Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-12-08

gong out, except TOT C1aTlCy. linen,
even you must admit she's been lib
eral---"
"Too liberal--it shows to me she
has something on her conscience"
Eldridge growled. "A woman who
had not, wouldn't have validated
those unsigned codicils. Why. they
gave away a third of the money!
And under the will she took every
thing"
II don't see how you make that
out" Miss Minton said, shaking her
head.
Eldridge laughed sourly. eff she
had fought us we might have looked
into her past he said. Depend
upon 1t, she has a history. The man
is in it-she is thinking of him, pin
ing for him, the nights she walks up
and down the halls
Il don't know but what you are
right. Still there's nothing we can
do" Miss Minton began tentatively.
Eldridge nodded again. Except to
wait-and watch" he said. LET me
know If the least thing happens-for
Charley's sake and our own"
''You mean your own" Miss Minton
apostrophized as he went down the
walk.
She was good woman, churchly,
charitable given to mercies and clean
minded; but for ten years she had
been under Eldridges spell, ,held by
the hope of being one day his wife
They were not betrothed-it was
merely an understanding. Lately
she had had an uneasy sense that he
was FESTIVE under even that slight
bond. AS manager of the Estes es-
tate, he was brought much in contact
with the widow, woman much
younger and more charming than her
self, withal very rich in spite of her
foolish generosity.
Eldridge was intensely ambitions,
also not a little grasping. He had
held to his disappearing attitude to-
ward his clients wife, rather in spite
Of himself. Perhaps it was because
of her reserve, the yelled distrust in
her eyes.
She's keeping back something
something ought to know, Eldridge
had told himself over and over. II
he could but find 1T out she would
be in his power-he did not let him
self measure what exercise he would
make Of the power. Something In her
tempted him as much as even this
other thing repealed him. Mary Min
ton? Mary was good creature-but
a fool therefore safely to be left out
of the count.
He had a sense that Clara had de-
frauded him-but for her, Charley
Estes would have married pretty
Jessie Eldridge, thus bringing into
the family the necessary money. Plus
money, Eldridge felt he could half
rule the state. He had the instinct Of
dominance which mace such ruling
precious.
& Now that Jessie was sacrificed upon
a struggling doctor, he felt more than
ever bound to uplift the family for
tunes. Miss Minton's revelations ap-
peared to him to point the way
Clara Estes had a secret-once let
him come upon it.; ard che would be
delivered into his hand.
Therefore his heart f3leaped when.
three days after Miss Minton called
gaurdedly over the phone: eve have
strange visitor-rather mysterious
If you care to see him come quickly"
Exactly an hour later he stepped
through the door OF the library at
Estwold. Clara sat at the table. IN
front of the fire, her head in her
hands, her eyes downcast. The visi-
tor stood beside the mantel, thus al
most directly beneath the portrait OF
the dead owner OF Estwood. Eldridge
started at sight Of the stranger-who
was not after all strange. A likeness,
subtle, elusive, in a sense ghostly. to
the pictured face made him feel that
here was the beginning OF possible
tragedy.
Clara looked up at his entrance.
'Is this telepathy . she asked. smil-
ing family. "I was on the point OF
sending for you-yet could not quite
decide to do it."
well, / am here" Eldridge said
stiffly. So
The stranger glowered at him.
Neither man had made the least ac-
acknowledgement of the others pres
ence.
Clara rose. "You are in time" she
said, her head high. ito help me in
the righting of a wrong"
II don't understand Eldridge
began.
She held up her hand. saying:
"Wait! You will. Let me present
YOU to-Mr. Marshall Estes owner OF
this house-of everything-as soon
as you can legally transfer it to
him"
care yon mad-love mad p Eldridge
sneered. Remember your husbands
will-by remarriage Won forfeit con-
troll Of the estate. IT vests instead in
me-be sure shall assert my rights.
...You have none--because have
none" Clara said. her head still hieh.
"Let me explain. You know how the
foutrne came to my husband-from
his fathers half sister, Maria, who
died unmarried
"Her mother was a great heiress."
E]dridge INTERRUPTED. Therefore, her
son rightf,r]ly inherits the money
whatever the law may be-
Clara said: eyes. Marshall Estes
is her son. ten wears older than his
cousin. nv husband His mother
,orn,. 1,nour that ha lived-fhey told