The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-03-24

Arthur had carried her home on his
back because of her sprained ankle. She
led up to these things and many others
in conversation, but he seemed totally
ignorant of them.
There was one particular incident that
she knew he could not have forgotten,
no matter what hardships he had passed
through. In her seventh wear q big wax
doll that had been given her for Christ
mas was accidentally broken beyond re-
pair. She and Arthur held a funeral
over it and buried the remains. While
they were at the grave beside a brook
a swan came sailing along and was at
tcked before their eyes by5 bird of prey
Arthur drove the voracious bird away
with club, and few minutes later it
was shot by sportsman She led up
to this adventure, but he remembered
Miss Shaw was now fully satisfied
that the man before her was villain,
but how to unmask him was another
matter. The mother and all the people
about were satisfied that he was the
long lost son, and anything said to the
contrary would have met with ridicule.
The girl was very determined, however.
and she soon decided on a plan to pave
the way. There was an old woman liv
ing in the neighborhood who told for
tunes, and she agreed -r9 extend her aid
For the next month all people coming
to her We're given a hint that Arthur
Messmore was not what he claimed to
be. This soon caused talk for miles
distrust and suspicion. Some of the To-
cal papers picked the matter UP and de-
clared that the mystery surrounding
young Messmore's death in far-away
cleared up, and so it came about, after
three months, that the lawyers took a
hand in the case.
The young man had kept posted as
to what was going on, and had laugh
ed all talk to scorn. His mother de-
clared it a shame that his identity
should be questioned, land when public
opinion finally forced an investigation
she was on hand to pledge her life
that no mistake had been made. The
first hours investigation proved her
in the wrong. A great gale had
blown down q huge beech tree one
night while Arthur was yet at home,
and in its fall it had Killed two dogs
in their kennel The supposed son
could tell nothing of the incident A
score of other things were called up
to test him, and he failed in all OF
them.
ranging to dispose of all his property
and flee the country. and he was
taken into custody until new 1nves-
tigation could be made in Australia
Bail was given and Arthur went back
home accompanied by his mother.
She had been made to doubt him. but
she still hoped that he would be able
to clear himself.
In the course of a month. without
having reaped any particular benefit
from the property, he disappeared and
was never heard of again A new IN
vestigation revealed the fact that the
true Arthur Messmore was dead, but
it fastened no crime on the other. The
two had probably been ''chums" for
years. and during that time the false
Arthur had drawn the incidents OF MS
life from the other, and when left Tree
10 do so he had returned to England
and played the imposter.
But for the girl friend of his boy
hood there would never a question
have been raised, and he would have
lived and died as the true son of the
father and mother who welcomed him
so warmly after his years of peril and
absence-C Copyright 1905, by l. Z.
Mcclure