“The will? Am I interested in that?” “As her only living relative, you are deeply interested. Mrs. Nelson, you know, inherited a considerable property from her husband. I wanted to make certain you would be present when the will was opened.” A vivid flush had crept into mother’s cheeks, and I confess that my own heart was beating wildly. Perhaps—perhaps—perhaps— “When is it to be?” asked mother, after a moment. “‘OH, I SUPPOSE I CAN GET READY,’ FALTERED MOTHER, A LITTLE DAZED.” “To-day, if we can get there in time. There is [Pg 29]a train at ten-thirty—it’s not quite nine, now. Can you be ready by then? If not, of course we can put it off till to-morrow.” [Pg 29] “Oh, I suppose I can get ready,” faltered mother, a little dazed by the suddenness of it all. “That is, if you advise it.” “I do advise it most strongly,” said Mr. Chester, emphatically. “Mrs. Nelson’s will is a most peculiar one—by far the most peculiar I ever had anything to do with—and it is only fair to you that it should be opened as soon as possible.” “Very well, we will go!” said mother, rising. “You will excuse us?” “Certainly. Permit me to suggest,” he added, “that you take things enough with you for a short stay—for two or three days, anyway.” “Oh,” said mother, looking at him in surprise, “we can’t come back to-night, then?” “No; there are some details you will have to look after,” explained Mr. Chester, hesitatingly. “You will, of course, use your own judgment, but I believe you will decide to stay.” “We might as well go prepared,” mother agreed, and hurried away to get our things together. The school bell had rung long since, quite unheeded[Pg 30] by me, who had been hanging breathless over the back of mother’s chair, and now, while mother got ready for the journey, I raced away to summon Dick. He had started for school earlier than I, having some errands to do on the way, so to the school-house I had to go after him. He turned quite white when he came out in answer to the message I sent in for him and saw me standing
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