The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1907-05-08
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
A Deep Laid Scheme
Observation-Disclosures
roriginaLl

simply an incomplete Il, and / have Of
ten had my letters go to some II. r.
Forbes or II. Z. Horbes or some such
name, and 1 have received such per-
sens letters myself.
One evening upon calling for my
mail at my club l was handed note
addressed in a woman's familiar hand.
Five years before Maud Twlning had
refused me, and was sure this was to
reopen the case. 1 tore open the envel-
ope and pulled out the contents with a
trembling hand.
Nothing but 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 reopening
Of matter which she herself had clos
ed? Might not this blank paper con-
tain a message from her If could find
It out7 l scrutinized it, held it before a
strong light, put magnifying glass to
It, but could see no evidence of a com
munication. While holding 1t very close
to a gas jet noticed pale brown marks
coming out on 1t. Holding it still clos
er, they despened, and read in letters
apparently written with a match or a
toothplck probably in lemon juice:
April B. Square Fountain 1895 p. m.
HESTER
was bitterly disappointed. Hester
was not the name of the lady had in
mind. 1 examined the superscription
on the envelope and decided that 1t
might be either F. Il. Forbes or F. r.
POSSIBLY F. b. Harker. l took the
note the next day to the postoflce and
was informed that F. B. Harker had
asked for a letter and on being in
Termed there was nothing for him
made a great ado about the dellnQuen-
cIeS Of the office. The clerk looked in
the directory for F. B. Harker, but no
such name was given there. Conse-
quently there was no way Of finding
him.
After thinking the matter over con-
Guided that 1 would so to the rendez-
Pou1 and inform the lady that her let
ter Of appointment had mlscarrled- On
April 8 at 10 O'Clock in the evening
was in the park and soon after saw d
yelled lady approach the fountain. L,
too, went to the fountain and after a
few 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 cenfding, and
there was something perhaps in my
manner that induced this one to give
me her confidence. She told me that
she was a 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
eF-in-laH had agreed TO play false TO
him and for a 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 not act for you, MADAME l
said.
AZ only wish you would" she replied.
81 win give you an order for the papers
II you will consent to bring them to
me-"
That 1 did not mean. 1 would not
permit you to thus place your interests
II &ba hand. ~ q StroDOa- Give mo
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 l did so. AS soon
as we entered she unveiled and reveal
ed the features of woman Of forty
two or forty-three. While explaining
how came to consider her note as In
tended for me referred to the similar
lily of her handwriting to that of a 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-
sIye.
And your niece is asked.
MAUD TwIning."
jumped as If l had been shot.
MAUD TwiningI l was sure 1 saw
ngain her familiar handwriting, though
she evidently tried to disguise 1t
Where is she?"
do you know her"
yes"
"She is living here with me. I'll call
her. I'll not tell her whom she is to
meet"
She went out of the room and re-
turned with the only girl had ever
loved. Something told me when saw
her start on seeing me that her sur,
prise was feigned. Had her aunt told
her whom she was to meet2 She came
forward with confusion in every line
of her countenance There was none
Of that honest, kindly bearing she had
sbOwR when we parted JndRad, shO
looked Bhamefaced.
The affair thus reopened came to a
rapid conclusion. forgot the aunt's
0Rair In my own happiness and alto
goth0r lost track of it. For years 1 told
the story to intimate friends how an
accident had united me with the girl /
had married. Suddenly stopped tell
ing 1t. Ny wife had confessed.
While addressing her aunt's note she
had noticed how she might make the
name appear to be mine With a faint
hope In her heart that her message of
love would go to me she made the
changes. believe there was some ne
cessity for a clandestine transfer OF
the papers, but have surmIsed that a
reopSning of our love affair was at the
bottom Of the whole scheme.
ARTHUR D. BERWICK.
A cheecfuI ceIersd Parson.
mn ~