Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1906-03-07
4 DOUBLE SWINDLE
IorIginal.I

franklin DoIe was 'eis hueh uis
,,rrntled. Louise Elkins had inherited
income barely sufficient to keep
a. and her younger brother Ernest.
rrnest had fallen into the hands
- Arnold Prigmore, who preyed on
soo,otv in a gentlemanly way and with
out breaking the Jaws. He was win
u,ng money from Elsins that the boy
IA not possess. To save himself Ell
,,,ns was drawing on his sister.
IL had lust come TO Dole's knowledge
.ha+ prigmore had that very day taken
- odditional amount from Ernest, or,
rothcr. from Louise Elkins. for her
brother had given in payment of a
.o,,,bline debt her check for $500.
Thnre could be no doubt that the
money had been won dishonesty. Be-
sIdas If was equivalent to dishonesty
sor a man of Prigmore's age and ex-
nerience to take money won from a
foolish hoy that belonged to woman.
p,t there was nothing in this that
could be proved as swlndle. Dole
cleo knew that Louise Elkins' income
had already been reduced to mini
mum by these drafts upon it. and with
the present amount paid her revenue
would be unequal to her modest re-
ouirements. He had heard Ernest tell
Prigmore when he gave his sisters
check that he must have twenty-four
hours to make it good in bank. Dole
thought of going to Prigmore and pro-
testing. but decided that it would avail
nothing.
The next morning while Prigmore
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 II you have de-
posted the check given you yesterday
by Ernest Elkins."
II have not I expect to do so this
afternoon before the closing Of bank
hours"
"will you let me see lit"
Certainly" And. taking out his
pocketbook, he showed her the check
As soon as she saw 1t she fell back In
her chair in collapse.
"Well," asked Prigmore, isn't it all
right?"
MY fears are realized; 1t is for
gerry"
How do you know"
"The signature is supposed to be
mine"
"YoursT'
Eyes; am Louise Elkins."
"Your brother shall suffer for this"
spare him. I implore you. Consider
bis youth"
"I'll land him where he belongs-in
state prison"
Tell me how l can satisfy you.
am but woman and know nothing OF
business"
you can give me your own check
that will be good In the bank"
"And you will tear up the forgeryf'
Certainly. only want my money"
Prlgmore showed her to a desk and
gave her writing material and blank
check. With trembling hand she
filed it out, and as she handed it to
him he said
~ can't return the forgery till find
that this check is good" Then noticing
that the check in his hand was for
$4,000 instead of $500 he paused a
moment, then folded 1t and gave her
the other check. He surmised that In
her agitation she had made a mistake,
which he proposed to take advantage
Of.
How can repay you for your mag
nanlmityY' she asked.
by lifting your VEIL"
For heavens sake, don't ask me to
do that! / am ashamed at being the
sister of forger. If should meet
you again-in society. perhaps-I
would not wish you to know me-"
But
Are you sure the amount of the
check l gave you is right? / scarcely
knew what l was doing"
The exact amount. Never mind
lifting your veil. can readily under
stand your feelings" He CALAMITY
showed her to the door and bowed her
out.
Il wouldn't take her for the little
Tools sister," he muttered. "She must
De a head taller than he. 1t would
nave been safer to have had look at
her face, but was afraid she'd want
a look at the check. I'd have risked
thousand for sight of her What
Tools women are!"
Prigmore deposited the check and
me next day was notified by the bank
mat 1t was a forgery. He was thun-
aerstruck. Slowly it dawned upon
MN that he had surrendered good
eheck for forgery. Hurrying to the
oahk, he learned that the original had
peen drawn. Some one had vietimized
him.
Inc police never discovered the wo-
man who had personated Miss Elkins,
nor did either she or her brother learn
VINO had drawn the money. Prigmore
anally resigned himself to a loss Of