He led the way out, and Floyd followed.
“Mrs. Trimble,” said the lawyer, rising, “allow me to congratulate you on the happy event of this day. I am particularly glad that my services are not needed.”
“They will be needed, Mr. Coleman. Will you do me the favor of drawing up a will leaving my entire property, with the exception of a thousand dollars, to my son, Edward, and bring it here to-morrow morning, with two trusty witnesses, and I will sign it.”
“To whom will you leave the thousand dollars?”
“To my—to Mr. Trimble,” answered Mrs. Trimble, coldly. “I will not utterly ignore him.”
“Very well, Mrs. Trimble. I will call at half-past ten o’clock to-morrow morning.”
The lawyer bowed himself out, leaving Mrs. Trimble and the boys together.
“Mother,” said Edward, “I have not yet had a chance to introduce to you my friend, Chester Rand, of New York.”
“I am very glad to welcome any friend of yours, Edward.”
“You have reason to do so in this case, mother. But for Chester I should not have had the money to come on from New York. He paid my traveling expenses.”