Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1911-04-13
A RUSE THAT
FAILED
By LAURA IDA ROSS
Copyright by American Press Asso-
citation. 1911.

should keep her in the house. One
was that she had 40 other home, and
the other was that she possessed
about $4,000 Of property which John
expected or at least hoped she would
leave to him at her death. Besides,
the old lady was constantly q%uarreling
with the only home open to her and
making new wills, leaving her. money
to some distant relative. There were
a number of these wills outstanding,
but John knew hat he had the last
locked in his desk in his bedroom.
Not long after this will was made
the old lady became an imbecile, and
it became necessary to send her to a
sanitarium. John now felt perfectly
safe. for his aunt could not make an
other will that would be legal.
The old lady's departure was the be-
ginning of a new era in the lives Of
John and Gertrude. Not a ripple ever
came between them, and their home
was peace and comfort. True, Johns
income vas very small, but his aunt
had never paid any board, always
throwing out as a reason that at her
death he would be amply reimbursed.
But the cost of living was constantly
increasing, and at the time Of the old
lady's departure his household ex-
penses were double what they had been
when the couple were first married.
Mrs. Bingham's mother became ill,
and Gertrude was obliged to go to her.
While she was away John slept in the
house, taking his meals at restaurants.
He would return from business late in
the afternoon, get or as best he could
till dinner time, then go out and dine
alone at a cheap cafe.
At last Gertrude's presence at he1
mothers home was no longer neces-
sary, and she concluded to give John a
surprise by returning without notify
ing him. Her train arrived at such an
hour as would take her to her own
home about the time John reached it
after business hours. She arrived be.
fore him. Going upstairs, she saw a
figure fitting through the hall. Ger
trude gave chase and cornered a wo-
man in one of the bedrooms. She was
altogether too well dressed for a COM
mon thief. Indeed, she was very come
ly, so the demon of suspicion entered
Gertrude's breast.
$50 this is the way my husband
passes his time while I am away, is
it," she said to the woman, the blood
mounting to her cheek. while at the
same time a tear stood in her eye.
The woman made no reply at first.
She seemed to be thinking. Presently
she said:
81 presume you are John Bingham's
wife. If you make any ado about my
being here you will ruin him and me.
You will also make my husband miser-
able and bring disgrace and unhappi-
e on my children. I beseech you
let me go. John will tell you how we
have been tempted"
81 will let you go after John comes
home and I have had an opportunity
to tell you both my opinion of you"
you shall not prevent my going"
The oman started to leave the
room, but Gertrude stood in the only
OPCliiilS. " III 1AllLCl "Olll ldNc
resulted no n knows, for at that mo-
ment the front door was heard to open
and close and some one was heard in
the lower hall. In another moment
John Bingham appeared in the upper
hall. His wife turned upon him like a
fury. The cornered woman simply
stared at both the others without
speaking.
81 never saw this person before"
said John quietly, but firmly. MAD.
am" he added. addressing the stran-
ger. what did you come into my
house for? You had some object in
doing so. but I confess it puzzles me
to guess what it is. You are too well
dressed for a thief. Your pretending
to come here to visit me is a Subter-
fuge."
! He studied her for a few moments.
during which she stood mute. looking
from him to his wife like one at bay.
Whatever was her zeal object in en-
tering the house, matters were going
hard with her. John turned to Ger
trude and said quickly:
Aunt Caroline is dead. I received
a notice to that effect at the office to-
day. She died the day before yester-
day. The letter was delayed by being
sent to the wrong address"
Husband and wife looked at each
other. An idea struck them at the
same moment, or perhaps it was COM
municated from one to the other by
telepathy.
'"The will" exclaimed Gertrude.
go to my desk and if it is
there" said John. "Here is the key"
She took the key from him as she
passed him, went to the desk and
looked for the will.
"It's gone" she cried, running back
to where she had left the other two.
Madam" said John sternly to the
woman, "you are some relative Of mine
who, having heard of the death of my
aunt and having an old will leaving
her property to you, have stolen mine
to destroy 1t. Give me the paper and
go free. Retain it and / shall send
you to a police station to be searched.
| vrt,s, Se n pnoS%nn%sor ~ pcxo 1850 "