Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1917-12-01
A Scheme That
Failed
=, ELNoR MARSH

quest was made with the provision
that they live on the property and
develop II. 1t was not worth much,
but might be made valuable.
Ben was disposed TO try a business
scheme at home and forfeited his share
of the inheritance by remaining where
he was. Jim took up the property In
South America.
Ben lived with a widowed sister,
who soon after died. leaving her broth
or a little four-year-old girl.
At the age Of fifteen the girl, Adele
weatherby, became her uncle's house
keeper. There was a sincere affection
between uncle and niece, the relation
between them being more like that be-
tween father and daughter.
When Adele was seventeen years old
her uncle paid some attention to Miss
Mildred Conyngham, young lady Of
the fashionable set.
When Mr.. COverdale was about fifty
years old he fell i'll. Miss COnyngham
visited him frequently and sent deli
cacies. He was devotedly nursed by
Adele for months, when unfortunately
she also fell i'll. 1t was then that Miss
Conyngham betook herself, bag and
baggage to the Coverdale home to
care for the invalids, not waiting for
an invitation or even their permission.
Both invalids were Ill long while
and Miss Conyngham was unremitting
In her attentions to them.
Meanwhile Jim Coverdale in South
America had prospered.
The only knowledge Of Jim Cover
dale's growing wealth that ever
reached his native town came in this
wise: A man who had been to South
America met Miss Conyngham and she
asked him If he had ever. seen or
heard anything Of a Jim Coverdale llv-
ing in Brazil?
eyes" was the reply, 81 have been
on his plantations"
"Hls plantationsT
Eyes, suppose he has a dozen Of
them. Jim Coverdale is an enormously
rich man."
At this point of the story several
important matters connected with 1t
occurred very near together. Jim
Coverdale sold out his property in Bra
I'll and left for his former home in the
United States. Before his departure
he made will leaving all he possessed
to his brother. This will he sent, by a
different steamer from the one on
which he sailed, to his brothers lawyer.
John Williams, with instructions to
say nothing about it. The ship on
which Jim COverdale sailed was lost
in storm and all on board went down
with her.
Ben COverdale died a month after
the arrival of the will, but he never
knew of his inheritance. Then came |
news of the shipwreck and Jim Cow
erdales name in the list Of passengers.
When Ben COverdale's will was
opened it was found that his small
property was left to Adele.
When Miss Conyngham heard of the
death of Jim Coverdale she felt GER
tain he had left his property to his
brother, Ben. Hearing of Jim Cover
1ale's death, Mr.. Williams opened the
will and announced to Adele that she
was the owner of a princely fortune.
Then came Miss Conyngham with a
statement that Ben Coverdale had told
her that in a codicil to his will he had
eft her a third of his property.
The fact was, Miss Conyngham
that Jim Coverdale was rich,
hat he was dead and had doubtless
eft his property to his brother, tried
% induce Ben COverdale to marry her.
Failing In that she used all her ener-
yles to induce him to leave her a por-
lion of his possessions. Coverdale
inally yielded and sent for his So
lcitor.
When the will was admitted to pro-
pate 1t was evident that something
mad been torn from 1t. This soon be-
zane a matter OF general knowledge
md Immediately the friends of Adele
and those of Miss Conyng-
nam were pitted against each other.
Up to this time the contents Of
lanes Coverdale's will were unknown
% anyone but Adele and the attorney
Who had 1t in his keeping.
For a time neither admitted nor de-
HE'D that any codicil was attached to
The will. Later the attorney acknowl-
edged that there had been a codicil and |
hat It had been torn on, but this ad-
mission was made only to Miss Conyng-
nam. She was assured that she would |
not be benefited by its production and
the was advised not to compel him to
oroduce II.
This was the end OF the matter till |
he case came into court and Mr.. Will
Jams was called upon to state II the |
will had been mutilated. He produced |
he will and a fragment, which he
showed had been torn from II by the |
Jagged edges Of each paper which At |
ed into the other. Then he proceeded |
70 read the fragment:
''To be left attached to this viii only |
n case Mildred Conyngham attempts |