Penelope and her cousins were mentioned in the will. Each was to receive
ten dollars in cash. A lawyer's foresight had, doubtless, dictated the
mention of them, so that there would be no complaint that Bryant had
forgotten relatives in preparing the will. The balance of the estate,
after all just obligations had been paid, was to go to a man named
Andrew Munson. The document described Andrew Munson as a man to whom
Bryant felt a heavy obligation. It told how Munson must be identified,
and omitted no detail. Bryant Cavendish had signed his name at the
bottom, and in the proper places there were signatures of witnesses.
Until such time as Andrew Munson could be found, the Basin ranch was to
be managed by Bryant's four nephews or, if all four were not alive, by
the survivors.
"Who," the masked man asked himself, "is Andrew Munson?" He had never
heard the name before. There might be some reference to Munson in the
papers in the desk, but the search through these would have to wait
until a later time. There was something far more urgent that must be
done at once.
It took several minutes to waken old Bryant Cavendish. When he was fully
awake and growling his complaints at being roused, the Lone Ranger sat
beside him on the bed. "Get fully awake, Cavendish," he said.
Bryant squinted in the light that came from the windows. "Hurts my
eyes," he complained in a somewhat sleepy voice.
The masked man crossed the room and drew the heavy draperies together,
cutting out most of the light and making the room quite dim. "Better?"
"I heard your voice before," Bryant said. "Who are yuh?"
"We rode from Red Oak together last night, Cavendish. I was with you in
a cave until this morning--don't you remember?"
"I seem tuh. How long I been sleepin'?"
"Only about half an hour. I'll get you a drink of water. You've got to
get wide-awake and listen to me!"
"I've listened aplenty. I'm done with it. Now get the hell out of here,
an' lemme alone. Where is Penelope?"
The masked man poured water from the pitcher and held it to the old
man's lips while he explained, "Penelope is in Red Oak. She went there
this morning with the children. My friend, the Indian, went with her."
Bryant drank half the water, then pushed the cup aside. He rubbed his
eyes, then studied the masked man, squinting slightly. "I reckon," he
said, "I remember things now. So damn much has happened in the past
couple o' days I can't somehow keep things straight."
"Are you wide-awake now, Bryant?"
"Course I am," retorted the old man in a nettled voice. "What d'you
want?"
"I took your will from the desk. I want you to take a look at it." A
paper was extended toward Bryant. "Is there enough light in here for you
to see it?"
"I don't need tuh see it, I know what's in it!"
"Examine it anyway."
"Fer what?"
"See if it's just the way you want it!"
"I've got fed up with all these fool stunts of yores, stranger. Now, for
the last time, will yuh leave me be?"
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account