The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1909-06-05

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and I was bound to do some
thing. l drove both canoes back
among the branches. and picketed
them with my paddles while +
held an inquest on him. He was
raggedly dressed, could not have
been either soldier, skypilot or
trader, and 1t wasn't a nice thing
to have to do, but did it. want
ed some clew. l found none.
"As soon as-Pd finished
Topped down in my own craft, and
my fingers fell on my uncle's let
ter.
That gave me my clue like a
flash.
miles Quaintance had left me
one loophole. There was a provi-
sion in his will to the effect that
II l should die during the ~
months grace he allowed me, his
money would go to the girl.
Il may have been half mad then,
but 1t seemed quite simple. All
had to do was to shift my identity
on to the shoulders of this poor
fellow and then l would be perfect
ly free to choose a fresh one for
myself. There was not a soul in
the wide world to wear mourning
for me, and I could see no reason
Whatsoever against the exchange
so / set to work and did the
thing thoroughly. When l was
through with 1t, even you would
have sworn from the evidence that
1t was Stephen Quaintance who
presently went drifting down
stream toward Yola, stone dead
HE carried with him every
scrap of identifiable property
possessed-except the drafts and
the diamonds, of course-and
that was more than sufficient to
satisfy any coroner's jury. knew
that he couldn't help reaching Yo-
la, and that could trust the Eng
lishmen there to see everything
shipshape, and send the news on.
II spent the rest of the day
making a will bequeathing all
Stephen Quaintance possessed to
"A. Newman Endorsed my drafts
to that name, and practiced my
new signature.
What does A. stand for?" in
lterupted O'Ferral.
"Oh, anything. Call 1t Ananias
Il don't care.
so that now, you see, the girl
will get my uncle's money, tc
which she's justly entitled, while
I'm as well off as ever, and-no
ones the worse. There are still
a few weeks of the year to run,
but they'll surely have proof of
my death before these are up, and
that will settle the whole thing
satisfactorily. Don't you think so,
,O'Ferral?"
O'Ferral was silent for some
time, and then nodded gravely.
And Quaintance's face cleared.
Il think I'd have done much the
same in your place." said his
friend. IF no unforeseen compli-
cations arise, I don't see why you
should ever have cause to regret
what you've DONE"
Il think I've provided for every
eventually" Quaintance asserted
II think I've made everything
safe for the girl-and myself"
O'Ferral nodded again.
you've done what you could, :"
he said, briefly. mo man can
do more. It's up to fate now, and
how did you get homer"
81 had a pretty rough time of 1t
after that, living Lord knows how
and not knowing where to turn.
But Providence preserved me in
my folly. was picked up by an
exploring party whom l told
truthfully that l had been desert
ed by my carriers. With them II
worked the coast, and then took
ship for New York. I would havel
told no one but you my story, and
you will not forget that Stephen
is dead and buried"
0'Ferral had listened with thel
closest attention to his friend s
strange tale, and was wondering
what the sequel might be. Butt
having relieved his
mind, was already occupied with
other. and more urgent ideas, and
presently spoke again.
= Did you notice girl who went
out just as you must have en-|
he asked ingenuously, and
The correspondent, waking FRONT
visions of the wild world and At
rica, of a sluggish. broad, brown
river, a dead man afloat in a frail |
canoe on its currents, came back
% a sudden consciousness that he
was in Martins, between Fifth av.
and Broadway, in New York.
Whats that?" he inquired, |
blinking, bewildered, and Quaint |
ance repeated the question.
"a girl, Ell? oh. yes. l noticed |
4 girl--and a man-and you, all
1T the same time. I was much in |
.lined to assault and batter that
scoundrel myself.
Il came in here at your heels,
/. A..