"Hallo, mater! How are you? Say—that new butler of yours is a bird—tried to keep me from coming in here to see you. Just think of it! So I smashed him against the glass door and cut my finger." Looking around, a broad grin spread over his face. With well acted surprise, he exclaimed: "Why, what's going on here? Looks like a prayer meeting!" Nodding familiarly to the lawyer and Mr. Marsh, he called out: "Hello—Cooley! Hello Jimmy!"
James Marsh, his face pale with suppressed irritation, snapped impatiently:
"We waited for you all morning. I told the butler to let no one come in. A disturbance of this kind is most annoying." Turning to the lawyer, he added: "Now, Mr. Cooley, will you please continue——"
"What are you all doing?" grinned Tod.
"Please be quiet, Tod," said his mother, pulling him by the sleeve. "Take a chair and listen. Mr. Cooley is reading the will."
"THAT'S NOT JOHN MARSH'S WILL!"
"The will?" echoed Tod innocently. "What will?"
"John Marsh's will, of course. Really, Tod, what makes you so stupid?"