"They didn't kill nobody; Barlow hasn't stooped quite low enough for that yet. I don't say that Barlow had a hand in it, but I think I know who had. And this 'will' business. I tell you it is all a fraud."
Ben became silent after this, and said no more until they had opened the iron gate and moved up the sidewalk to the door that led to Bob's home; for it was Bob's home in spite of all that happened, and Ben acknowledged the fact. It didn't make any difference how many people came there to live, the will wasn't right, even though it had been admitted to probate. Mr. Layton was on hand, and he sent Sam with orders to clear them out. He knew Sprague and Watson, and he was afraid to have them come there.
"Sah, it's moster's positive commands dat you," began Sam—
"Never mind that," said Sprague. "We have come here to see Bob. If he is about the house ask him to come here."
"I—I don't know, sah," hesitated Sam, "but I think he has gone away. He hain't been around de house since 'arly dis morning. I will go and see what moster say about it."
The negro disappeared, locking the front door behind him, whereupon Sprague looked at Ben and smiled. It made Ben madder than ever. It was the first time he had ever had that front door locked upon him. The darky passed along the hall until he reached the library door, upon which he pounded with his fingers. He opened it in response to the summons from the inside, and found Mr. Layton pacing the floor. He was paler now than he was the first time we saw him, and trembled so visibly that any one could have noticed it.
"Dem gemmen out dar gwine to see Moster Bob," said Sam, in a tone of voice that Mr. Layton did not like. It showed that the darky understood that there was something wrong. "Yes, sah; they gwine to see him. Mebbe he up in his room, sah."
"That's a pretty way to talk!" said Mr. Layton. "They come onto my grounds without being invited, and then say they are going to see somebody. Did you lock the front door?"
"Oh, yes, sah; I locked it."
"Then let them ring until they are tired. They will soon get weary of it and go away. Have you seen Augustus lately? Well, when he comes, tell him that I want to see him."