Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-06-03


pictured an elderly gentleman who
greeted her. with a kindly smile.
Thinking he might not consider that
their correspondence had sufficiently
prepared her for the meeting, she de-
termined to inform him that so favor
able had been the impression created
that she was now positively DESTROYS
Of seeing him.
A reply came to this that he was now
suffering from an indisposition, but
that as soon as he was In a condition
to go out he would call upon Miss La
mond, but with great trepidation lest
upon seeing him she would not be able
to confirm her part of the contract for
which they had been preparing.
So great was the change In Miss La
mond's sentiments from what they had
been when Mt. Peckham announced
the matrimonial plan that she was en-
abled to write him a letter In which
she expressed considerable solicitude
for his health and begged that he
would keep her advised of his condi-
ton. She wrote this letter in the even
ing and in the morning was preparing
to carry it to the post when, taking up
the daily paper, she glanced lrst over
the advertisements Of special sales,
then ran her eye down the death and
marriage columns. She started.
Died.-Paddock, John. at his residence
after a protracted illness. Friends will
kindly omit flowers. Funeral private.
Miss Lamond could not believe her
eyes; but, turning them to a column
OF obituary notices, she read that John
Paddock was the wealthy manufacturer
who had made large fortune. The
notice was very short, and no encomi-
ums were passed upon the deceased.
She remarked especially that he had
been helpless for several weeks be-
fore his death.
Here was a mystery. She had been
receiving letters with view to a matri-
monial arrangement from a man who
was not able to write-in fact, was dy-
ing. Had she not received one from
him the evening before announcing an
"lndisposition?" There was something
uncanny about the matter. 1t made
her flesh creep. Rushing to the tele-
phone, she called up the Office of Peck
ham, futile & Hill, attorneys. MIR.
Peckham was out of town, and no one
else of the firm knew anything about
the Lamond estates business.
| Miss Lamond could think Of no other
way of getting information as to the
| mystery and was obliged to wait. The
day after the funeral she received a
call from a man on whose card was
80 IAh
She looked at it wonderingly; then,
catching an idea that the mystery of
her aged lover was about to be solved,
she hurried downstairs.
4 young man was standing In the
drawing room who advanced toward
her with very singular expression on
his face. .n',T. Z
Miss Lamond, believer
81 am"
81 have come to enlighten you upon
a matter which fancy you may wish
TO hear explained. You know of the
death of John Paddock, suppose"
Il do"
The young man looked hard at q
chair, and Miss Lamond mechanically
asked him to be seated.
MY uncle Mr.. Paddock. whose sec.
rotary and man of all work I have
been, some time ago told me that he
and your attorney, Mr.. Peckham, had
arranged marriage between himself
and you for the purpose Of settling out
OF court the suit between the two es
tates. Being an old man not fitted t.
conduct a courtship with young wo-
man, he desired me to write you in his
name. I continued to conduct the cor
respondenCe, writing the letters you
received from him and informing hin
of the progress Of his suit for your
hand till a few weeks ago, when he
sank so low in health that no worldly
matters interested him"
Mr.. Traver paused. and Miss La
mond continued to stare at him. Pres
emily he continued:
81 am my uncle's sole heir, and
have come to tell you that the sui
against you will be dropped. The will
was opened only this morning, and al
the earliest possible moment / vii
/ meet your attorney, Mr.. Peckham, will
view to coming to an arrangement
bLluI VIII sOu INC ROoSts
sion of your inheritance"
Mr.. Traver paused again. Miss La
mond continued her stare, but present
ly the corners of her mouth began t.
quirk up and her whole face broke int
a smile.
When Mr. Peckham returned b,
E called on his client and said: 9TH
: matter was a put up job between MI
! Paddock and myself. He knew tina
: he had but short time to live and ha'
made his nephew his heir. His an
r your estate are inextricably mingled
= He and formed plan to bring abou
. marriage between you and John Ira
I ven You are to marry the nephew in
J. stead Of the uncle"
1 but this Mr. Traver What
t oh. he can take care of that him
( self. I He'll doubtless speak to you q
b IN eayly date"
[ IIe did snauk and was accented