Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1918-02-13
In Cold
Storage
By Alan Fothergil

Miss Verda Bliss when she became
heiress to the estate of Godfrey Wad
hams, her uncle, was a piece of cit,
property she had never seen. She hae
been content TO receive regular
though varying income from this, leav
ing the details of the matter to hel
| lawyer.
| 'It Is some kind of a warehouse,
| Verda explained to cousin, land. the
lawyer has told me. II is In an out-of
the-way locality among the river docks
and valuable only because II is adapted
to the uses to which 1t is devoted.
have never seen 1t. Mr.. Crompton has
an opportunity to sell or trade It
am to go to the city Tuesday, to look
1t over for the first time"
verda was greatly pleased at the
attention and Interest bestowed upon
her, when she reached the Office of her
lawyer that Tuesday morning. The old
attorney, Mr.. Crompton, was most IA
therly, and he tried to make Verda un-
derstand the condition of affairs with
out vexing that equable but inexperi-
enced mind of hers.
Here is the problem, Miss Bliss" he
stated: 1.-THE property. as such. is shut
out from all business frontage. with
only narrow courtway leading to II
over a maze of railroad tracks. For
twenty years the old building, a steel
sheeted structure, has been used as
warehouse and elevator. Your uncle
had regular clients among the canal
boat and lake steamer men, and did
something In the cold-storage line for
a time. Since he died we have had
man named Delbridge In charge. ! dis
charged this man last week, when /
received absolute information that he
was holding back part of the income
charges. We will have to find some
honest and trustworthy person to take
mis- place. go over the records, and IF
we learn that the peculations have
been Of any magnitude and kept up
for years, we shall bring this Delbridge
to time"
"And what can poor, inexperienced
me do In such a tanglef" inquired
verda In pretty dIsmay.
You must decide what you want
done" replied Mr.. Crompton. II have
thought II best to have you visit the
and then determine whether
you wish the business continued under
a new manager. or sold out. with the
returns from the real estate and the
money invested otherwise. Mr.. Dare"
called out the lawyer, and his assistant
entered the room.
Our Mr.. Dare will take you over
the property, Miss Bliss spoke Mr..
Crompton. and Verda scanned closely
the clear-eyed, pleasant-faced young
man who acknowledged the informal
with a courteous bow,
They were chatting like real friends
before they had covered two squares.
You can get a better idea of the
erty on foot" explained Elston Dare.
"We seem to be penetrating a rath-
er nondescript neighborhood." suggest
ed his fair companion. She kept close
to her guide, for the narrow thorough
fares were congested with trucks and
carts, and the sidewalks almost COW
cred with boxes, bales and hogsheads.
Once Miss Blair, glancing back. mar
rowly scrutiniEed man who lost him
self promptly as he noticed that he
was observed. Dare detected slight
culver Of the dainty gioved hand hold
ing his arm.
What was itY' he inquired solicit
ousIy.
"a man I have noticed before" re-
piled Miss Bliss. Il am sure he and
another followed me when I left the
depot"
You do not now see the one you just
discoveredT'
mo, he has disappeared"
They reached the grim. almost win
dowless structure on the riverside, and,
interested In her new surroundings,
Verda forgot her previous nervous
fears. Dare had a key to the great
padlocked door. He turned on the
electric light. 1t Illuminated dark
spiral stairway.
"All the rest of the building, except
the little Office at the top, has been
used for storage" he explained
How chilly and damp 1t U.s." muir.
INJURED Miss Bliss, and she was quite
out of breath when they reached lit
tie pen of a place holding desk and
a safe. Dare bestowed his charge In
a chair and began to describe the bust
ness carried on.
"Just now all the elevator holds Il
some stored grain" he told her. m.
plan would be, Ii ysu decide to con
tinue the business, to resume the cold
storage department and utilize tn,
lower floor Of the elevator for short
time merchandise storage. am in
structed to bring the books back to tn
office. We shall go over them thor
oughly and see how far the discharge,
Delbridge has manipulated them