The Meeker herald. [volume] (Meeker, Colo.) 1885-current, 1916-07-15
The Popl,arn
Mystery
Ito Selutien Was 10 Say
the Least . Surprise
BY cLARIssA hAcKIE

Miss Laura Bamwell's little black
eyes blazed with the Ore Of excitement
Such q tidbit of news had not trembled
ON the tip Of her sharp. tongue for
many q day, and to add interest to the
matter Laura was going to sew that
very day at Mrs. Gid Smiths, and 1t
was dollars to doughnuts that Mrs.
Gid hadn't heard q word about 1t, and
Henry Popham was her own uncle tool
30 Laura settled herself In the sunny
south window of the Smiths sitting
room, pinned her knitted pincushion
to her apron belt. spread her fashion
books on the sewing table and then
looked into Mrs. Smiths wide. simple
c0untenance.
Terrible about your Uncle Henry.
wasn't lit" asked Laura.
At this bombshell Mrs. Smith squeak
ed nervously.
"Uncle Henry! What's happened to
himr' she demanded. visions Of deep
mourning wells. wreath Of carnations
carnations were the least costly of
winter dowers-the division Of Uncle
Henry's money and perhaps herself
and family tshe had been real good to
Uncle Henry, living In Uncle Henry's
comfortable house on the Hollow road,
whiried through her mind while she
waited for Laura's deliberate answer.
"Why. amt You heard7 He's disap-
peared."
Disappeared! Where tor
Nobody knows" went on Laura
thinks he might have drowned him
self In the mill pond"
Mrs. Smith verged on Mysteries.
"Oh. poor. dear Uncle Henry! she
sObbed. Il have been expecting most
anything to happen to him. he being
nm old man and living alone"
Hes only sixty years old and con.
stdered some spry. and. being a cranky
Old bachelor, he was most comfortable
living alone. most likely" retorted
Laura. who In her youth had once
tried to ensnare, Henry Popham'a
heart and failed. III be did commit
suicide ! guess 1t wasn't because none
Of his nieces wouldn't live with himr'
Laura laughed ~ she dipped open one
OF the fashion magazines. "Lo0k here,
Annie What do you think Of these
plated skirtsr'' she asked.
"en't talk to me about making up
that garnet cashmere" protested Mrs.
Smith. rising and twitching the bun.
die Of dresn material from the table.
Hoy do ! know but ri have to b
wearing black tomorrow guess you
better fix M my black taffeta. Laura.
and press out that mourning veil. DO
you think you could fuss up that bon
net tO0?'
Likely enough" said the chagrlned
dressmaker. for she hated making
over" But why don't you wait until
you ind out II he is dead? Maybe he's
only gone visiting somewheres."
''yIsiting! Uncle Henry amt been
outside Ut Brooklawn for twenty years
except over to Redbridge TO the bank
Who told you he was missing?'
your own cousin. Belle Wickham
She was coming out Of the house scar
ed to death: said It was all swept
clean a. q pin and the attic door was
locked and she was afraid to go up
there. He might have hung himself
from the rafters. you know. Annie.
Seems Belle went over to take him
some hot com bread for bis breakfast
she certainly does pay him lot of at
tention. Annie-and he didn't anawei
her knock. and 80 she went In through
the sitting room winder and found be
hadn't even slept In his bed nor had
any breakfast He just wasn't there
SO she came to the postOfice, and Mr.
Brown said he saw Henry Popham
down at the mill pond last night and
he reckoned he'd ended his lonely life '
Mrs. Smith went upstairs and brought
down an armfui Of somber hued gar
ments, which she piled on the sewing
table before the discounted dress.
maker.
do the best you can with 'em
Laura" she said eloomily. 1--WE Rot
to 10 over and see Belle and Sarah
Tompkins."
Mrs. Smith hustled heavily away. and
presently Laura saw her going out
through the gate. wrapped In heavy
blanket shawl. She went down the
road toward Belle Wickham's. and the
dressmaker was compelled to attach
the venerable taffeta dress and waited
with what patience she could for the
return Of Henry Popham's niece.
It was II O'Clock when Annie Smith
returned. and her eyes were red with
weeping.
what news7' asked Laura eagerly
II guess poor Uncle Henry's gone.
sI0taf1 Annie. 01ttinl down in the BOS
ton rocker and uupinning her shawl
II went over to Bellies, and Sarah wal
there. Seems james Whalen met On
Gle Henry last night in Redbridge. and
Laura, be was standing on the bridge
over the fails. and James says he look
ed respondent" Mrs. Smith wep'
noisiIy for 4 few moments; then she
dried her tears and went on. $50 w
teIephoned to Redbridge and Just hap