The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1920-10-02
The
MYSTERY
HOUSE
CHAPTER XIV.
What the Letter Contained.

| MY dear husband Phil:
When you have read the contents
of this letter; never again will you
love me- Phil, I have done a cruel
thing. Before ever met you, Il
was engaged to young man in
Civil war began, he enlisted. After
the war he came back home minus
one arm. He was the son of a
wealthy man, but, soon after he
came back his father failed In bust
ness.
About this time he asked me to
marry him, but I refused. In truth.
Phil, was after his money. Then,
slowly, he built his fathers bust
ness up again and made himself
very wealthy, also. When I heard
this / wrote him a letter asking
him to forgive me for things I had
said In the past and also told him
would be happy to be his wife.
other woman and wrote back a
cruel letter. I was angry and ever
since have planned revenge.
Years went by and it was just af-
ter you started for Europe that I
heard that Grinard Thawley Chat
was his name) had two children;
girl of nine or ten, and a boy about
twelve.
Then cruel thought entered my
head. would kidnap Grinards
daughter and hold her for a ransom
and after all, get some money out Of
Grlnard. So l packed my things
ana went to visit a cousin that
| lived thirteen miles from Riching-
ton. At about the end Of my visit
planned with some men that were
hard up for money to kidnap the
chlId and then send letter to her
rather, asking for the ransom and
then he would be given his daugh-
ter. All Of this was done, but the
money for the ransom was never nut
IN the proposed place, so I kept the
chiid. l have only had her two
weeks, put already I see my crime,
l am going up to your sister, Alice,
ana ask her to go with me to take
.nc chlid back to her home. l could
| COWARD. Gill
Phil, dear, I know you'll never
rove me again but please oh, please
give my sin. 'o'
Your wife,
| ELECTA SMART
+. 81 leave for Alice's tonight
and viii mail this letter from there
e. S.
AS soon AS Hal finished reading
the letter he called a meeting of
the wonders" at Mystery House ;
tie then read the letter aloud.
isn't it wonderful?" said Betty.
that our side found it out? And
10 think that our dear friend, Fran
ces is the lost daughter"
Now, If we can only find her
brother" Hal said.
why, it's ending out most like
book" said Moreno, 81 hope thew
will live happily ever after"
We'll, what are we going to do
about it?" Betty asked.
We won't tell Frances yet"
Hal said, but don't you think we
ought to send telegram to her
father. He ought to be told first +"
"Oh, no." said Moreno, First we
ought to see Mr. and Mrs. Cawell
about 1T. Let's write a letter to
her, asking her to come I'D here"
! Just the thing" agreed Hal.
But, listen, Hail." Betty said,
maybe Frances already, knows
about this. If it was found near
her bracelet she must have
dropped it."
yes, but it was sealed" Hal
said.
| "She might have put it in an.
other envelope" Betty said.
But, Betty" said Moreno, don't
you remember that day we went
hiking she said both her father
and mother were dead. That Is
proof enough"
We'll, if she knows it, she knows
it," Hal said, "and if she doesn't,
she doesn't. Anyway, we aren't
going to tell her, whatever the cir
cumstances are"
That's just what wen do"
agreed Moreno and Betty.
"Sh-h-h!" whispered Hal. 81
thought ! heard noise. They lis
tened and sure enough, they heard
faint footsteps.
Run into the library and get
into the big fireplace, there" he
whispered. Better get back in the
corner, so you can't be seen; but,
for PHYS sake be quiet"
Moreno and Betty quickly obeyed
this command while Hal eau
tiously went on to find what the