The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-09-11
THE EVENING STORY
A nonhIe SuindIe.

A Double SwindIe.
Franklin Dole was very much as
gruntled. Louise Elkins had inherited
an income barely sufficient TO keep ner
and her younger brother Ernest. En-
est had fallen into the hands or Arnoio
Prigmore, who preyed on society IN
gentlemanly way and without breaking
the laws. He was winning money from
EIkins that the boy did not possess. TO
save himself Eikins was drawing on MS
sister.
1t had Just come to Do1e's knowledge
that Prigmore had that very day taken
rather, from Louise Elkins. for. sner
brother had given in payment OF q
gambling debt her check for S3sooo.
There could be no doubt that the money
was equivalent to dishonesty for man IN
of Prigmore's age and experiencs. -
take money won from a foolish boy tnat
belonged to woman. But there Was
nothing in this THAT coulo , De - tt, AZ
Louise EIkins' income had already peen
reduced to a minimum by these dfaLsS
upon it, and with the present ah11ul ~
paid her revenue would De uns9I IaerS
Ernest tell Prigmore when he gave me-
sisters check that he must nave q
hours to make it good In bank Dole
thought OF going to Prigmore ana pro,
testing. but decided that it would avali
nothing.
The next morning while Prlgmore
was sitting at the breakfast table
servant announced a lady to see him.
Going to the drawing room he found
visitor. yelled. who rose as he entered
and in a voice choked with sobs said:
81 have come to ask if you have de-
posted the check given you yesterday
by Ernest Elkins.'
afternoon before the closing OF bank
hours"
'sWill you let me see it?"
Certainly" And, taking out ms
pocketbook, he showed her the check
AS soon as she saw it she fell back in
her chair in collapse.
Well" asked Prigmore, isn't it all
my fears are realized; it is for
How do you know"
''The signature is supposed to be
mine
'Yours?''
yes: / am Louise Elkins.''
your brother shall suffer for this. :"
Spare him, I in1plore you Consider
'f'll land him where he belongs-in
state prison..
am but a woman and know nothing of
business
you can give me your own check
that will be good in the bank: -,
certainly. 1 only want my money.
Priemore showed her to a desk and
gave her writing material and a plank
CHI eek. With a trembling mana sne
filled it out. and as she handed 1t to
him he said:
II can't return the forgery till md
that this check is good. Then no
ticing that the check in his hand was
for $4,000 instead of $500 he paused
a moment, then folded it and gave her
+ta ~, oh S1Irn1iS0d that IN
her agitation she had made mistake,
which he proposed to take advantage
of.
How can I repay you for your mag
nanimity?" she asked
BY lifting your veil"
"For heavens sake. don't ask me to
do thatl 1 am ashamed at being the
sister of a forger. If I should meet
would not wish you to know me-"
Are you sure the amount of the
check gave you is right? l scarcely
knew what I was doing"
"The exact amount. Never mlnd
lifting your veil can readily under
stand your feelings" He calamity
showed her to the door and bowed
her OUT.
fools sister, he muttered. "She must
be a head taller than he. 1t would
have been safer to have had a look at
her face, but l was afraid she'd want
a look at the check. I'd have risked
thousand for a sight of her. What
fools women arei"
Prigmore deposited the check and the
next day was notified by the bank that
it was forgery. He was thunder
struck. Slowly it dawned upon him
that he had surrendered a good check
for forgery. Hurrying to the bank, he
learned that the original had been
drawn. Some one had victimized him.
The police never discovered the wo-
man who had personated Miss Elkins,
nor did either she or her brother learn
who had drawn the money. Prigmore
finally resigned himself to a loss of
funds that had never belonged to him
and left the locality where his methods
had become known to work others
Two years after this happened
Franklin Dole married Louise Elkins.
The morning after they had returned
from their wedding trip Elkins said to
his wife:
ssBy the bye, 1 have $1,000 belonging
to you in my bank account"
Que me?''
yes. You remember the forgery case?
Well, I'm the party that personated you
and swindled the Swindler. r1sked ten
wears in prison by doing it, but you
seq
She stood. looking at him with an ex-
preston of mute wonder, then flung her
arms about him, saying:
ssIf YOU ever take such a risk again
I'll shut you up in an asylum"
CHARLES P. THURBER-
globe SIGHTS.