The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-05-05
The Popham
Mystery
Its Solution Was to Say
the Least a Surprise
n apISSA MACKIE
BY CLARISSA MACKIE

fs+s+f+TfTT
Miss Laura Bamwells little black
eyes blazed with the fire of excitement
Such a tidbit of news had not trembled
on the tip of her sharp tongue Tor
many a day. 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 a word about 1t, anu
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 flowers-the division of Uncle
Henry's money and perhaps herself
i and family (she had been real good to
Uncle Henry, living in Uncle Henry's
comfortable house on the Hollow road,
whirled through her mind while she
waited for Laura's deliberate answer
why. amt you heard? He's disap-
peared."
Disappeared! Where TOT"
Nobody knows" went on Laura
complacently. POSTMASTER Brown
thinks he might have drowned him.
self in the mill pond"
Mrs. Smith vergcd on Mysteries.
"Oh, poor, dear Uncle Henry!' she
sobbed Il have been expecting most
anything to happen to him, he being
| an old man and living alone"
Hes only sixty years old and con.
sidered some spry, and, being cranky
old bachelor, he was most comfortabl
living alone, most likely" retorted
Laura, who in her youth had once
tried to ensnare Henry Popham's
heart and failed. IF he did commit
suicide guess it wasn't because none
of his nieces wouldn't live with him.
Laura laughed as she tipped open one
of the fashion magazines. Look here,
Annie. What do you think of these
plated skirts?" she asked
Don't talk to me about making up
that garnet cashmere" protested Mrs
Smith, rising and twitching the bun.
die of dress material from the table
How do | know but I'll have to be
wearing black tomorrow? | guess you
better fix up my black taffeta, Laura
and press out that mourning veil. Dc
you think you could fuss up that bon
net tooY'
Likely enough" said the chagrined
dressmaker, for she hated making
over" But why don't you wait unit
you find out IL he is dead? Maybe he's
only gone visiting somewheres."
Visiting! Uncle Henry amt beer
outside of 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 1t was all sweep
clean as pin and the attic door was
locked and she was afraid to 60 W
there. He might have hung himself
from the rafters. you know, Annie.
Seems Belle went over to take hin
some hot corn bread for his breakfast
she certainly does pay him lot of at
tention, Annie-and he didn't answe
her knock, and so she went in through
the sitting room winder and found b,
hadn't even slept in his bed nor hat
any breakfast. He just wasn't there
So she came to the postotfice, and Mr.
Brown said he saw Henry Pophan
down ut the mill pond last night ant
; he reckoned he'd ended his lonely life
Mrs. Smith went upstairs and brough
down an armful of somber hued gar
ments, which she piled on the SEWN,
table before the discounted dress
, maker.
t DO the best you can with 'em
Laura" she said gloomily. "Pve go
to go over and see Belle and Sara
= TompkinS."
Mrs. Smith hustled heavily away, an,
/ presently Laura saw her going gu
] through the gate, wrapped in a heav,
2 blanket shawl. She went down tn
road toward Belle Wickham's. and tn
: dressmaker was compelled to attacl
f the venerable taffeta dress and waite,
| with what patience she could for tn
e return of Henry Popham's niece.
1t was IL o'clock when Annie Smitl
returned, and her eyes were red witt
: | weeping.
e What news?" asked Laura eagerly
b Il guess poor Uncle Henry's gone.
sighed Annie. sitting down in the Bos
ton rocker and unpinning her shaw
Il went over to Bellies. and Sarah wa
: there. Seems James Whalen met On
Gle Henry last night In Redbridge, and
! Laura, he was standing on the bridg
over the falls, and James says he look
+ ed Respondent" Mrs Smith wep
noisily for n few moments; then sh
dried her tears and went on, 80 W
. telephoned to Redbridge and Just haI
pened TO catch Gideon at Meek's hC
tel"
"All the Brooklawn men can be foun
in Meek's bar most any time they G
o over to Redbridge." put in Laur
=, erisply.
= AT Meek's hotel" went on Ann
placidly, land Belle told him all aboV