“That was in the market when De Lorme bought it for twenty-two thousand dollars,” said Mr. Wolfe.
“I can’t take his money,” said Dee. “It is not clean.”
“Now, look here, my boy,” said the practical detective. “Let me tell you where that money came from. It was not wrung from the poor and needy. It came mostly as free offerings at the meetings he used to address, and the fees of the Order. If you are able to take the money from a lot of unbalanced half-cracked lunatics, and educate yourself so that you will be a help instead of a hindrance to this country of ours, you go ahead and do it! The money really belonged to De Lorme, and we found a will to-day giving all that he had to you. I think that will was just another blind. I don’t believe he ever in the world meant to use it, but it was a good way of proving how much he thought of you. Especially if you should disappear some fine day.
“Oh, he was smooth. Think how many years he went scot free. But he never meant to be taken. He had that poison right with him on his watch chain, all the time. You take the money with a clean conscience. If you don’t some anarchist will come prancing along and claim it. We will get that will probated before you can say Jack Robinson. Of course you will take the money.”
“Most certainly he will take it,” said Frank. “He will take it, or—or—I will take it myself.”
“Well, of course if you think it is all right,” said Dee. “I do want to go to school and fit myself for something of the right sort.”
It was settled so, and that very night Dee came to Bill’s to stay.
The club room became a place of beauty and comfort. When the furniture from the De Lorme house was being packed for the auction room downtown, the Wireless Club went through the house from cellar to attic and selected rugs and furniture for the club room.
Dee showed them the laboratory, with all its delicate utensils and tools. And in a drawer they found a number of empty infernal machine cases. Dee gave one to each boy as a keepsake. He did not know what to do with his mother’s little trunk until Mrs. Wolfe suggested taking it down to the country. Dee showed her the letters he had found and she shed tears of sympathy over them.
Old Anna remained in the empty house, refusing to leave until the very day that the furniture was taken out. Then she appeared with a huge suit case, and said briefly, “I go.”