The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1917-04-19
The Popharn
Mystery
Its Solution Was to Say
the Least a Surprise
By CLARISSA MACKlE
By CLARISSA MACKIE

eyes DlaZed with the nre OF eNclteneHl
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 thar
very day at Mrs. Cid Smiths. and il
was dollars to doughnuts that Mrs
Gid hadn't heard word about it. 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
cOuntenance.
Terrible about your Uncle Henry
wasn't itF asked Laura
At this bombshell Mrs Smith squeak
ed nervously
Uncle Henry! What's happened To
him." size demanded. visions of deep
mourning wells. wreath of carnations
carnations were the least costly of
winter fiowers-the division of Uncle
Henrys money and perhaps herself
and family Ishe had been real good To
Uncle Henry. living in Uncle Henrys
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 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. 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 comfortab bic
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.
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. risiL, 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. Do
you think you could fuss up that bon
net toop'
| Likely enough" said the chagrined
dressmaker, for she hated making
over" But why don't you wait until
you find out il 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 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 swept
clean as a pin and the attic door was
locked and she was afraid to go up
| Ilt uuNe nuUH ulIlScll
from the rafters. you know. Annie
Seems Belle went over to take him
some hot corn bread for his breakfast
she certainly does pay him lot OF at.
tention. Annie-and he didn't answer
her knock. and SO she went in through
the sitting room winder and found he
hadn't even slept I'm 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 aud brought
down an armful of somber hued gar.
table before the discounted dress
maker
DO the best you can with EN-
Laura" she said gloomily. "rve go,
to go over and see Belle and Sarah
Tompliins."
Mrs. Smith hustled heavily away, anc
| presently Laura saw her going ou
through the gate, wrapped in a heavy
| blanket shawl She went down tn,
road toward Belle wickham's and tn,
dressmaker was compelled to attach
the venerable taffeta dress and waitet
with what patience she could for tn,
return of Henry Popham's niece.
II was IL o'clock when Annie Smitl
returned, and her eyes were red witt
weeping.
what news7" asked Laura eagerly
II Il guess poor Uncle Henry's gone.
sighed Annie. sitting down In the Bos
ton rocker and unpinning her shaw
II 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 loot
ed Respondent" Mrs. Smith wen
noisily for few moments: then sh
dried her tears and went on, so W
telephoned 20 Redbridge and just haI
pened to catch Gideon at Meek's hs
tel"
| 49, In MN r,,av, COS he. faur,