arly alike.

Sidney Meeks had the dramatic instinct. He waited for the silence to
gather to its utmost intensity before he spoke. "I had something to
tell you when I came in," he said, "but I thought I had better wait
till after supper."

He paused. There was another silence. Henry's and Sylvia's eyes
seemed to wax luminous.

Sidney Meeks spoke again. He was enjoying himself immensely. "What
relation is Abrahama White to you?" he said.

"She is second cousin to Sylvia. Her mother was Sylvia's mother's
cousin," said Henry. "What of it?"

"Nothing, except--" Meeks waited again. He wished to make a coup. He
had an instinct for climaxes. "Abrahama had a shock this morning," he
said, suddenly.

"A shock?" said Henry.

Sylvia echoed him. "A shock!" she gasped.

"Yes, I thought you hadn't heard of it."

"I've been in the house all day," said Sylvia. "I hadn't seen a soul
before you came in." She rose. "Who's taking care of her?" she asked.
"She ain't all alone?"

"Sit down," said Sidney. "She's well cared for. Miss Babcock is
there. She happened to be out of a place, and Dr. Wallace got her
right away."

"Is she going to get over it?" asked Sylvia, anxiously. "I must go
over there, anyway, this evening. I always thought a good deal of
Abrahama."

"You might as well go over there," said the lawyer. "It isn't quite
the thing for me to tell you, but I'm going to. If Henry here can eat
flapjacks like those you make, Sylvia, and not say grace, his state
of mind is dangerous. I am going to tell you. Dr. Wallace says
Abrahama can't live more than a day or two, and--she has made a will
and left you all her property."

Chapter II

There was another silence. The husband and wife were pale, with
mouths agape like fishes. So little prosperity had come into their
lives that they were rendered almost idiotic by its approach.

"Us?" said Sylvia, at length, with a gasp.

"Us?" said Henry.

"Yes, you," said Sidney Meeks.

"What about Rose Fletcher, Abrahama's sister Susy's daughter?" asked
Sylvia, presently. "She is her own niece."

"You know Abrahama never had anything to do with Susy after she
married John Fletcher," replied the lawyer. "She made her will soon
afterward, and cut her off."

"I remember what they said at the time," returned Sylvia. "They all
thought John Fletcher was going to marry Abrahama instead of Susy.
She was enough sight more suitable age for him. He was too old for
Susy, and Abrahama