"The whole thing is ridiculous; I don't think you need trouble yourself any more about it."
But Ben was not satisfied, and Major Grafton could see this from his look.
"That was my reason for asking whether Philip had any property," he continued, with an inquiring look.
"I must satisfy him in some way," thought the major, "or he will compromise me."
"I wouldn't like to think I was keeping any property away from the rightful owners," proceeded Ben.
"You can put yourself at ease," said the major, carelessly. "Those ladies, whoever they are, know almost nothing about the matter. Philip did have a little property, yielding scarcely enough for his own expenses. At his death it fell to me. His grandfather was an intimate friend of mine, and made the arrangement in gratitude for my care of the boy."
"Then there were no cousins in New York?" asked Ben, doubtfully.
"Not that I am aware of. That is a lie out of whole cloth. There is no one more unscrupulous than a female gossip. Did you speak to either of the ladies?"