ppen to him suddenly, they might not be
found. Of course I could not have anticipated this hostile action on
the part of the Miss Penfolds. Still, I blame myself that I did not
warn Mr. Penfold of the possibility of what has in fact happened
taking place. Lastly," and he smiled, "I have a personal feeling in
the matter. I have lost a business that added somewhat considerably to
my income."

"I don't think any of us have thought of blaming you in the matter,
Mr. Tallboys. I am sure that I have not. You could not possibly have
foreseen that Mr. Penfold's sisters were likely to turn out thieves."

"Well, that is rather a strong expression, Mrs. Conway; though natural
enough I must admit in your position as Mr. Ralph Conway's mother. You
see, there is a difference between concealing and not disclosing. Mr.
Penfold himself concealed the will. The Miss Penfolds simply refuse to
assist us in our search for it."

"And as the nearest heirs take possession of the property."

"Quite so, Mrs. Conway. I am not defending their conduct, which
morally is dishonest in the extreme, but I doubt whether any court of
law would find it to be a punishable offense."

"Well, now, Mr. Tallboys, I want you to let me know whether you
suspect that they have destroyed the will; which, I suppose, would be
a punishable offense."

"Certainly the destruction of the will, in order that those who
destroyed might get possession of property, would be criminal. Well, I
don't know; I have thought it over in every sense, and think the
balance of probability is against their having destroyed it. In the
first place the Miss Penfolds doubtless consider that the will is so
securely hidden there is little, if any, chance of its being
discovered. That this is so we know, from the fact that although I
ransacked the house from top to bottom, pulled down wainscoting,
lifted floors, and tried every imaginable point which either I or the
men who were working with me suspected to be a likely spot for a
hiding-place, we did not succeed in finding it.

"Now, I have noticed that ladies have at times somewhat peculiar ideas
as to morality, and are apt to steer very close to the wind. The Miss
Penfolds may consider themselves perfectly justified in declining to
give us any assistance in finding the will, soothing their consciences
by the reflection that by such refusal they are committing no offense
of which the law takes cognizance; but while doing this they might
sh