The Gem worker and the Idaho labor herald. (Boise, Idaho) 1914-1917, 1915-07-01
THE UNDOING
OF 4 ScAEMER
Plot to Gain a Fortune Fails
Of It's Purpose.


ceased owner Of the property and a
considerable fortune besides. The wild
ow and her son. twenty-five years old,
the issue Of q former marriage, en-
tered, followed BY girl Of nineteen,
the daughter OF the testator. The Ell
der woman was dressed In deepest
mourning. Her son wore as somber
garments as his mother. his studs and
sleeve buttons even being black So
deep was the grief of the stepdaughter
that she seemed unconscious of what
she wore. A few relatives OF the de-
ceased followed these principal mourn
ers, the family lawyer bringing up the
rear. When all were seated he UNI
folded the will and read:
Il, Henry Arthur clifford, being Of
sound mind and body, declare this to
be my last viii and testament ! be-
dueath all my property. real and per-
sonai. to my beloved wife. Elizabeth
clifford, in perfect confidence that she
will make suitable provision for my
daughter, Anna Louise Clifford"
.sThis will,,,' remarked the lawyer.
''was made two years ago, and it does
not appear that any other has been
made since There are no codicils.''
The more distant relatives looked
disappointed. Tne widow, turning to
her stepdaughter, said:
Anna, dear, protested against this
leaving your interest in the estate In
my hands, but your father would have
IT so, being more willing to trust It to
my more experienced management
than to a girl with no head for bust
ness. Be assured. my dear daughter,
that will take the best OF care Of 1t"
1t seemed to those present that II
there was any case wherein step
mother should be thus honored with
confidence it was this. The girl made
no reply. she allowed herself to be
kissed by her stepbrother and his
mother. Then the three were about to
rise to go out when they heard voice
from behind at which the widow start
| ed. In it she recognized her husbands
bosom friend
''I have to offer later will"
The brief announcement had with
ering effect upon the widow. She
caught at the arm Of the chair, from
which she had partly risen.
There is no later WILL" she said
IF you have one it is forgery"
The man advanced and handed a pa
per he carried In his hand to the law
yer, who took 1t. scrutinized it and,
after a careful examination Of the sig
nature, said:
'.This instrument 10 properly drawn,
bearing date only few days before
the testator's death. ! am well ac-
quainted with his signature and con-
slider 1t genuine"
Read it, gasped the widow.
81 will read it," said the man who
had offered it, and he proceeded to dc
So After the usual preliminaries the
document continued:
"At the death Of my late beloved
first wife / married, for companions
ship and for mother for my little
daughter, a woman who from the day
of the ceremony bent her indomisabie
will to the work of getting my proper.
ty for herself and her son. She pos
sessed the ability to control both my
self and my daughter. To the world
we were a singularly united family
In our home my child and lived as u
under the spell of witchcraft- My
wife brought me to the verge Of nerv
Gus prostration. then demanded that
should make a viii at her dictation.
refused, whereupon she brought me Il
the verge Of lunacy, and yielded
made the viii she wished that nigh
escape her prosecutions and having II
view this revenge. am aware tina
my action stamps me for weak man
but l am convinced that no man car
stand against the cruelty Of a woman
whom he cannot get rid Of"
Then followed d beQuest OF the bull
OF his property to his daughter, a fey
small legacies being left to other rela
tlves. In this connection the widow
and her son were not mentioned. TIL
document concluded as follows: II d
rect that my daughter shall from tn
opening OF this win be under the car
.. OF my lifelong friend. Robert Rivarc
who is hereby appointed her guardial
! and who has promised to make her
member of his family"
During the reading the expression o
the face OF Mrs. clifford was that Of
: disappointed fury. She had lived sine
the first VIII was made in the fear tina
her husband might make another, bu
had been confident that the watch sh
had set upon him was effective. A
the conclusion of the reading she aros
and walked out of the room withou
r a word. her son following.
I While Anna Clifford never thorough
3 ly recovered from the loss Of her Fl
] Their. with whom she had suffered 5
2 many years Of torture. she did recove
] from the persecution Of some sever
. teen years. No one ever dared blam
her father In her presence for not ha'
s Ing protected her from her stepmotl
! err This she always stoutly maintaine
was impossible. since he could not eve
protect himself. nor did she condem
him for taking his revenge, screene
ftnhfun fhn urnva