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10/7/2016 <strong>The</strong> <strong>Secret</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Old</strong> <strong>Clock</strong><br />
Startling Revelations<br />
CHAPTER XIX<br />
"DAD, it's nearly two o'clock now. Mr. Crowley's relatives should be here in a few minutes! I'm so excited!"<br />
Carson Drew, who stood in <strong>the</strong> living room <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Drew home with Mr. Warren from <strong>the</strong> bank, smiled at his<br />
daughter as she fluttered about, arranging chairs.<br />
"I believe you're more thrilled than if you were inheriting <strong>the</strong> fortune yourself," he remarked.<br />
"I am thrilled," Nancy admitted. "I can scarcely wait until <strong>the</strong> will is read aloud. Won't everyone be surprised?<br />
Especially <strong>the</strong> Tophams. Do you think <strong>the</strong>y will come?"<br />
"Oh, yes, <strong>the</strong> Tophams will be here. And, unless I am mistaken, <strong>the</strong>y will bring a lawyer with <strong>the</strong>m. Just as<br />
soon as <strong>the</strong>y learned that ano<strong>the</strong>r will had come to light, <strong>the</strong>y began to worry. <strong>The</strong>y will certainly want to hear<br />
what is in this one."<br />
"Are you certain <strong>the</strong> will we found can't be broken?" Nancy inquired anxiously.<br />
"Of course I can't be certain, Nancy. But I have gone over it carefully, and so far as I can tell, it is technically<br />
perfect. I also asked a couple <strong>of</strong> lawyer friends and <strong>the</strong>y agree. Josiah Crowley was peculiar in some ways, but<br />
he was a very smart man. I'll promise you <strong>the</strong> Tophams will have a difficult time if <strong>the</strong>y try to contest this will."<br />
"<strong>The</strong> bank will help you fight," Mr. Warren put in.<br />
With <strong>the</strong> exception <strong>of</strong> Abby Rowen, who was still confined to bed, all <strong>the</strong> old gentleman's relatives had<br />
promised to be present. Grace and Allison Hoover, although not relatives, had also been invited.<br />
"It's too bad Mrs. Rowen can't come," said Nancy. "But I'll take <strong>the</strong> news to her this very afternoon."<br />
"<strong>The</strong> size <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> fortune will probably be a great surprise to everyone but <strong>the</strong> Tophams," said her fa<strong>the</strong>r with a<br />
smile. "Nancy, you did a remarkable piece <strong>of</strong> detective work."<br />
"It was fun," she said modestly. "And I can hardly wait to have it all cleared up."<br />
"We may have some trying minutes with <strong>the</strong> Tophams, Nancy," her fa<strong>the</strong>r warned.<br />
"Yes, I suppose so. I expect anybody would be sorry to see a fortune slip away. . . . Dad, I see Grace and<br />
Allison coming up <strong>the</strong> walk now," Nancy announced, glancing out <strong>the</strong> window.<br />
She greeted <strong>the</strong>m with kisses and escorted <strong>the</strong> sisters into <strong>the</strong> living room, where she introduced <strong>the</strong>m to Mr.<br />
Warren. As Allison sat down, she whispered to Nancy:<br />
"Is it true a later will has been found?"<br />
"You and Grace have no cause to worry," Nancy assured her with a mysterious smile.<br />
<strong>The</strong> doorbell rang. This time Nancy admitted Edna and Mary Turner, who were dressed as if for a party. With<br />
<strong>the</strong>m was little Judy, who threw herself into Nancy's arms. A few minutes later <strong>the</strong> Ma<strong>the</strong>ws bro<strong>the</strong>rs, William<br />
and Fred, arrived.<br />
"I guess everyone is here except <strong>the</strong> Tophams," Mr. Drew commented. "We had better wait for <strong>the</strong>m a few<br />
minutes."<br />
<strong>The</strong>re was no need to wait, for at that moment <strong>the</strong> bell rang sharply. Nancy opened <strong>the</strong> door and <strong>the</strong> four<br />
members <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Topham family walked in haughtily, merely nodding to <strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>rs in <strong>the</strong> room. As Mr. Drew had<br />
predicted, <strong>the</strong>y were accompanied by a lawyer.<br />
"Why have we been called here?" Mrs. Topham demanded, addressing Mr. Drew. "Have you <strong>the</strong> audacity to<br />
claim that ano<strong>the</strong>r will has been found?"<br />
"I have a will written only this past March, Mrs. Topham," Carson Drew replied evenly. "And I'd like to<br />
introduce to all <strong>of</strong> you Mr. John Warren, trust <strong>of</strong>ficer <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Merchants Trust Company, <strong>of</strong> Masonville, which has<br />
been named as executor."<br />
"It's preposterous!" Mrs. Topham stormed. "Josiah Crowley made only one will and in that he left everything<br />
to us with my husband as executor."<br />
"It looks like a conspiracy to me," Ada added tartly, as she gazed coldly upon <strong>the</strong> relatives and friends who<br />
were seated about <strong>the</strong> room.<br />
Isabel did not speak, but tossed her head contemptuously. Richard Topham likewise did not <strong>of</strong>fer a comment,<br />
but uneasily seated himself beside his own attorney.<br />
"If you will please be seated, Mrs. Topham, I will read <strong>the</strong> will," Mr. Drew suggested.<br />
Reluctantly Mrs. Topham sat down.<br />
"As I have said," Mr. Drew began, "a recent will <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> late Josiah Crowley was found in a safedeposit box in<br />
<strong>the</strong> Masonville bank. <strong>The</strong> will is unusually long, and with your permission I will read from a typed copy only<br />
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