young couple would |
inherit the fortune, at least not for a {
long while. Meanwhile by pinching
they managed to get along.
One summer after a great deal Of
hard work - servants work - Mrs. (
Ewing found it necessary % recuperate |
at farmhouse.
She soon tired Of the farm, and,
without notifying her husband, whom
she knew would object. she packed her
traps and took train. She reached
the city and her home shortly before
her husband usually came home from
business. What was her surprise to
see coming down the stairs well
dressed woman about her own age and
quite as comely
We'll" gasped the wife, astonished,
'what are you doing hereW
Now. till this moment Mrs. Ewing
had never doubted her husbands ddel-
lty. But coming home unexpected to
find a young woman I'm the house with
out even a servant TO chaperon her
was too much for the wife's faith. She
looked daggers at the woman, who
trembled before her
"You hussyl You shameless thingl
How dare you come here when l am
not at home? Have You been here ev-
cry evening 20 receive my husband on
his return from business2"
A sudden intelligence came to the
strangers eyes. but she made no reply;
she simply hung her head
'sWho are you?" asked the outraged
wife.
No answer
'I'n find out who you are before you
leaYe this house
There was a rafting in the keyhole,
the door opened and i'm walked the hus-
band. He stood gaping at the two wo-
men. but not for long. His wife turned
upon him.
"NYho is this creature whom you have
to meet you when you come home from
businessT'
Indeed, my dear I don't know
What brought you home so suddenly
Russell Ewing. do you think TO inn
pose upon me 10y such a denial? But Of
! course-how can l expect-neither will
admit anything I want you both to un-
( derstand that before this shameless wo-
man leaves this house I'll know who
she is. Oh. Russell, how could you?"
ASK her" said the husband, ''if she
! ever saw me before
There was no need to ask. The wom-
an turned away. hiding her face, plain
! ~ showing that she was not entirely
shameless.
"she admits her and your guilt,
moaned the wife. "Oh, Russell!'
"Well. I'll be hangedv' exclaimed the
husband in real or feigned astonish-
ment
Before he could stop his wife she had
gone TO the telephone and called for a
policeman. The stranger made move
to get out Of tine front door, but Mr.
Ewing stopped her. Then there was
wrangling between the husband and
wife. which was Interrupted by the
coming of the policeman.
Take that woman TO the station
said Mrs. Ewing. "and hold her till she
agrees to tell who she is; then send for
me-"
The officer agreed to hold the woman
on a charge of trespass if Mrs. Ewing
would promise to appear against her
The promise was made. and the wOm'
an was led away.
The next hour at the Ewing home
was one of keenest misery. Mrs. Ew.
ing locked herself in her room, and hel
lamentations could be heard all over
the house. Mr. Ewing paced between
the sitting and dining rooms with a
rueful face. During his wife's absence
he had been used 10 going out soon
after his arrival at home and getting
his dinner Now he had no appetite and
did not 60. Finally he took an evening
paper from his pocket and tried C
read. Suddenly be started. An an
nouncenent in the paper was the cause
He read il again and again, then rushed
/ upstairs. Passing a little room where
he kept desk. he was surprised to SEE
it had been riaed. Rushing toward it
he thrust his hand into a certain pigeon
hole and turned pale. For moment
he stood in deep thought, then raI
downstairs to the telephone and called
up the police station.
"Pm Ewing. Have you got the won
an you took from my houseF'
''Yes"
Search her. Let me know what yo'
find"
"All right. Hold the wire"
Ewing held the wire for fully ter
minutes, then there was a ring.
"Wellf"
"we searched her and found a pa
per"
"What paper?"
, Its a will"
Ewing uttered a cry Of delight HI
! directed that the woman and the vii
} should both be held without fail till hi
= arrival then, dropping the receiver
I went to his wife's room and called:
MY. dear, it's all explained. Aun
Agatha is dead. That woman who wa
here must be my cousin Maria, VIII
was the last legatee before me. Sh
came here to steal the will, and sh
i succeeded. But they have searche
, her and found IT,"
a The door was unlocked. and tn
weeping wife threw lcrFclf into he
| husbands arms.
His eur,niea vvgs co-l4.et His cousin