“I have searched the house from cellar to garret, and can find no sign of the will,” said Smart, with confidence. “I do not believe that it is in the house now, if it still exists.”
“Another look will not do any harm, if you have no objections,” said Nick.
“None in the least. I only hope that you may succeed, as this matter is giving me a great deal of annoyance.”
“Is the house far from here?”
“About a mile,” answered Northrup. “We will take the automobile.”
The host gave the necessary orders, and in a few minutes they were speeding over the fine roads in the direction of old man Peters’ house.
As there was no response to their rings and repeated knocking at the door, the lawyer admitted the party with his key.
“Tell me briefly what were the old man’s habits just before he died,” said Nick. “Was he able to get around himself after his stroke?”
“He was not exactly helpless, but had to be assisted in walking—in fact, practically carried. He would put his arms around his servant’s neck, and, in a sort of a pig-a-back fashion, he was moved around the house.”
“Had he any favorite place where he used to spend the days?”