Tombstone epitaph., 1915-09-12

TOT period of several weeks Chris sopheT Poe had enjoyed the let-down or routine desk work. He had resumed ms usual workaday life after rounding up band of counterfeiters at Coney. and classifying their histories in Vol tune H" for future reference.
 one Monday morning as he sat at his desk opening mail. a chance visit or dropped in with the alarming news that a mutual friend. Boudinot Riggs. was dead.
 'Boudinot desd." cried Foe. jumping up to throw a light outer coat over his thia office suit. cut Oxford style "I must go there directly"
 Poisoned. too, Doctor Robinson says. Just met him on the way home to make test of Boudinot's gouty blood" said the informant. a fellow banker.
 Christopher Poe waited for nothing else. Old Boudinot Riggs was a distant relation, a temperamental dlettante, sort of a fat. grown-up bad boy, who had inherited a fondness for beauty and incidence. together with some thing between three and four million beautiful butt not too indolent dollars which yielded money interest that Boudinot managed to keep very active, hemned in as he was by household O; women. including a kindly old de- pendent who nursed him. a somewhat shrewish sister who despised him, a young lady secretary who took the place Of business mans stenograph- CT. and raft of interested outsiders. poor relations. lady barber. lady shirtmaker. a girl who sold him cig. srettes, and a petite French manicure.
 Three of these dependents were most important in his life-Mrs. Groves. the nurse. because she moth cred him. Miss Riggs, his sister. be. cause she bothered him. and Miss Mig non MoQuin. because she manicured the squat pink nails of which he was very proud. In consideration of the varying degrees of his interest in these estimable ladies Boudinot had made a will. more or less publicly. in which he left three million to Miss Mignon Mo cuin. a half million to his faithful old nurse, and 6 thousand dollars each to his expectant sister. who had no pri- vate fortune. his secretary. his cook, and a little scullery maid who pol ished his boots each night and left them before his doo7 each morning, after the English fashion.
 It was this second maid who opened the door to Christopher Poe that af- ternoon of Boudinot's death. It was Mrs. Groves, the nurse. red-eyed and trembling. who pressed Poe's hand with sincere emotion and led him to Miss Riggs, who had just been called back by the news of her brothers s death from Yonkers. where she had gone on a visit that morning.
 Pee took the cold hand Miss Riggs thrust out to him mechanically.
 Isn't there something l can do?' he a.ied.
 No. everything is quite all right"
 But being Boudinot's friend and banker, I thought"
 As for your being his banker" she eaid, throwing up her head abruptly. "In attend to that after this. Perhaps you don't know that Boudinot came to his senses last night, and changed my name for Miss Moquin's in that silly will of his!"
 '-NoI" cried Poe in surprise, gianc- ing at Mrs. Groves. whose eyes were so big and somber and sad, as though with a concealed story. that Poe asked sharply. Did you know of this?"
 The nervous, birdlike little woman looked straight at Miss Riggs. and said fin a direct. level tone:
 If you hadn't slandered Miss Mo- auin and-and driven him to it. he wouldn't have done it. This morning when you scid you wished be was dead. and slammed the door Tn his face. ne asked me to take him in his WbeeLchair to Miss Moquin. 60 he could see if you Scid the truth last nighti"
 Miss Riggs drew up her tsan, cordy neck. and swallowed hard as Mrs. Groves paused before continuing in a higher key:
 Ca. -.n going to speak out now. I've kept quiet in this hell of house long enoughi" She treDbied with emo ton. T was the only one that ever took care of him: l saw that his eggs wer, poached. just so; nursed him when his foot was so bad he swore at every body: T."
 And you're well paid for it." snap ped Miss Riggs in a voice that sound ed ike slap in the face. He left you half a million"
 Mrs. Groves face had punched to- gether in an agonized knit How can YOU talk like that, with hin lying in tbere," she cried. It isn't money m speaking of, though God knows he wouldn't save left me a cent If ned listened to the things you said against me"
 .~You ie!" screamed Miss Riggs in tremulous rage
 Miss Riggs. put in Poe calmly. eouchine ner softly on the shoulder. sYour brother" he indicated the ad- flaming room. This will rest till Ia ter, wben-
 aoh f don't care about him What