The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1917-07-19
A WELL
LAID PLAN
But One Element In
IL Had Not Been
Provided For

grown a beard and had a peachlike
complexion. My voice was of a me.
dunn pitch for man; but, having once
taken a girls part on the stage, ] had
learned to speak in falsetto, very like a
woman. m#<r -.~
One day was handed a newspaper
In which there was a personal that
read as follows: ~
II Annette Thurber will communicates
with II. L. b. she will hear something to
her advantage. +.
1t was explained to me that Annette
Thurber was q niece Of one Nicholas
Bradford, who had recently died, leav-
ing large estate. Miss Thurber had
kept house for him and nursed him
during his last illness. He had told
her that he had made will leaving all
his property to her and she would find
1t In certain tin box I'm which he kept
his papers. the box being on shelf in
the closet Of his home office. After his
death she had looked in the box and
had not found the document.
No will forthcoming, the property
would be divided between the tesla
tors nephew, Henry Lathrop Bradford,
the son Of an older brother, and An
nette Thurber, the daughter Of his sis
ter. This Henry Bradford was q
scamp. His uncle had befriended him
and tried to make man of him, had
failed and had disowned him. Miss
Thurber believed that he had stolen
the will from the tin box In order that
he might under the law obtain half the
estate. The personal had undoubtedly
been inserted by him with view to
some arrangement with her. What
that intended arrangement was she did
not know.
A reply was made by Miss Thurber
stating that she would receive Henry
Bradford at her home any day be
chose to call between 2 and 3 o'clock in
the afternoon. No attention was paid
to this, and, the case having been placed
by Miss Thurber in the hands of detec-
lives, a new note was dispatched In her
name saying that she would meet
Bradford at any time or place he. might
appoint. Miss Thurber then received a
bit Of paper on which was written,
Lincoln park, @, %, o p. m"
1t was evident that Bradford did not
propose to give Miss Thurber any evil
dence against him. He might deny
that the personal had been inserted by
him or that he had sent this bit OF pa
per, his object being to meet her with
put witnesses for some rascally pur-
pose. The opinion Of the chief was
hat Bradford had stolen the will; that |
be feared to be accused of the theft |
Ind wished to make a compromise by |
which he might receive his share Of his |
1ncle's estate.
Miss Thurber and I were brought to- |
yether, and it was observed that we |
we're about the same height and build. |
Having secured all the information
hat was to be had on the matter, |
vas arrayed In one Of her costumes,
Ind at o'clock in the evening on |
he 25th of June 1.-THE sixth month";
ripped daintily into Lincoln park. I
lad been shown a photograph OF Brad
ord and Miss Thurber was known to
linn, SO, since Lincoln park was simply
! block set apart for breathing space,
here was no difficulty In meeting and
each other.
It was not long after my entry into
he park that well dressed man step
ned up to me and remarked that it
vas fine evening.
"Are you Mr.. BradfordT asked.
"Yes."
"What is the meaning Of all this
ecrecy"
"Come this way" was his reply, 'and
will tell you"
He led the way to a bench. I sat
own, and he sat beside me.
~ wish to see you," he began about
Jncle Nick's will. 1t has been intimat-
d to me that certain person knows
hat will exists bequeathing all the
state to you. This person will pro-
uce the will for consideration"
"HOw much does he want?" I asked,
oming at once to the point.
1.-THE estate is worth 100000. The
yill will be surrendered for a third of
ne value Of the property. You give a
ote for the amount to be taken up
,ree months after receiving the prop
rty."
mo" I said, after feigning to think
ne matter over. IF q will exists /
'ould rather take my chance of its
oming out. And IL it does" here
ssumed a threatening tone, sT shall
End the person who stole it to the
for long term Of years."
There was silence for a few minutes.
the end Of which he asked me how
uch 1 would consent to pay. 1 told
Inn that 1 would not bind myself to
~ anything until had seen the will
nd was convinced that the property ,
as left to me and the document was
enuine: If so convinced 1 would give
note for $4,000. He keyed me up to
$4,000, which closed the bargain. /
Id no object in dickering with him, ,
lcept to induce him to believe that i
as making real deal.
1 asked him when and where the ex- :
lange of the note for the will should I
he place, and he replied that he had
ade arrangements for that. The 4