Darke Darrell, the Boy Detective — page 133: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

124 DARKE DARRELL. ‘Did you sign that name?” a paper handed to her. ‘¢T did,” looking at the signature. <s And this name?” another paper presented. Mrs. Darrell grew bewildered. : ‘‘T only signed my name once, sir. Only to one paper, sir.” «So we thought, and that is what we want to get at,” and Mr. Stoddard’s face brightened. ‘‘ One paper is the will, the other isa codicil,, the latter revoking most of the bequests in the other. Which is the paper you signed?” Mrs. Darrell weighed her reply. ‘‘The one comprised of three or four sheets, fastened with eyelets,” she said. ‘‘I remember that very distinctly. I did not sign the other, or any other.” ‘““You will swear to that?” asked one of the lawyers, evidently a disappointed party. - Mrs. Darrell took umbrage at his tone. ‘‘Now, or any time,” she steadily answered, much to Darke’s delight. ‘‘ Here, or elsewhere.” A whispered consultation ensued. Mrs. Darrell was sworn. ‘“We cease to contest,” declared the disappointed party. Mr. Stoddard rubbed his hands. ‘‘’'The reward offered is yours on demand,” he whispered to Darke. Once on the street with his mother, he said: “Now let us go look at that house I spoke to you about. I must decide within the week. The key is next door.” : “But you can’t buy it, Darke,” uneasily. ‘It will ' Swamp you. You haven’t the money.” ‘““Haven’t I?” confidently. ‘I can command it. You must tell me how you like the house.” ‘*T’ll look at it, if only to please you, my boy,” she said. Ihe house viewed, she became more anxious than GEomicbooks.co