The Meeker herald. [volume] (Meeker, Colo.) 1885-current, 1916-12-16
The Popham
Mystery
lts Solution Was to Say
til. Least . Surprise
BY cLARlssA MAcKIE
BY cLARlssA MAcKIE

eyes blazed with the fre OF excitement
Such a tidbit Of news had not trembled
ON the tip Of her sharp tongue for
many dny. and to add interest to the
matter Laura was going to sew that
very day at Mrs. Cid Smiths. and 1t
was dollars to doughnuts that Mrs.
Gid hadn't heard word about 1t. and
Henry Popham was her own uncle too!
So 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
countenance.
Terrible about your Uncle Henry.
wasn't it!" asked Laura.
At this bombshell Mrs Smith squeak.
ed nervously.
"Uncle Henry! What's happened to
him?" she demanded, visions Of deep
mourning wells. wreath Of carnations
carnations were the least costly of
winter 6Owers-the division Of Uncle
Henry's money and perhaps herself
and family ,she had been real good to
Uncle Henry. living In Uncle Henry's
comfortable house on the Hollow road,
whlried through her mind while she
waited for Laura's deliberate answer.
why. amt you beerti7 He's disap-
peared."
Disappeared! Where tor
Nobody knows" went on Laura
complacently. Postmaster Brown
thinks he might have drowned him.
self in the mill pond"
Mrs. Smith verged on Mysteries.
'Oh. poor. dear Uncle Henry!' she
sobbed. II have been expecting most
anything to happen to him. he being
I'M old man and living alone"
Hes only sixty years old and con-
sidered 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's
heart and failed. III he did commit
suicide guess 1t wasn't because none
Of his nieces wouldn't live with him.
Laura laughed ~ she dipped open one
Ut the fashion magazines. Look here,
Annie. What do you think of these
plated skirtsr' she asked.
Don't talk to me about making M
that garnet cashmere" protested Mrs.
Smith. rising aud twitching the bum
die Of dress material from the table.
How do ! know but I'll have to b
wearing black tomorrow? guess you
letter nx up my black tafYeta. Laura.
aud press out that mourning veil. Do
you think you could fuss up that bon
net foo?''
Likely enough" said the chagrined
dressmaker. for she hated making
over" But why don't you wait until
you find ont II he Is dead? Maybe he's
only gone visiting sOmewheres."
Visiting! Uncle Henry amt been
outside Of Brooklawn for twenty years
except over to Redbridge to the hank.
Who told you he was missing?'
your own cousin. Belle Wickham.
She was coming out Of the house scar
ed to death: said 1t was all swept
clean as a pin and the attic door was
locked and she was afraid to 60 up
there He might have hung himself
from the rafters. you know. Annie.
Seems Belle went over to take him
"VAAAN NV W. - uTeukIH8L-
she certainly does pay him lot Of at
tention, Annie-and he didn't answer
her knock. and 30 she went in through
the sitting room winder and found he
hadn't even slept in his bed nor had
any breakfast He just wasn't there.
30 she came to the postofiice, and Mr.
Brown said he saw Henry Popham
down at the mill pond last night and
he reckoned he'd ended his lonely Iife."
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 hest you can with 'em,
Laura" she said gloomily. ave got
to go 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 attack
the venerable taffeta dress and waited
with what patience she could for the
return Of Henry Popbam's niece.
II was II O'Clock when Annie Smith
returned. and her eyes were red with
weeping.
what newsT asked Laura eagerly.
Il guess poor Uncle Henry's gone"
sighed Annie. sitting down In the Bos-
ton rocker and unpinning her shawl
II went over to Bellies. and Sarah was
there. Seems James Whalen met Un-
Gle Henry last night in Redbridge. and.
Laura. be was standing on the bridge
over the falls. and James says he look
ed respondent" Mrs. Smith wept
noisily for a few moments; then she
dried her tears and went on. $50 we
telephoned TO Redbridge and just hap
pened to catch Gideon at Meek's ho-
tel"
.sAJt tho prOOk In wn men "a n fsc fo,,D1