"So fer as I know. He left three little kids. They was all here with their mother jest after the house was finished. Finest children I ever—"
"They will probably come into this property when Mr. Curtis dies," said Barnes, keeping the excitement out of his voice.
"More'n likely."
"Was he very feeble when you saw him last?"
"I ain't seen him in more'n six months. He was failin' then. That's why he went to the city."
"Oh, I see. You did not see him when he arrived the last of March?"
"I was visitin' my sister up in Hornville when he come back unexpected-like. This ijiot Loeb says he wrote me to meet 'em at Spanish Falls but I never got the letter. Like as not the durn fool got the address wrong. I didn't know Mr. Curtis was home till I come back from my sister's three days later. The wust of it was that I had tooken the automobile with me,—to have a little work done on her, mind ye,—an' so they had to hire a Ford to bring him up from the Falls. I wouldn't 'a' had it happen fer fifty dollars." Peter's tone was convincingly doleful.
"And he has been confined to his room ever since? Poor old fellow! It's hard, isn't it?"
"It sure is. Seems like he'll never be able to walk ag'in. I was talkin' to his nurse only the other day. He says it's a hopeless case."
"Fortunately his sister can be here with him."