"Back again! And right side up with care!" announced the senator's son, as he came in and shook hands. "My! but I've had a busy time since I've been away!" he replied in answer to a question of Dave's. "I had to settle up one or two things for father, and then I had to go on half a dozen different errands for mother, and then see to it that I got those new text books that Mr. Ramsdell spoke about. I got two copies of each, Dave, and here are those that are coming to you," and he passed over three small volumes. "And that isn't all. I just met Ben Basswood at the depot where he was sending a telegram to his father, who is in Chicago. Ben had some wonderful news to tell." "What was that?" asked Laura and Jessie simultaneously. "He didn't give me any of the particulars, but it seems an old friend of theirs died out in Chicago recently, and Mr. Basswood was sent for by some lawyers to help settle the estate." "Yes, we know that much," broke in Dave. "But what's the new news?" "Why, it seems this man, Enos, died quite wealthy, and he left almost his entire estate to Mr. Basswood." "Is that so!" cried Dave. "That sure is fine! I don't know of anybody who deserves money more than do the Basswoods," and his face lit up with genuine pleasure. "It will be nice for Ben," said Jessie, "and even nicer for Mrs. Basswood. Mamma says there was a time when they were quite poor, and Mrs. Basswood had to do all her own work. Now they'll be able to take it easy." "Oh, they are far from poor," returned Dave. "They've been living on 'Easy Street,' as the saying goes, for a number of years. Just the same, it will be a fine thing for them to get this fortune." "There was one thing about the news that Ben didn't understand," continued Roger. "His father telegraphed that the estate was a decidedly curious one, and that was why the lawyers wanted him to come to Chicago immediately. He added that Mr. Enos had proved to be a very eccentric individual." "Maybe he was as eccentric as that man in Rhode Island I once read about," said Dave, with a grin. "When he died he left an estate consisting of about twelve thousand ducks. This estate went to two worthless nephews, who knew nothing at all about their uncle's business. And, as somebody said, the two nephews very soon made 'ducks and drakes' of the whole fortune." "Oh, what a story!" cried Jessie, laughing. "Twelve thousand ducks! What ever would a person do with them?" "Why, some duck farms are very profitable," returned Roger. "You don't suppose this Mr. Enos left such a fortune as that to Mr. Basswood?" queried Laura. "I'm sure I don't know what the fortune consists of. And neither did Ben. He was tremendously curious to know. And he said his mother could hardly wait until Mr. Basswood sent additional information," replied Roger.