“Sneaked out by the back way, maybe,” the man sneered.
“If there was any fear of your stopping to speak to him, I should think he would,” the girl retorted boldly. “My uncle is rather particular about his acquaintances.”
The man laughed.
“What’s that in your hand?” he demanded.
“Something my uncle gave me before he went out,” the girl replied. “I haven’t looked at it yet myself.”
“Give it here,” he ordered.
She spread it out upon the table.
“You may look at it if you choose,” she agreed. “My uncle did not tell me not to show it to any one.”
They read it together. The few lines seemed to be written with great care. They took, indeed, the form of a legal document, to which was affixed the seal of a notary and the name of a witness.—
I, John Craig, being about to receive the just punishment for all my sins, hereby bequeath to my niece, Mary Carlton, all monies and property belonging to me, a list of which she will find at this address. I make one condition only of my bequest and I beg my niece to fervently respect it. It is that she never of her own consent or knowledge speak to any one of the name of Ashleigh, or associate with any of that name.
John Craig.