“Assuredly not.”
“Then why didn't Uncle Jeptha speak of it to somebody before he died, if the option had not run out at that time?”
“Humph!”
“You grant the old man was of sound mind?”
“Sound as a pine knot,” agreed the storekeeper, still reflective.
“Then how is it he did not speak to his lawyer about the option when he saw Mr. Strickland within an hour of his death?”
“That does seem peculiar,” admitted the storekeeper, slowly.
“And Mr. Pollock says he thinks there is something wrong about the option,” went on Hiram, eagerly.
“Oh, Pollock! Pah!” returned Schell. “I don't suppose he even read it.”
“But you did?”