Ruby's Reward — page 248: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

tell you. If the truth was known, I believe you'd have plenty; folks may say what they’ve a mind to, but if I didn’t sign a willfor Mr, Ralph Carpenter, [ should like to know what kind of a document it was.” ‘Well, Mrs. Coxon,” returned Walter, good na- turedly, seeing that she was getting excited over the topic, ‘it doesn’t do any good to keep agitating that question; since there was no will forthcoming, we must take it for granted that there was none.” ‘Tt’s granting too much altogether, and, mark my my word, the time will come, when the eat will get out of the bag. But sit down, young folks, and make yourselves at home, while I go and air the sheets and get your room ready.” 1ere are you going to put me, Mrs. Coxon? Al- most anywhere will do,” said Walter, not liking to make trouble. “T cucss ‘almost anywhere’ won’l do,” she retorted. “Yowll have your own room, of course. No other would seem like home to you,” And she bustled away, while the lovers gat down to enjoy another chat until she should return. They were of course unconscious that they had been followed, and that Edmund Carpenter lad crept upon the veranda, and close under the atill open win- dow, intent upon learning more of their plane. He was boiling with rage over Mrs. Coxon's plain speaking regarding his father’s will, and began to feel that she might be a dangerous person to have about the house. He had always felt very secure re- garding the will until now; but if his housekeeper Was a8 Supicious as she appeared to be, there was no knowing to what lengths she might carry her inter- est for Walter, and he began to grow uneasy, and to wish that the document was destroyed, and beyoud all danger of discovery. He remained nearly an hour beneath the window, learning all that was possible of the lovers’ plans, and when at length Walter’s room was ready, and he took leave of Ruby, knowing he would not see her in the morning because of being obliged to, 2 Y_8Q early, Edmund Oarpenter atole away in SERRA