out his being dependent on
anyone."

"Who drew up the will?"

"Mrs. Crawford."

"Did you read it?"

"Yes."

Ashcroft looked puzzled.

"I should like to read the will myself," he said, after a pause. "Where
is it now?"

"Mrs. Crawford has charge of it."

Reuben Ashcroft remained silent, but his mind was busy.

"That woman is a genius of craft," he said to himself. "My poor friend
is but a child in her hands. I did not know Paul would be so pitiably
weak."

"How do you happen to be here in Edgewood, Reuben?" asked the doctor.

"I had a little errand in the next town, and could not resist the
temptation of visiting you."

"You can stay a day or two, can you not?"

"I will, though I had not expected to do so."

"Mrs. Crawford is away this afternoon. She will be back presently, and
then I will introduce you."

At five o'clock Mrs. Crawford returned, and her husband introduced her
to his friend.

Ashcroft fixed his eyes upon her searchingly.

"Her face looks strangely familiar," he said to himself. "Where can I
have seen her?"

Mrs. Crawford, like all persons who have a secret to conceal, was
distrustful of strangers. She took an instant dislike to Reuben
Ashcroft, and her greeting was exceedingly cold.

"I have invited Mr. Ashcroft to make me a visit of two or three days, my
dear," said her husband. "He is a cousin to Carl's mother."

Mrs. Crawford made no response, but kept her eyes fixed upon the carpet.
She could not have shown more plainly that the invitation was not
approved by her.

"Madam does not want me here," thought Ashcroft, as he fixed his gaze
once more upon his friend's wife. Again the face looked familiar, but he
could not place it.

"Have I not seen you before, Mrs. Crawford?" he asked, abruptly.

"I don't remember you," she answered, slowly. "Probably I resemble some
one you have met."

"Perhaps so," answered Ashcroft, but he could not get rid of the
conviction that somewhere and some time in the past he had met Mrs.
Crawford, and under circumstances that had fixed her countenance in his
memory.

After supper Dr. Crawford said: "My dear, I have told our guest that I
had, as a prudential measure, made my will. I wish you would get it, and
let me read it to him."

Mrs. Crawford looked startled and annoyed.

"Couldn't you tell him the provisions of it?" she said.

"Yes, but I should like to show him the document."

She turned and went upstairs. She was absent at least