Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1911-11-10

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.
BY ECBERT CROSBY
Copyright by American Press Asso-
citation. 1911

LIZ ~
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Letter carriers are preverbially care
less in leaving mail at the wrong ad-
dress, or rather, having so many to
leave, 1t Is a wonder they don't make
more mistakes than they do. Careless
ness in the writer has perhaps more to
do with letters being delivered to the
wrong person than either of these
causes.
One day letter addressed in fem
mime hand was left by the carrier for
me. opened 1t and read it. 1t was
very short and to the point:
Ten D. IN. Thursday at the fountain. Vio-
let's In my belt Hold rose in your left
hand LAURA
opened my eyes very wide and gave
a low whistle. Who could 1t be who
was making an appointment with me?
Then looked again at the address.
My name is Francis b. Marshall, and
the superscription appeared to be d.
b. Marshall, but 1t might have been II.
b. Winchell. | thought over every per-
son who might possibly desire to see
me clandestineiy. but could fix upon
no one What should do in the mat
ter? Should return the letter to the
postman? Since had opened 1t, that
would not do at all, Besides, l was
not sure the letter was not for me.
Should l keep the appointment and
possibly risk intruding upon the secret
Of others? | finally decided to meet
Laura and, IL was not the person
she desired to meet, hand her her let
ter, that she might know it had been
mlssent.
Since there was but one fountain In
town, and that In the center of an
open square, l was not In doubt as to
the place designated for the meeting.
1t was n public place, where strangers
might meet without being especially
noticed. Laura had evidently never
not have to wear some mark by which
to be known to each other
When the clock In church tower
near by the park struck 10 entered
the park carrying rose In my hand,
and, approaching the fountain, stood
leaning upon the basin looking at the
tiny wavelets made by the water
sprinkling down upon Il. had waited
perhaps five minutes when | saw
lady advancing with some violets
tucked In her belt 1t occurred to me
that she was purposely trlfe late
that she might inspect me before l
should be able TO inspect her and did
not doubt that she had got view Of
me while was standing under the
lighted fountain As she approached
] advanced to meet her, lifting my hat
at the same time. AS we walked away
together she said:
"Let me explain to you why | have
arranged this meeting instead Of call
ing at your Office or asking you to
come and see me. As you are aware,
Mr. I4athrops death without will
has put the estate In tangle. l nm
not 80 sure that he did not leave
will In my favor. am the only
uuuGlltl VI anu
took care OF him during his last ILL.,
ness. He said TO me on several occa-
slons: Marion, | have made will
leaving everything to you. You will
find II in the tin box in which keep
all my papers In the closet Of my bed
room When opened the box after
the funeral It was not there"
mn. l. 4 tI..A q. La
sent me hnd not been intended for
me. But though I am not profess
siOnal detective think | have de-
tectiycs instinct, for in this case so
far ms the girl had impaired II to me
thought I smclled rasc Illty, and Its
uncoyerlng Interested me. permitted
her 10 90 on.
: 81 saw your personal stating that
you had knowledge Of such will
and would like 10 see me regarding
the matter My cousin. Edgar Bangs,
who will inherit with me under the
law concerning estates where there
is no will, Is a very bad man. Mr..
Lathrop lent him money til Edgar
showed that he was dishonest; then
his uncle turned him off Edgar may
have stolen the will In order that
shall have to divide the estate with
him and others. II would not give
him very much, but little will be
better than nothing. and Edgar is In
desperate straits"
"Tt Is your duty" I said, "as well |
as your interest, to do all you can to |
prevent your uncle's estate from going |
where 1t was not intended, especially |
to such n person rs you describe"
Edgar has suspicion that am on |
the track OF the lost will and is watch |
ing me like cat; therefore / didn't
dare communicate with You except
clandestinely. Now | have explained
everything to you am ready to hear
what you have to say, Mr.. WinchelL"
The last word-the name-enabled
me to get more OF the story in case
chose TO do 10 without giving away |
the fact that ! was an outsider. I
concluded to do so.
"Haye you any means" I asked, "at
your disposal to pay for information
that will lead to the recovery Of the
lost, probably stolen, viii"
mot n cent
The lady had by this time removed |
her veil, md ] had caught glimpse |
Of her face ~ we passed under street |
lamps. She appeared to be about |
twenty years old and was decidedly |