The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1911-09-14

Letter carriers are proverbially care
less In leaving mall at the wrong ad.
dress, or, rather. having 30 many to
leave. it is 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 a letter addressed in a fem.
mime hand was left by the carrier for
me. opened 1t and read 1t. 1t was
very short and to the point:
Ten p. m. Thursday at the fountain. vio-
lets 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 f.
B. Marshall. but 1t might have been f.
b. Winchell. thought over every per-
son who might possibly desire to see
me clandestinely. but could fix upon
no one. What should do In the mat
ter? Should l return the letter to the
postman? Since l had opened 1t, that
would not do at all. Besides, was
not sure the letter was not for me-.
Should l keep the appointment and
possibly risk intruding upon the secret
n% ofk
Laura and. If l was not the person
she desired to meet, hand her her let
ter. that she might know 1t had been
missent
Since there was but one fountain In
town, and that In the center of an
open square. was not In doubt as to
the place designated for the meeting.
1t was a public place, where strangers
might meet without being especially
noticed Laura had evidently never
seen me nor Laura. else we would
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 l entered
the park carrying rose in my hand,
and. approaching the fountain, stood
tiny wavelets made by the water
sprinkling down upon it. l had waited
perhaps five minutes when l saw a
lady advancing with some violets
tucked In her belt. 1t occurred to me
that she was purposely trife late
that she might inspect me before
should be able to inspect her and did
not doubt that she mad got view of
me while l was standing under the
lighted fountain. AS she approached
l advanced to meet her, lifting my hat
ut 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.. Lathrop's death Without a will
has put the estate In tangle. am
not so sure that he did not leave a
will in my favor. l am the only
daughter of his favorite brother and
took care of him during his last Ill
ness. He said to me on several occa-
sions: Marion, l have made will
leaving everything to you. You will
find 1t In the tin box In which l keep
all my papers In the closet of my bed
room When / opened the box after
the funeral it was not there"
This revealed to me that the letter
sent ME had not been intended for
me. But though l am not profess
sional detective l think | have de-
tectives instinct. for in this case so
far as the girl had impaired 1t to me
Il thought smelled rascnlity, and its
uncovering interested me. | permitted
her to 20 on.
81 saw your personal stating that
you had a knowledge Of such will
and would like to 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 very bad man. Mr.
I.athrop lent him money till Edgar
showed that he was dishonest; then
his uncle turned him Off. Edgar may
shall have to divide the estate with
him and others. It would not give
him very much. but a little will be
better than nothing. and Edgar is In
desperate straits"
ut is your duty" I said. "as well
az your interest, TO do all you can to
prevent your uncle's estate from going
where 1t was not intended. especially
to such person rs you describe"
Edgar has a suspicion that am on
the track of the lost will and is watch
ing me like cat; therefore l 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 Inst word-the name-enab led
me to get more of the story In case |
chose to do so without giving away
the fact that l was an outsider. !
concluded to do so.
Have you any means" asked. lat
your disposal to pay for Information
that will lead to the recovery Of the
lost, probably stolen. willr'
mot a cent"
The lady had by this time removed
her veil, and | had caught glimpse
Of her face rs we passed under street
lamps. She appeared to be about
twenty years old and was decidedly
|