The Waxahachie daily light. [volume] (Waxahachie, Tex.) 1894-current, 1911-11-04
A riAing
Mistake
1t Led TO Turning the Careers
OF Two Persons Into a
Single Channel.
By EGBERT CROSBY
Copyright by American Press Asso-
citation. 1911
--s-s-tt+.4-+-..-.is.-s..-.ss-.,. +.


more mistakes than they do. Careless
nesS in the writer has perhaps more t
do with letters being delivered to tn
wrong person than either of thes,
causes
One day letter addressed in a fem
mime hand was left by the carrier fol-
me. l opened it and read it. 1t was
very short and to the point:
Ten .. m. Thursday a the fountain Vic.
lets in my belt Hold in your left
haod. LAURA
! opened my eyes very wide and gave
low whistle. Who could it be who
was making an appointment with me?
Then | looked again at the address
My name is Francis &. Marshall, and
the superscription appeared to be f.
H. Marshall. but it might have been f.
K WiHchell. ! thought over every per
sou who might possibly desire to see
me clandestinely. but could fix upon
40 one. What should | do in the mat
ter? Should I return the letter to the
postman? Since | had opened it, that
would not do at all Besides was
not sure the letter was not for me.
should 1 keep the appointment and |
possibly risk intruding upon the secret |
OF others? / finally decided to meet I
Laura and. if I WAS not the person
she desired to meet hand her her let
ter. that she might know it had been
missent
Since there was but one fountain in
town. and that in the center Of an
open square, | was not in doubt rs to
the place designated for the meeting (
II 5vas a public place. where strangers =
might meet without being especially
noticed Laura had evidently never q
seen me nor | Laura. else we would
not have to wear some mark by which
to be known to each other
When the clock Ia u church tower Il
near by the park struck 10 | entered
the park carrying rose in my hand.
ana, approaching the fountain stood
leaning upon the basin looking at the
tiny wayelets made by the water "
sprinkiing dow upon it. had waited
perhaps hve minutes when | saw a
rfy advancing with some violets
her belt. II occurred to me
~ sae was purposely n trife late
she might inspect nae before ! |
loud be able to inspect her and did y
not doubt that she mad got view or | u
me while / was standing under the
lighted fountain. As she approached | ~
advanced TO meet her. lifting my hat ID
II the same time As we walked away
ogether she said;
Get me explain to you why / have -
,rranged this meeting instead of call
ng at your office or asking you to
,ome and see me. As you are aware, -
Mr. Lathrop's death without will ! ~
has put the estate in a taugle am -
not so sure that he did not leave =,
will in my favor. | am the only y
daughter Of bis favorite brother and "
took care OF him during his last i'll
ucsa He said to me on several occa-
sibuS Marion. ! have made will
leaving everything to you. You Will
and 1t in the tin box in which | keep
aU my papers in the closet of nay bed
room When / opened the box after
the funeral IL was not there
This revealed 10 me that the letter
ssuf me had not hccu Intended Tor |
me But though / am not profeS
sionni detective / think | have de
rer+fvc's instinct for Ia this case 50 |
far rs the girl had Impaired ii to me |
I Thought | smellcd rasctlity, aud is |
upcovering Interested me. | permitted
her so 20 on
DBL, saw your personal stating th't
yoo mad a knowledge OF such will
aod would like to see me regarding
The matter My cousin. Edgar Bangs,
who viii inherit with me under the
law concerning estates where there
IL 40 will is very bad man Mr
Eathrop tent him money till Edgar
showed that he was dishonest; then
his uncle turned him of Edgar may
have stolen the will in order That /
.haB have to divide the estate with
him aud others II would not give
him very much, but little WIN o'
better than nothing. and Edgar Is II
desperate straits
1T is your duty" | said. las wei
a. yo,,r interest, to do all you can II
oravaut your unclc's estate from goin
where il was not intended, especial
20 such a person as you describe.
edgar has "a suspicion that am o
the track of the lost win aud is water
ing one Ike q cat; therefore o'u"
dare communicate with you eXeel
candestineIy Now ! have expia'ne
everything to you I am ready to hea
what You have to say. Mr. Nmchei'
The last wOrd-the name-ehaple
me 90 get more Of the story III case
chose 10 do so without giving ava
the fact that | was an outsider
concluded to do so,
Have you any means ] asked
vour disposal to pay for informatil
.hot VIII lead TO the recovery Of q
lost. probably stolen, wiz
Not a cent"
The lady had by this time renoV
her veil, and I had caught a gimp