Part 52 (2/2)
”Business?” repeated Mrs. Preston, seating herself in some surprise.
”Yes--business of importance. In short, your husband's will has come to light.”
”My husband's will!” exclaimed Mrs. Preston. ”I thought----”
She checked herself suddenly. She was about to say, ”I thought I had destroyed it,” and that would have let the cat out of the bag with a vengeance.
”You thought that he left no will,” said the doctor, finis.h.i.+ng the sentence for her. ”He really left two----”
”Two!”
”That's it--he executed two--exactly alike. One he left in my hands.”
”That is a likely story!” said Mrs. Preston, excitedly. ”If that is the case, why, I ask, have we heard nothing of this before?”
”Because it was contained in an envelope, which I was requested not to open for six months after his decease. The time having expired----”
”May I ask what are the provisions of this pretended will?” demanded Mrs. Preston, in visible excitement.
”Mrs. Preston,” said the doctor, with dignity, ”you appear to forget that you are addressing a gentleman. I am above fabricating a will, as you seem to insinuate. As to the provisions, it leaves five thousand dollars to the town for the establishment of a public library, and five thousand dollars to Andy Burke, besides the small house in which she used to live to the widow Burke.”
The worst had come. In spite of her criminal act, she must lose the ten thousand dollars; and, worst of all, those whom she hated and despised were to profit by her loss.
”This is simply outrageous, Dr. Townley,” she said.
”You are speaking of your husband's will, Mrs. Preston.”
”I don't believe he made it.”
”There can be no doubt of it. Mr. Graves has examined it, and he and myself are so familiar with the handwriting of your husband that we have no hesitation in p.r.o.nouncing the will genuine.”
”Colonel Preston must have been insane if he really made such a will.”
”I was his medical adviser,” said Dr. Townley, quietly, ”and I never detected the least sign of an unsound mind.”
”The fact of robbing his wife and child to enrich an Irishwoman and her son is proof enough of his insanity.”
”Pardon me, madam, but such bequests are made every day. Outside of their legacies your husband left ample fortune, and there is no danger of your being impoverished.”
”Did you bring the will with you?”
”No. I did not feel like incurring the risk.”
”I shall contest the will,” said Mrs. Preston, pa.s.sionately.
”I would not advise you to. The proof of its genuineness is overwhelming. I suppose you never saw the other will?”
Mrs. Preston, at this unexpected question, in spite of her strong nerves, turned pale, and faltered:
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