El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-09-07
A MISTAKE
By Peter Mygdahl.

SeTHAT is rather strange" John
| johnson thought as he sat
reading his newspaper in his
comfortable business office. What
caused his surprise was an advertise
rnent in the paper, which read.
Information wanted about Johanna
| Hansen, who came from Denmark to
| Minneapolis in 1880. If she be alive
and happen to see this, she will please
| apply to James Meldahl, lawyer, at
125 Park street, who has important
news for her."
| John johnson lived In MINNEAPOLIS
and was a highly respected and very
successful merchant. Although he
| was well off and often felt rather lone
some, he had grown 4S years old with
out ever seriously thinking of mar
riage- Now he began to think that 4
| wife with an income and capital of her
own would perhaps be very wise in
vestment.
| John johnson had his own house and
| had been fortunate enough to find a
| good housekeeper who understood his
wants and habits and managed his
house wonderfully well in the most eco
/ nomfcaI manner
Johanne Hansen. his housekeeper.
| was by birth a Dane, but had been
brought to America as a child by her
father, who came over confident of
making a fortune in the new world
Great Scott" John johnson thought,
| and to think that she is my house
| keeper. 1 think 1 will go and have
! talR with the lawyer. Johanne has seen
| nothing and, in way, it is my duty
TO look after her interests.
He picked up his hat and coat and
! started QUITO the city When he en-
tered the lawyers office, a little mid
dle-aged man asked him to take a seat.
IF 1 am not mistaken" he began,
''you are advertising for certain sJo-
hanne Hansen"
Yes, do YOU know anything about
herr"
Il think So" johnson replied eau
tiously
You think so. But must have alb
solute, definite and reliable informa-
tion'
We'll, can tell you definitely where
Johanne Hansen is"
Where is she then?''
II will tell you later. In two days 1
will bring her here. At present I am
acting as her representative and want
to find out what kind of news you
have for her"
Well" said the lawyer there is no
reason why I should not tell you that
/ have a sum of 100000 for her"
"One hundred thousand dollars, John
sen exclaimed. But how in the world!
Who could have left her that much
money, and how did you get hold of
the natter"
'1t is very simple. An uncle of hers,
named Hans, emigrated to California
where he made a fortune, and in his
will he leaves 500, 900 of this to his
niece Johanne, who came to the United
States in 1880 She is known to have
lived near Minneapolis and 1 have been
asked to find her. That is all"
L thank you very much.' johnson
said. You need not advertise any
more. 1 shall bring her here day after
tomorrow"
zone hundred thousand dollars!" he
muttered, as he left the office who
would ever have believed that Johanne
would be as rich as that. OF course,
she does not want to remain my house
keeper But how am I to get along
without her?'
He pondered long, but at last he
came to the result that the best thing
he could do would be to marry her and
before he reached home he had made
up his mind to propose
Strangely enough Johanne had not
been quite successful with the dinner
that day and, knowing how cranky her
master was, she was feeling rather ner-
vous. He ate his dinner, however
without making any remark whatever.
Evidently his mind was occupied with
other things At last he said: 10
hanne, didn't you come to America in
1892"
YES" she replied; but how do you
know that?"
Il think you told me so once How
long have you been with me now"
Eight years"
You have been faithful and good.