The Evening statesman. [volume] (Walla Walla, Wash.) 1903-1910, 1907-01-23
A Deep Laid Scheme
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

may as well DcSlu W soy me S"''S sAAS
name il hinges on is Francis Randolph
Forbes. Now, the letter F written IL
simply an incomplete H, and have Of
ten had my letters go to some h. Il.
Forbes or H. r. Horbes or some such
name, and l have received such per-
sons letters myself.
One evening upon calling for my
mail at my club was handed note
addressed in a woman's familiar hand.
Five years before Maud Twining had
refused me, and was sure this was to
reopen the case. l tore open the envel-
ope and pulled out the contents with a
trembling hand.
Nothing but a blank sheet of note
paper.
This was cruel. Maud was not the
girl to treat me thus. But, wait a bit.
Might she not with maidenly mOdesty
intend to simply commence reOpenlnS
of q matter which she herself had clos
ed? Might not this blank paper con-
tain a message from her il l could find
it out? 1 scrutinized it. held it before
strong light, put magnifying glass to
it. but could see no evidence of COM
munication While holding it very close
to gas jet noticed pale brown marks
coming out on it. Holding it still clos
er, they deepened, and l read in letters
apparently written with match or a
toothpick probably in lemon juice:
April B. Square Fountain 1906 p. m.
HESTER.
/ was bitterly disappointed. Hester
was not the name of the lady had in
mind. l examined the superscription
on the envelope and decided that 1t
might be either F. r. Forbes or f. X.
POSSIBLY F. b. Harker. l took the
note the next day to the postofice and
was informed that F. B. Harker had
asked for a letter and on being in
formed there was nothing for him
made a great ado about the delinquen-
cies of the Office The clerk looked in
the directory for F. B. Harker, but no
such name was given there. Conse-
ouently there was no way Of finding
him.
After thinking the matter over l con
cluded that l would go to the rendez
vous and inform the lady that her let
ter of appointment had miscarried. o.
April 6 at 10 o'clock in the evening i
was in the park and soon after saw
yelled lady approach the fountain. !,
too, went to the fountain and after a
Jew moments of daily asked her if she
was Hester. She started, but did not
reply. Then told her the story of the
miscarriage of her note.
Women are naturally cOnfiding, and
there was something perhaps III my
manner that induced this one to give
me her confidence. She told me that
she was widow. Her husbands
brother was trying to defraud her OF
the estate her husband had left her.
One who was in league with the broth
er-in-law had agreed to play false to
him and for consideration turn over
to her certain papers that would make
valid her claim on the Inheritance. The
transfer must be made without the
knowledge Of the brother-in-law, and
she had designated the place for the
purpose.
"May l not act for you, madam l
said.
Il only wish you would" she replied.
Il will give you an order for the papers
if you will consent to bring them to
me-
THAT l did not mean. l would not
permit you to thus place your interests
in the hands of stranger. Give me
the name and address of the person
you were to meet here, and 1 will
make new appointment for you
This only strengthened her conf
dence in me. She invited me to accom-
pany her home, and did so. As soon
ed the features of a woman of forty
two or forty-three. While explaining
how came to consider her note as in
tended for me l referred to the similar
ity of her handwriting to that of for
mer acquaintance of mine. She told
me that the address was not hers: that
the whole plan of receiving the papers
clandestinely had been concocted by
her niece, who had addressed the mis-
sive.
"And your niece isl asked.
MAUD Twining"
jumped as if had been shot.
MAUD TwiAing! l was sure l saw
again her familiar handwriting, though
she evidently tried to disguise It.
Where is she:'
do you know herr"
YES"
'She is living here with me. Ill cali
her. I'll not tell her whom she Is to
meet"
She went out OF the room and re-
turned with the only girl 1 had ever
loved. Something told me when l saw
her start on seeing me that her sur
prise was feigned. Had her aunt told
her whom she was to meet? She came
forward with confusion in every line
of her countenance. There was none
Of that honest, kindly bearing she had
shown when we parted. Indeed, she
looked shamefaced.
The affair thus reopened came to g
rapid conclusion. forgot the aunt's
AFFAIR in my own happiness and alto