Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1911-08-28

so none was needed on the note
wrote. I Informed Mr. winchell that
at a certain hour on a certain night he
would find a carriage standing at n
certain place. He was to get into the
carriage, where he would find Laura. "
who would hear what he had to say.
Having sealed my note, went out and
posted 1T. Then 1 went to bed rather
to think OF my adventure than TO
sleep.
On the evening in question. covered
with a woman's raincoat reaching to
my heels and a woman's hat shaped
like an inverted pot that would con
ceal my features, entered a carriage
and drove to the place 1 had designat-
. ed. I he'd been there FIVE minutes
when a man approached the door and
said:
Laura
Yes" I replied in a woman's con
/ tralto voice.
He entered the carriage, thinking he
was with a woman and ignorant of the
fact that he was with a man whose
hand. in the pocket of the raincoat,
Srasped q cooked revolver. / had pre-
viously told the driver where TO take
US, and as soon as the man was seated
beside me we were driven away.
Il am ready TO hear what you have
to say" said.
81 can restore the will provided that
you will obligate yourself to pay me
$4,000 as soon as you receive the eS-
tate which will all be yours under the
will"
For whom are you acting?"
asked
THAT I do not care to state"
Surprising. your proposition to be
accepted, when and where do you in
tend the papers shall be passed."
Whenever and wherever you like "
Have you the win with your"
Eyes"
eve might close the transaction
now"
mot here in the carriage"
mo Thinking we might need a
private place for such a purpose. l
obtained of a friend of mine in the
real estate business the key to a va
cant cottage on the Centerville turn
pike. There are writing materials
there-indeed. everything we need"
For n woman you have good head
( for business. Are you sure this cot
tage is vacant"
Yes
Very well. Tell the driver to take
us there"
/ He has been told that already"
! When we stopped at the door Of the
/ house the man asked me for the key
/ and told me to remain where / was
! till he had explored the premises.
/ complied. He went into the house,
/ lighted the gas and after some ten
minutes absence returned and politely
| handed me out of the carriage.
went into the house with him and,
I conducting him into a room in the
center OF which was table with
writing materials on It, shut the door.
He sat down at the table and filed
out note for $4,000. payable thirty
days after the maker should come
into her estate, then gave it to me to
sign. l read 1t and while doing so
said: "Where is the. will? Let me
see it,
He took the will from his pocket and
held II so that I could see that it was
genuine. This was all / wished for.
Putting my hand in the pocket Of my
raincoat, quick as a fash 1 leveled a
revolver, at him, holding it within a
few feet of his face
Drop that" l said in my natural
voice
He stood glaring at me, but power
less. I repeated the order. showing
my revolver close under his nose.
Looking down the muzzle OF n pistol,
especially with an opponents finger on
the trigger, IS not pleasant. The weap-
on might go off even accidentally.
The man dropped the will on the
table. / feared to remove my gaze
from him to examine IL lest he take adj
vantage OF my looking away to spring
upon me. l was obliged to take the
risk of its being the genuine document.
eco out before me-" / said, picking
up the will. still keeping my eyes on
him. He turned and left the house,
l following him. When we reached
the sidewalk I ordered him to walk
away, and when he had reached what
I thought safe distance I jumped
into the carriage. telling the driver To
take me to my home. Before / slept
I dropped a note in the mail for Miss
Ostrander, asking her to meet me the
next night at the fountain. She did
so, and l handed her the recovered
will.
NY story is but an illustration Of
what trivial incidents shape our lives.
Had my name and the name OF the viii
lain Of this little drama not been so
nearly alike the drama would never
have been played. And. far more i'm
portant than that. I should not have
married the woman who f. now my
wife nor have been the father Of the
half dozen children who. with their
mother. contribute to the whole charm
Of my existence.