Ruby's Reward — page 6: what you’re looking at

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

A Jook of surprise came over Hdmnnd Carpenter's face. He removed the other papers, and noticed that al the back of that tiny closet there Was quita a criek between the panels, The “Last Will” had fallen through this and now lay somewhere underneath, in the interior of the quujnt old desi; but where, he could not tell Withonk knocking the thing topleces. A pecullir smile suddenly shot over the face of the man, “Th would be n pity If alther of tiese ofher valuable documents shonld meet with a similar tute," he mut- vered, “L wonder If this bottom panel could not be supped back to close that cruck.” He preasad hard agasnst 1. It moved a: JIftle. He tried again; the board slipped into place, and the crack waa closed, With a slih of rellef, and with a resolute alr, he re. Pluced the remaining papers as he had found them, locked the tiny alosef, put the rest of the desk fn perfect order, cdlesing and locking the cover over all, extinguished his light, and then stole softly trom the brary to go to his Own room above, AS he passed lig father's door he paused a moment to Usten. He hand hardly done so, when the door opened nolse- Jessly, and Walter Richards controuted him on the threshold, “Ah, ha! How 1s he now?" the son stammered, in some confusion at belng found in that attitude, “Falling. I fim golng down to the dining-room for some brandy. WHI you yo In?" Walter answered, as he stepped aside to nllow the dsinz man’s son to pass into the room. »Can I do any good 2" Rdmund asked, casting a glance of awe Within the chamber oF death. “No one can do any good mo70," Walter answered, with a eRe Up; “but you may like to be with him at the end.” “No—that is—I’'m afraid it might pnman me,” faltered the dutiful son, with an ashen race al the thought; pub lf you need me, you—can call me.” Walten bowed and passed silently on about bls errand, while Edmund Carpenter crept away to his own room, where, with the door closed and locked, he shook his clenelied fst in the direction of the hall, and muttered ; Phere wlll be no fear 7010 of your robblng me of my inheritance. Glve him all the attention you lke, he ts past heeding your arts, nnd you will get nothing for [t.” Yes, Ralph Carpenter was past all knowledge of elfher Walter's fatthfulness or Edmund's neglech; past ever righting n great wrong that tad been perpetrated that night; past making known more of his wishes regarding the future of the boy Whom he had so dearly loved, and past revealing to him certaln information respecting his oWh ancestry, which might have made a vust difference In the Hfe that he was now destined to jead Wwe} D the years thut were fo tollow. Gouilicrootesstsou