The Roswell daily record. [volume] (Roswell, N.M.) 1903-current, 1907-12-09
HALF A LOAF
FOR A FORTUNE

Tabitha LongweIl, an ~eccentric old
lady, dying. left an estate In jewels
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 ave been
her sole heir-at-law, considered him
self entitled to the property. His weak
point was that the jewels were in Ma
bells possession. His lawyers had adj
vised him that since possession was
nine points of the law the first thing
to do was to secure the property
One evening the late Miss LongwelI's
manservant, Tom Clarkenwell, the
only servant she kept, was in the kitch-
en- securing the knives and polishing
the silver. Mabel, who had done the
cooking, vas also there making some
bread.
Miss Mabel" said Tom ClarkenweI,
"the old woman was Gurus, wasn't
she?''
You mean Miss Longwell. Yes. she
was singular, but she was a very good
woman"
Il hear she left all her property in
di'mon's."
I'm precious stones"
where did she keep 'em-in the
bank?'
The question was asked in a hating
way that indicated self consciousness.
Miss MabeI's suspicious were aroused.
NC She kept them in a stocking"
And where did she keep the stock
ing?"
Tied aroun her waist under the
skirt of her dress"
Laws a-mercy, What a queer place!
h can't keep 'em there now since
she's dead"
mo. 1 have them in charge now"
Tom did not think it prudent to ask
any more questions, and Miss Mabel
didn't enlighten him further. She put
the dough she had been kneading into
8 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 to see
Tom going in his stocking feet to the
floor above. She listened to him hunt
ing through the rooms till she heard
iron scrape on stone and knew he was
removing an iron fire front. She felt
sure that if he did the same on the
ground floor he would find the treas
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 noiselessly
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'Clock
she was about to start for the office of
the late Miss Longwells lawyer to ask
his advice about a safe place for the
jewels when she saw Tom go out be
fore her. She kept behind him, his
way lying the same as hers. Presently
he turned into a building in which she
knew Archibald Longwe1i had an Of
fee. She hurried OH and was Just in
time to see Tom go into LongwelFs
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
never 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
and place them with a safe de-
post company the next morning. Mabel
wrote a reply to Longwell. inviting him
to take tea with her that evening.
When Longwell read this Invitation
be considered the game won. 1t was
plain the girl was inclined to accep:
him, but 1t might not be necessary for
him to marry her. Once in her conf
dence he might ecure possession of the
property.
Mr.. Longwel1 called at the hour ap-
and Mabel invited him into the
room. He attempted a lovers de
neanor. but was somewhat chilled by
the lady's GOODNESS. She entertained him
with dainty eatables than with
words. While they were at tea the
1oor bell rang. and Tom, who went TO
he door,. announced the attorney.
by the bye. Mr.. LOngwell." said
Mabel. 81 want you to taste some bread