The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-04-19
The Popham
Mystery
Ito Solution Was to Say
the Least a Surprise

BY CLARISSA MACKE

Miss Laura BamweI1's little black
eyes blazed with the fire of excitement.
Such a tidbit of news had not trembled
ON the tip of her sharp tongue for
many a day, and to add interest to the
matter Laura was going to sew that
very day at Mrs. Gid Smiths, and it
was dollars to doughnuts that Mrs.
Gid hadn't heard a word about 1t. and
Henry Popham was her own uncle tool
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 tt?'' asked Laura.
At this bombshelI Mrs Smith squeak
ed nervously.
Uncle Henry What's happened to
himT' she demanded, visions Of deep
mourning wells, wreath of carnations
carnations were the least costly of
winter fowers-the division OF Uncle
Henry's money and perhaps herself
and family (she had been real good 10
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 heard? He's disap-
peared."
Disappeared Where tor
Nobody knows" went on Laura
eomplacentiy. Postmaster Brown
thinks he might have drowned him
self In the mill pond"
Mrs. Smith verged on Mysteries.
"0h. poor, dear Uncle Henryr' she
scbbed- i 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 comforta BILE
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 1t 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,
Annia What do, you think Of these
plated skirtsT' she asked.
Don't talk TO me about making up
that garnet cashmere" protested Mrs.
Smith, rising and twttching the bun
die of dress material from the table.
How do I know but I'll have to be
wearing black tomorrow l guess you
better tx up my black tafreta, Laura,
and press out that mourning veil. Do
you think you could fuss up that bon
net toow
Likely enough" said the chagrined
dressmaker. for she hated making
over" But why don't you wait until
you End out If he is dead7 Maybe he's
only gone visiting somewheres."
"visihngi Uncle Henry amt been
outside Of Brooklawn for twenty years
except over to Redbridge to the bank
Who told you he was missingf"
Your own cousin. Belle Wickham.
She was coming out of the house scar
ed to death: said 1t was all swept
clean AZ a pin and the attic door was
locked and she was afraid to so up
there. He might have hung himself
from the rafters, You know, Annie.
Seems Belle went over to take him
sozne hot corn bread for his breakfast
she certainly does pay him a lot of at.
tenticn, 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.
So she came to the postoffice, 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 armful 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 gloomily. 1--WE got
to go over and see Belle and Sarah
Tompkins."
MIS-. 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 newsT asked Laura eagerly.
IL guess poor Uncle Henry's gone, f"
sighed Annie, sitting down in the Bos-
ton rocker and unpinning her shawl.
IL went over to Bellies, and Sarah was
there. Seems James Whalen met On.
Gle Henry last night in Redbridge, and,
Laura. he was standing on the bridge
over the falls, and Ja7aes 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 lust hap.
pened to catch Gideon at Meek's no.
tel"
"Afi the Brooklawn men can be found
Con. NanE,o har vrnuf onv TINA fhax syN