The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1912-03-21

tl!I IEliedI'tlSIE bcCdAc dOooi OSo 49,
the contents OF several typewriter
sheets.
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. | understand that 4 number OF
| them live in Three Corners or in the
neighbOrhU0d. | shall be at the hotel
for a week"
Il guess can help you about that"
| grinned the postmaster. Come in any
iIme. Why. my Wife's mother was Il
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. Ok.
no; wouldn't sell a jot of it, not for any
price. Pm up here on other business.
Looking after the heirs to the Riddle
estate. I'm one of the administrators.
Old Adolphus Riddle never left will.
Goes to next of kin. Hard to find any
of 'em the old man had been estranged
from all his folks so long. Yes, died
down in Panama. Oh, q matter of a
million or so. Not much as wealth is
counted these days"
This is what Mr. Perkins confided to
| Squire Smith, who boarded at the hO-
tel and whom he met at the supper
table.
Il 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 YOU? demand
ed the squire keenly.
ME a promoter?' demanded Per
kins testify. Excuse me. Squire
Smith, if change the subject abrupt
ly, but Id rather not discuss the land
the Riddle heirs
My Cousins husbands first wife
was Eliza Riddle" remarked the squire
cautiously.
'1'll make note of that" said Per-
kins promptly. and he did in 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.
It's 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. If
had done so, why, I expect I'd be
coming in for 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, eh? Now. to look up the
other Riddles in Three Corners My
duty to try to solve 'em, Ell? Good
joker Mr. Perkins from Panama in
dulged in q hearty laugh.
For week or ten days Three Cor
ners was smitten by fever of unrest
Morning, noon and night her citizens
delved in family Bibles and searched
the contents of ancient trunks in cob
webbed garrets searching for some
documentary 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
communicate with the claimants to
the estate and advise them just where
they stood in the matter there was a
visible reluctance on the part of he
citizens to part with him.
To them he looked like a great
chance to get rich. He seemed to ex-
ude ready money, and great possibili-
ties Of wealth would fade away with
his departure Some of those who
were not Riddles and by no manner Of
calculation could hope to claim an in
terest in the great estate yearned to
benefit by their acquaintance with the
little gray man, Mr.. Perkins from Pan
anna.
These were the ones. headed by
Squire Smith, who urged-nay. pleaded
with-Perkins to be allowed to pur-
chase only small portion Of his prop
erty down in Panama. Reluctantly he