“True,” agreed Mr. Hooper. “But in this case, the handwriting on the quilt only confirms what I long suspected—that the will you produced was a fraud.”
“That’s not so,” Mr. Wingate denied. “You knew all my sister’s possessions were destroyed in the fire. So you thought you could claim to have discovered the new will, and no one could prove otherwise.”
The men began to argue about the matter. At first their voices were fairly quiet, but gradually they spoke in louder and louder tones. Miss Gordon and the Brownies were quite distressed. Other persons were glancing curiously at the two men.
Drawn by the argument, an elderly gentleman sauntered over to the booth. Connie recognized him as Judge Hutchins of Probate Court.
The judge stood for a while listening to the two men talk. Then he picked up the autograph quilt and studied the signature of Ella Hooper.
“Wingate,” he said, “if I were you, I’d withdraw that will which gives you title to the Hooper orchard.”
“And be cheated out of my rightful inheritance?” Wingate demanded furiously.
The judge shrugged. “It’s up to you to decide what you want to do,” he replied. “But if I were in your place, I’d forget the matter. This appears to be the authentic signature of Ella Hooper. Offhand, without comparing it with the name which is signed to the two wills, I would say it more closely resembles the signature on the document already filed in our court.”
“I’m being cheated,” Mr. Wingate muttered.
“Do as you please,” the judge said. “Take the matter into court if you like. However, if it should be proven that the signature on your will is a forgery, your cousin then could bring action against you.”