The Lamar register., 1919-10-15
Finding
Out
copyright. 1919. BY Western Newspaper Union.
By EVELYN LEE

issue that Is shelved?"
at has been crying mntter to me-"
answered the yOuag girl seriously. at
worried my father nearly to death;
1t has been ON my mind ever since he
died. / do not know what dreadful
secret was involved, but while delirl-
Gus father referred to 1t. I feel II my
duty to look into the matter. He
was a good man. was father, as both
of us know. but there might have been
misstep. a temptation in the past
placing him under the power Of an en-
erly, blackmaller. No, cannot rest
until | know the worst. and | am de-
termlned to get the facts concerning
this mystery. which certainly darkened
my fathers life"
"But II your father was unable to
free himself from what you believe to
be the extortlon Of IA person having
some hold upon him. how can you hope
to succcedf"
Il have my PLAN" replied Luella.
the spirit of resolve and confidence In
her steadfast eyes. 81 know the name
OF the man whom he has visited year
after year. | have found some letters
he wrote to father. They are terse,
sharp. demanding payments mutually
agreed on. If | made no move, and
even If this Anson Ladd never trou-
bled us again. | should be living un-
der a constant dread. Seemingly I
shall 90 to the city and earn my own
living. but all I am thinking of is
probing the mystery of fathers deal
ings with Anson Ladd. lawyer. Brooks
building. Springfield"
So Luella Morse left her pretty ma
tive town with no confidante as to her
real purpose except Acton Brill, whom
she knew she could trust. She was
a sensible girl, and lovely. too. and she
found board and lodging with n re-
spectacle old lady just on the edge OF
the business section OF the city. Then
she located the office OF Anson Lndd.
Several times she passed its door.
reading his name upon its panels. She
found its sole occupant to be "a young
man whom she took for clerk. Then
she summoned her courage to attempt
the plan she had formed in her mind.
"Can I see Mr.. Anson Laddf" she
inquired. being now near enough to
the supposed clerk to observe that he
was very handsome and pleasant
faced young man.
81 am his son. Robert Ladd." came
the explanation. MY father died sew
eral weeks since. Did you have some
business with himf"
"why, not exactly" answered Lu-
ella, 81 had heard Of him and wonder
ed If he needed my help in the office.
But of course"
"what Gun you do7" inquired young
terest in his face.
IL understand the typewriter and
can take some dictation," said Lu-
ella.
The young man seemed to ponder.
He asked her name. She gnve IL MS
Verona Tresham. feeling the decep-
tion excusable.
Tell you. Miss Tresham," spoke
Robert Ladd, after a pause, "there is
not much TO do here. but / was think
Ing of advertising for some one to
take charge of the Office when | am
away and type few letters OCCASION
ally. You see. about all / have had
to do was TO go over my fathers pa
pers. and sort them out and clean up
lot of useless rubbish. What's left is in
his old desk yonder." and Luella's eyes
glowed as they rested on the battered
old receptacle pointed out by the
speaker my father owned great
deal of city property and my main EN-
ployment is looking after mortgages
and rents"
Luella felt that providence was In
deed helping her as she left the Ladd
office, engaged to report for work the
next morning at reasonably good sal
ary. The dead mans papers In
that desk. Had the son discovered
the possible one covering the dealings
of the old lawyer with her father?
Ever these thoughts We're in her
mind during the rest of that week.
natural impetuousncss influenced her
to set at work at once to investigate
that old desk, but II was locked. and
she knew that she must use caution.
The next morning Mr.. Ladd an
nounced that he would not be at the
office the next day. The 6rst thing