The Argosy — page 262: what you’re looking at

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

Lady Postlethwaite’s Will. 243 death, she was as clear-headed, right-minded a woman of business as anyone could find. Is it not so, Dr. Vincent.” The doctor gave an emphatic assent. ‘You must ask these gentlemen,” indicating my father and me, ‘‘about her investments, and about her testamentary dispositions, if there are any, but I tell you, gentlemen, that I do not expect to find any. She was not a woman to trust by halves, and she knew her worldly wealth in my hands would be blessed, etc. etc.” ‘‘ Hear, hear!” from Lord Levant. A thrill of consternation seemed to run round the room after this plain declaration. The charity officials looked blankly into one another’s faces, and the hungry-eyed relatives glared on us with wolfish eyes, as my father took the key from me. *‘ Let’s look here first, if you please. If there is a will, we shall find it here.” He drew forth the packet, and handed it to the Colonel, who, with an incredulous shake of the head, opened it. The sight of his wife’s hand-writing inside made him pause and look wildly around. ‘‘ This is private—nota will, you see. It’s nothing, nothing.” He dropped into his chair, while the blank sheets of foolscap strewed the floor at his feet, keeping his hand clutched tightly over his wife’s last message. His face took a ghastly hue. He drew the nearest decanter to him, and poured out a glassful. It was clear my time had come. I gave the circumstances as briefly I could, referred to Colonel St. George’s own testimony as to his wife’s state, and produced the veritable last will of Lady Postlethwaite. The hungry-eyed relatives grew serene and placid as the reading went on, the charity officials shook hands with one another, and my father “‘ Blessed his soul” copiously when it ended. They all came crowding round me to examine it and question me as to the details, and in the confusion Colonel St. George Postlethwaite disappeared from our sight for ever. So did Lady Postlethwaite’s dressing-case and a large sum of ready money which was known to De in the house. Colonel St. George is sorely missed by a large circle of believing followers and I hear still more so by a larger circle of unsatisfied creditors. “And to think that if the scoundrel had only left that will alone he would have succeeded to the whole. The poor old lady would never have known that her subsequent marriage invalidated it. A quarter of a million lost for the want of a little ordinary legal know- ledge. Bless my soul!” says my father. COMA @) LNOOKS.EO