The Press., 1916-09-14

f Mrs. Smith hustled heavily away, and presently Laura saw her going out
 through the gate. wrapped in a heavy blanket shawl. She went down the
 road toward Belle Wickham's, and the ! dressmaker was compelled to attack the venerable taffeta dress and waited
 with what patience she could for the | return of Henry Popham's niece. 1t was II o'clock when Annie Smith
 returned, and her eyes were red with
 weeping.
 What news?" asked Laura eagerly
 'I guess poor Uncle Henry's gone" sighed Annie, sitting down in the Bos-
 ton rocker and unpinning her shawl.
 ''I went over to Belle's, and Sarah was there. Seems James Whalen met Un- cle Henry last night in Redbridge. and,
 Laura, he was standing on the bridge over the falls, and James says he look ed Respondent" Mrs. Smith wept noisfly for a few moments; then she dried her tears and went on, "So we telephoned to Redbridge and just hap pened to catch Gideon at Meek's ho- tel"
 "All the Brooklawn men can be found
 in Meek's bar most any time they go
 over to Redbridge." put in Laura crisply.
 At Meek's hotel" went on Annie
 nlacidly. "and Belle told him all about 1t. He didn't laugh and make fun or our fears. as we thought he would but he said that he and Ned Wickham and Loren Tompkins would spend the day Investigating the matter and would telephone Belle as soon as they heard anything"
 Its mighty queer," commented Laura Bamwell as she threaded her needle.
 and began preparations for dinner. The dressmaker sewed and shipped and ripped and stitched busily.
 Several hours passed uneventfully. It was 3 o'clock when Belle Wickham stalked up the path, her gaunt fr:SHe clothed in black mourning garments.
 'I guess it's all over, Annie." she said sadly. II just got telephone message from Gideon. He said they had found Uncle Henry and would bring the body back with 'em tonight"
 We better go over to the house to be there. It needs fixing up-some fires made and so forth" said Mrs Smith gravely. So after awhile the two cous- ins departed. leaving the dressmaker with her hands full of mourning gar ments. You'll have to come tomOr- row, Laura said Mrs. Smith as she went out.
 Il wouldn't miss it for farm," mutt | tered Laura to herself. "I expect | there'll be the greatest kind of jealousy | over Henry's will Each one of those | three women will expect the lions | share. They've been watching each | other for years, afraid one might get | the inside track with Uncle Henry and | his money"
 In the Popham homestead, on the | Hollow road, there was a scene of | great activity, although the three cous- | ins found the house remarkably neat | and clean for a bachelor abode. Black | Hannah, who came once fortnight to clean and wash and iron, declared that | Uncle Henry must have cleaned it | himself since her last visit. and the grief stricken nieces admitted that | Uncle Henry's suicide had been pre- meditated.
 Fires were made in the seldom used | front parlor and in empty bedrooms. and the beds were aired and remade. | Perhaps the nieces found comfort in | hard work. for they drudged uncom- plaininsly.
 At dusk they prepared from the sup | plies in the pantry. and then. gowned | in decp black dresses. they sat down in | the best parlor to await Uncle Henry's | homecoming.
 In her mind each woman was plan ming how she would refurnish the room when she came t0 live there.
 If their grief was sOOthed by a cer- tain com9lacen Y in the recollection of Uncle Eenry's comfortable thousands hey mace no utterance to one another.
 At o'clock there was the sound of wheels along the Hollow road
 The three cousins turned pale and little. X sudden pity for Uncle iIenry's lust homecoming swept over them. and they advanced to the front hall and threw wide the door,
 They stood there blinking out into the darkness of the winter night Be- fore the gate was Mason Winship's best hack. the one with silver lamps. and alighting from it were several people.
 It was not until they had crowded into the hall and parlor that the three cousins received sudden. stunning surprise.
 Uncle Henryr' they screamed in unison.
 .tEd it was rss. trt.lr !Inrr'+'s corr,ra IL st t.,F'~