d across the foot of
the bed, where he had evidently fallen from a standing position. He was
still breathing, but in great gasps which shook the bed. When she bent
over him in anxious questioning, he answered her with a ghastly stare,
and that was all. Otherwise, everything looked the same.

"'What has happened? What have you done?' she persisted, trying to draw
him up on the pillow. He made a motion. It was in the direction of the
front door. 'Don't let her in,' he muttered. 'I don't trust her, I don't
trust her. Let me die in peace.' Then, as Miss Thankful became conscious
of a stir at the front door, and caught the sound of a key turning in
the lock, which could only betoken the return of the nurse, he raised
himself a little and she saw the wallet hanging out of his dressing
gown. 'I have hidden it,' he whispered, with a nervous look toward the
door: 'I was afraid she might come and take it from me, so I put it
in--' He never said where. His eyes, open and staring straight before
him, took on a look of horror, then slowly glazed under the terrified
glance of Miss Thankful. Death had cut short that vital sentence, and
simultaneously with the entrance of the nurse, whose return he had so
much feared, he uttered his last gasp and sank back lifeless on his
pillow. With a cry Miss Thankful pounced on the wallet. It opened out
flat in her hand, as empty as her life seemed at that minute. But she
was a brave woman and in another instant her courage had revived. The
money could not be far away; she would find it at the first search.
Turning on the nurse, she looked her full in the face. The woman was
gazing at the empty wallet. 'You know what was in that?' queried Miss
Thankful. A fierce look answered her. 'A thousand dollars!' announced
Miss Thankful. The nurse's lip curled. 'Oh, you knew that it was five,'
was Miss Thankful's next outburst. Still no answer, but a look which
seemed to devour the empty wallet. This look had its effect. Miss
Thankful dropped her accusatory tone, and attempted cajolery. 'It was
his legacy to us,' she explained. 'He gave it to me just before he died.
You shall be paid out of it. Now will you call my sister? She's up and
with my nephew, who came an hour ago. Call them both; I am not afraid to
remain here for a few moments with my brother's body.' This appeal,
or perhaps the promise, had its effect. The nurse disappeared, after
another careful look at her patient, and Miss Thankful bounded to her