“I hope so; and, in the mean time, what can we do in the matter of finding Betty?”
“There’s nothing to be done in that line that hasn’t been done,” said the sheriff, despairingly. “All evening Doctor and Mrs Varian as well as the butler and cook have been going over the house and the grounds, calling, and hunting for the girl, with no success of any sort.”
“Had she a dog?”
“No, there is none about. Now, just before you came, we were thinking of looking over some of Mr Frederick Varian’s papers——”
“And there’s no reason to change our plans,” said Doctor Varian; “Mr Granniss’ presence will not interfere.”
So Rodney sat by, awaiting the possible awakening of Mrs Varian, and trying hard to think of some new way to look for Betty.
With keys obtained from the pockets of the dead man, his brother opened the drawers of the desk.
“It must be done,” he said, as his hand slightly hesitated, “and, too, we may come across some clue to his death.”
Among the first of the important papers found was Frederick Varian’s will. The contents of this were a surprise to no one present, for the entire estate was left to the wife, with instructions that she make due and proper provisions for the daughter.
But a final clause caused Herbert Varian to stare incredulously at the paper.