to make the whole matter plain."

"Well, if you can do _that_, you'll have King Solomon and all his wisdom
beat a mile, that's all I've got to say. Go on."

"'To my brother, Elisha Warren, if he survive me, _in trust_,
nevertheless, for the following purpose, to wit:--

"'To invest the same and to use the income thereof for the education and
maintenance of my two children, Caroline Edgecombe Warren--'"

"Edgecombe? Named for some of his wife's folks, I presume likely. Excuse
me for puttin' my oar in again. Go on."

"'And Stephen Cole Warren--'"

"_That's_ his wife, sartin. She was a Cole. I swan, I beg your pardon."

"'Until the elder, Caroline Edgecombe Warren, shall have reached her
twenty-first birthday, when one-half of the principal of said estate,
together with one-half of the accumulated interest, shall be given to
her, and the trust continued for the education and maintenance of my
son, Stephen Cole Warren, until he shall have reached his twenty-first
birthday, when I direct that the remainder be given to him.

"'Third:--I appoint as testamentary guardian of my said children my said
brother, Elisha Warren.

"'Fourth:--I appoint as sole executor of this, my last will and
testament, my said brother, Elisha Warren.

"'Fifth:--Imposing implicit trust and confidence in Elisha Warren,
my brother, I direct that he be not required to give bond for the
performance of any of the affairs or trusts to which he has been herein
appointed.'

"The remainder," concluded Graves, refolding the will, "is purely
formal. It is dated May 15th, three years ago. Your brother, Captain
Warren, evidently realized, although no one else seems to have done
so, the precarious state of his health, and prepared, as every careful
person should, for the great emergency."

The attorney removed his eyeglasses and rubbed them with his
handkerchief. Captain Elisha sat silent, staring at the fire. After an
interval, Graves spoke again.

"Of course, Captain," he went on, "my errand is now plain. I come to
acquaint you with your brother's last wishes and to ascertain whether or
not you are willing to accept the trust and responsibility he has laid
upon you. As you doubtless know, the state provides a legal rate of
reimbursement for such services as yours will--or may--be. Ahem!"

"May be? You mean I ain't got to do this thing unless I want to?"

"Certainly. You have the right to renounce the various appointments, in
which case another