"I dare say it's twenty years or more since my father showed me how this
works. I've almost forgotten the trick. Which side was it, now? Right or
left? Why, of course, I remember! You push both together. It's rather
stiff. Right-o! It's moving. Oh, good biz!"
A thin panel of wood forming the back of the recess had slid aside,
revealing a small door with a keyhole. It refused to open, and was
evidently securely locked.
"With your permission, Miss Marsden, we shall have to do a little
burgling," remarked Captain Ledbury. "Perhaps my penknife will serve as
a 'jemmy'."
"Oh no, Uncle Frank!" cried Githa. "Don't force it! Wait half a moment.
I've got it here in my pocket. Look! Try this--the key that I found
inside the panel at the Grange. I've kept it most carefully, in case I
should ever find what it belonged to."
"I believe you've solved the problem!" murmured her uncle.
All watched eagerly as Captain Ledbury made trial of the little key. It
fitted exactly. The rusty lock creaked as it turned, and the door flew
open.
The space revealed was very narrow; there was only just room for a fat
envelope that was wedged inside. Uncle Frank tore the letter open with
impatient fingers. It contained a pile of bank-notes and a sheet of
writing-paper. He studied the latter attentively for a moment or two.
Then he turned to his niece.
"This concerns us very much, Githa. It's your grandfather's last will,
duly witnessed, and apparently in good order. You and Cedric and myself
benefit considerably. It's a lucky day for the three of us. I shall keep
this packet, and place it at once in the hands of the solicitor who is
named as executor."
"So Grandfather hadn't forgotten us, after all!"
"Not a bit of it. You'll come in for a very nice little fortune some
day, young lady! This is better than winning clocks and medals!"
"I never won anything in my life before. The key has proved my mascot
this afternoon."
"When one's luck turns, it often comes with a rush," chuckled Uncle
Frank.
"Bob Gartley really told the truth for once in his life. He'll deserve
the five pounds I promised him."
"He shall have it, though I'm afraid the scoundrel will only squander it
at the 'Dragon'. Perhaps we can think of some way of helping the wife
and children. I wish I could persuade him to enlist--the discipline of
the army is just what he needs. I remember him very well when he was a
lad, and he had the elements of good stuff in him then. Pity it's all
run to waste. One never knows; after this illness a completely fresh
start in life might make a new man of him. It's wonderful what serving
their country has done for some of our fellows; in their case the war
has been a blessing in disguise."
"Oh, it would be glorious if he'd go for a soldier!" agreed Githa.
"Perhaps he will if you talk to him, and tell him about what's going on
at the front."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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