Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1923-03-03

straight at last. I saw then just what
those two were driving at; first
didn't take no particular interest IN
the scheme; then I got 10 thinking un-
I'll finally I hated that soft. downy
thing; d-n her. she'd robbed me, and
I had a right 10 my share even If
had TO steal t."
"Whnt soft. downy thing2"
Natalie Coolidge! Bah. I went out
to see her oRce. Jim took me and we
hid in the garden; and when I came
back I was raving mad Lord, why
should that little idiot have everything
while half the time ! was hunrryg"
You mean You envied herr"
"Enyied HI! Didn't have a right
Wasn't she my twin sister, Didn't
she have it all, and l nothiug2'
He gasped for breath at this sudden
revelation. Then he laughed, CON
WINGED it could not be possible.
"Who told you that2"
"Why don't you believe it7 Has
she never said word about It To
you?"
Certainly not I am sure she pos
seSses no knowledge of ever having
had a sister. Moreover. I do not be
lieve it is true. If you had proof of
such relationship. why didn't you GO
10 her, and openly claim your share2"
GO to her me? Do you hear that
jim? Isn't he the cute little fixer?
Why. of course, she knew il; there
was nothing doing on the divide. It's
all straight enough, only we couldn't
prove It by law; anyhow that is what
they told me-so we got at 1t from
another direction"
She seemed so convinced. so earnest
in her statement that West in per-
plexity turned to glance at Hobart.
DO you make this claim alsO2" he
asked.
what claim7"
THAT this girl is a twin sister to
Natalie Coolidge? Why, it is prepos-
ferrous"
rs It? ID If think so. Now
look here, West; ! don't know lust
what the Coolidge girl has been told !:
maybe She never even heard she had
twin sister If they ever told her
that she had, then they must have told
her also that the sister died in in
fancy. Anyhow, that's how it stands
on the records. There were lust two
people who knew dllferent-do you get
me? One Of them is dead, but one of
them is still alive"
(which one Is deadY"
"Percival Coolidge; he knew too
much and got gay; he planned to COP
the whole Doodle The fact is he start
ed the whole scheme, soon as he
learned who Del was. ana planned it
all OUT
"But If this girl was really entitled
to a part of it, why not claim It by
law?"
eve talked about that. hut the
chance didn't look good. Everything
showed the second child died; hospital
records, doctors certificate; there
wasn't a link in the chain we could
break"
But who was the other witness
the living one?'
'1The nurse; she made the exchange
Of the dead baby for the living one. It
was easily done, as the child was
really sick"
But for what object-revenee?"
"She was poor and yielded to
temptation. PercivaI Coolidge paid
her to make the exchange. I have
never been able to learn what his
original purpose was, but she thinks
he believed the stolen child was bow.
and that later, through him. the Cool
idge money might be controlled. How
ever, the woman lost her nerve, and
disappeared with the infant. She
brought 1T up as her own in the West.
where she married again. I am her
second husband and that is how 1
learned the truth. "
THE woman on the yachtY
Yes, YOU saw her The child was
brought up in our life; I figured ou
this coup for years, and finally when
all was ready, we came back East
again. I had plan but 7 wasn't quite
sure 1t would work until I could see
the two girls together After that fl
was Ike taking candy from a Ria.
III, Won are the only one who has
even piped off the game"
West looked closely at the man. who
was thus eoolly Boosting Of his ex-
ploits, and then at the silent girl.
whose eyes suIlenly gave back their
challenge. What did it all mean?
Why were they calmly telling him
these things? Was il merely the
egotism Of crime, pride Of achieve
ment? or did Hobart hope In some
way 10 thus win his assistance. or al
least his silence2
'Why do you tell ali this TO me.
Hobart?" lie asked shortly. "You do
not expect me to play with you in the
game do you?"
Your the fellow laughed coarsely
1--WE don't care what you d. you
young fool Del started this talking
and ! let her go on Then. when she
stopped, I thought you might as well
F1r 81, r1,r. r-.s