so little is known about him. He's dying
of consumption. The doctors hold out no hope for him, and now, with the
fear preying upon him of leaving his wife and children penniless, he is
wearing away so fast that any hour may see his end. And I have to meet
his eyes--such pitiful eyes--and the look in them is killing me. Yet,
I was not to blame. I could not help--Oh, Miss Strange," she suddenly
broke in with the inconsequence of extreme feeling, "the will is in the
house! I never carried it off the floor where I sleep. Find it; find it,
I pray, or--"

The moment had come for Violet's soft touch, for Violet's encouraging
word.

"I will try," she answered her.

Mrs. Quintard grew calmer.

"But, first," the young girl continued, "I must know more about the
conditions. Where is this nephew of yours--the man who is ill?"

"In this house, where he has been for the last eight months."

"Was the child his of whom I caught a glimpse in the hall as I came in?"

"Yes, and--"

"I will fight for that child!" Violet cried out impulsively. "I am sure
his father's cause is good. Where is the other claimant--the one you
designate as Carlos?"

"Oh, there's where the trouble is! Carlos is on the Mauretania, and she
is due here in a couple of days. He comes from the East where he has
been touring with his wife. Miss Strange, the lost will must be found
before then, or the other will be opened and read and Carlos made
master of this house, which would mean our quick departure and Clement's
certain death."

"Move a sick man?--a relative as low as you say he is? Oh no, Mrs.
Quintard; no one would do that, were the house a cabin and its owners
paupers."

"You do not know Carlos; you do not know his wife. We should not be
given a week in which to pack. They have no children and they envy
Clement who has. Our only hope lies in discovering the paper which gives
us the right to remain here in face of all opposition. That or penury.
Now you know my trouble."

"And it is trouble; one from which I shall make every effort to relieve
you. But first let me ask if you are not worrying unnecessarily about
this missing document? If it was drawn up by Mr. Brooks's lawyer--"

"But it was not," that lady impetuously interrupted. "His lawyer is
Carlos's near relative, and has never been told of the change in my
brother's intentions. Clement (I am speaking now of my brother and not
of my nephew) was a great money-getter, but when it came to stan