“I think it’s more likely he should be worth that amount,” returned Roy, “than the Bowmans, for instance, who seem to spend their income right up to the handle. You know everybody has always thought Mr. Tyler had money.”
“I know they have, but such a sum as that!”
Rex walked on again, knitting his brows in thought. There was silence between the boys while they ascended the hill on the opposite side of the creek. Then as they reached the top, Rex was about to ask another question when Roy clutched his arm suddenly.
“Look there,” he cried. “Isn’t that undertaker Green’s wagon in front of the house? Mr. Tyler must be dead!”
CHAPTER V
BREAKING THE NEWS
“Great Cæsar, Roy! What’s come over you?”
Rex was staring in amazement at his brother, who had turned quite white at the sight of the undertaker’s wagon standing in front of the miser’s home. He had halted and gone off to one side of the road to lean against a tree, where he stood now, mopping his face with his handkerchief.
“I hadn’t any idea he would die so soon,” he said. “It seems like an awful shock, although I do remember that Dr. Martin said he was in a pretty bad way. And he asked me to come and see him to-day; I mean Mr. Tyler did. I wonder when he died.”
“What luck for his heirs,” remarked Rex.
“Don’t!” cried Roy, starting forward as if to place his hand over his brother’s mouth. “You don’t know what you’re saying.”