The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1912-05-09

After he had read it carefully be
folded the letter and placed it in an
inner pocket
I'm here in the interests of the Rid
die estate" he said to the postmaster.
Perhaps you can help me in my
search for the heirs to the Riddle prop
erty. l understand that a number Of
them live in Three Corners or in the
neighborhOod. | shall be at the hotel
for a week"
81 guess can help you about that"
grinned the postmaster. Come in any
time. Why. my wife's mother was
Riddle"
See you later" said Mr.. Perkins
breezily. and he departed to cross the
street TO the little hotel.
Yes, sir; my names Perkins, and
I'm from Panama. Yes, sir. where
they're building the big ditch. Great
enterprise. I'm interested down there.
Own a lot Of land along the canal. oh,
no; wouldn't sell jot Of it, not for any
price. I'm up here on other business.
Looking after the heirs to the Riddle
estate. I'm one of the administrators.
Old Adolphus Riddle never left a will.
Goes to next Of kin. Hard to find any
OF EN-. the old man had been estranged
from all his folks so long. Yes. died
down in Panama. Oh. a matter of
million or so. Not much as wealth is
counted these days"
This is what Mr. Perkins confided to
Squire Smith. who boarded at the no.
tel and whom he met at the supper
table
81 expect properly IS pretty valuable
down there" remarked the squire
when Perkins paused for breath.
Yes, it is, but not what it will fig
ure at when the canal is completed.
Why, my dear sir. expect TO improve
my land so that it will be worth five
times as much as it is now-nay, ten
times as much"
Not booming it, are your demand
ed the squire keenly.
Me a promoter demanded Per-
kins testify. Excuse me. Squire
Smith, if l change the subject abrupt
ly, but I'd rather not discuss the land
question in Panama. I'm looking for
the Riddle heirs"
My cousins husbands first wife
was Eliza Riddle" remarked the squire
cautiously.
I'll make note Of that" said Per
kins promptly. and he did in a very
businesslike manner, writing down all |
the statistics concerning the late Eliza |
Riddle and breaking the news to the !
disappointed squire that the relation
ship was too remote for him to ever |
hope to profit by IT,
Its darned queer how things turn |
out" fretted the squire after Perkins
had explained this to him. why. do |
you know. Mr.. Perkins, | came near |
marrying that Riddle gal myself. II |
had done so, why, expect I'd be |
coming in for a pile Of money now"
"All you could carry away" was Mr..
Perkins cheering response. Moral is.
marry for love. but be sure to love
where money is plentiful. Good old bit
of advice, Ell? Now. to look up the
other Riddles in Three Corners. My
duty to try to solve EN-. eh? Good
joker Mr.. Perkins from Panama in
dulged in a hearty laugh.
For week or ten days Three Cor
ners was smitten by fever Of unrest.
Morning. noon and night her citizens
dcIved in family Bibles and searched
the contents of ancient trunks in cob
webbed garrets searching for some
proof of their kinship to
one Adolphus Riddle.
There were many Riddles in Three
Corners, and those who were not Rid
dies had married into that family, and
so the entire community was interested
in the millions left by the late Adolf
plus who had died in Panama.
There was much speculation, excite
ment and an outcropping Of Jealousy
and bitter feeling over the possible
outcome Of the investigation OF Mr..
Perkins of Panama.
When Mr.. Perkins announced his i'm
pending departure and that he would
with the claimants to ,
the estate and advise them just where
they stood in the matter there was Il
visible reluctance on the part Of the
citizens to part with him.
To them he looked like a great
chance to get rich. He seemed to ex-
lde ready money, and great pessibili- {
les of wealth would fade away with '
lis departure. Some OF those who !
we're not Riddles and by no manner of 6
calculation could hope to claim an in
crest in the great estate yearned TO :
benefit by their acquaintance with the
title gray man, Mr.. Perkins from Pan
ma I
These were the ones, headed by v
SQUIRE Smith. who urged-nay, pleaded a
to be allowed to pur- ]
base only a small portion Of his prop n
,rty down in Panama. Reluctantly be
consented. and he protested as he
made out the necessary deeds Of trans
er that he considered himself phi
anthropist TO permit them to form a :
mali company and buy up some Of :
hose valuable canal front lots" :
As his train dragged out of Three
,orners Mr.. Perkins looked forward :
agerly TO the moment when he should a
each the junction and board the ex- :
ress-for New York? oh. no! For >