Part 37 (2/2)
”I give it up. Of course we shall talk about that by and by, I suppose, but we haven't yet. You know what Judge Knowles declared; he was perfectly sure that there wouldn't be anything left--that this fellow and Lobelia had thrown away every loose penny of old Seymour's money.
And, of course, he prophesied that this Egbert man would be back here as soon as his wife died to sell the Fair Harbor, s.h.i.+p and cargo, and get the money for them. The biggest satisfaction the old judge got out of life along toward the last of it was in knowing that he and Lobelia had fixed things so that that couldn't be done. He certainly hated Phillips, the judge did.”
”Um-hm. But he might have been prejudiced.”
”Yes. Sometimes I wonder if he wasn't.”
”Tell me, Bradley: Did you know this Phillips man when he was skipper of the singin' school here in Bayport? Before he married Lobelia?”
”No. Nor I didn't meet him when he and his wife were on here the last time. I was up in the State House serving out my two terms as county representative.”
”I see.... Oh! You spoke of Lobelia's leavin' another legacy. Who was that to? If it isn't a secret.”
”It is, so far. But it won't be very long. She left five thousand, in cash and in Judge Knowles's care, for Cordelia Berry over here at the Harbor. She and Lobelia were close friends, you know. Cordelia is to have it free and clear, but I am to invest it for her. She doesn't know her good luck yet. I am going over now to tell her about it.... Oh, by the way, Cap'n: Judge Knowles's nephew, the man from California, is expecting to reach Bayport next Sunday. He can't stay out a little while, and so I shall have to hurry up that will and the business connected with it. Can you come over to my office Monday about ten?”
”Why, I suppose likely I could, but what do you want me for?”
”I don't, except in the general way of always wanting to see you, Cap'n.
But Judge Knowles wanted you especially.”
”He did! Wanted _me_?”
”Yes. Seems so. He left a memorandum of those he wanted on hand when his will was read. You are one, and Elizabeth Berry is another. Will you come?”
”Why--why, yes, I suppose so. But what in the world----”
”I don't know. But I imagine we'll all know Monday. I'll look for you then, Cap'n.”
CHAPTER XI
The reading of the Knowles will, so Bradley had said, was to take place at the lawyer's office in Orham on Monday. It was Friday when Bradley called at the Minot place, and on Sat.u.r.day morning Sears and Elizabeth discussed the matter.
”Mr. Bradley said your name was on the list of those the judge asked to be on hand when the will was read,” said the captain. ”He asked me not to speak about the will to outsiders, and of course I haven't, but you're not an outsider. You're goin' over, I suppose?”
She hesitated slightly. ”Why, yes,” she said. ”I think I shall.”
”Yes. Yes, I thought you would.”
”I shall go because the judge seems to have wished me to be there, but why I can't imagine. Can you, Cap'n Kendrick?”
Remembering his last conversation with Judge Knowles, Sears thought he might at least guess a possible reason, but he did not say so.
”We're both interested in the Fair Harbor,” he observed. ”And we know how concerned the judge was with that.”
She nodded. ”Yes,” she admitted. ”Still I don't see why mother was not asked if that was it. You are going over, of course?”
”Why--yes, I shall. Bradley seemed to want me to.”
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