Tears fairly blinded Don’s eyes as he finished reading the missive. He passed it to Mr. Pepper, who, in turn, passed it to Caleb.
“He was a good man,” declared Adoniram softly, while the old sailor blew his nose loudly, and wiped the suspicious moisture from his eyes.
“That he were!” responded the latter. “Cap’n Horace were all that he tells you to be, Don.”
“Please God, I’ll be worthy of his memory,” said Brandon quietly. “If we are fortunate enough to obtain any of this treasure he speaks of. I hope I shall use it wisely, and as he would wish.”
“Don’t you fear—we’ll get it, lad,” Caleb assured him earnestly. “I feel it in my bones we will.”
“What else was there in the package?” asked the merchant curiously.
“There were two other papers,” Brandon replied. “One is my father’s will.”
He picked that up from his lap and opened it.
“Why,” he exclaimed, “you are named as executor, Mr. Pepper.”
He passed the legal document to Adoniram who adjusted the eye glasses (of which a new pair had been purchased), and examined it with manifest surprise.