10/7/2016 <strong>The</strong> <strong>Secret</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Old</strong> <strong>Clock</strong> <strong>the</strong> portions which have to do with <strong>the</strong> disposal <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> property. But first I want to ask Mr. Topham what value he puts on <strong>the</strong> estate." "A hundred thousand after taxes," <strong>the</strong> man replied. "Oh!" <strong>the</strong> Turners exclaimed, and Mary said, "I had no idea Josiah had that much money." "Nor I," Edna agreed. Mr. Drew picked up several typewritten sheets from <strong>the</strong> table, and began to read in a clear voice: " 'I, Josiah Crowley, do make this my last will and testament, hereby revoking all former wills by me at any time made. I give and bequeath all my property, real and personal, as follows: " 'To my beloved friends and neighbors, Grace and Allison Hoover, a sum equal to twenty per cent <strong>of</strong> my estate, share and share alike.' " "I must be dreaming!" Grace gasped. "You mean I'm going to get ten thousand dollars?" Allison cried out. She burst into tears. "Oh, Nancy, you did this for me! Now I can have my voice lessons." Isabel Topham eyed her disdainfully. "It would take more than ten thousand dollars to make a singer out <strong>of</strong> you!" she said maliciously. "Quiet!" commanded her fa<strong>the</strong>r. "Let's hear what else this will says." His daughter subsided, but his wife exclaimed spitefully, "<strong>The</strong> will is a fraud. <strong>The</strong> Hoovers aren't even relatives." "It is no fraud," Mr. Drew told her quietly. Again he picked up <strong>the</strong> will and began to read: " 'To Abby Rowen, my late wife's cousin, in consideration <strong>of</strong> her kindness to me, a sum equal to ten per cent <strong>of</strong> my estate.' " "Oh, I'm so glad," Grace murmured. "Now she'll be able to get <strong>the</strong> medical and o<strong>the</strong>r attention she needs." "And have someone live at her house to take care <strong>of</strong> her," said Nancy. "That old lady gets ten thousand dollars?" Ada Topham said harshly. "What did she ever do for Cousin Josiah?" Angrily she turned to her mo<strong>the</strong>r. "We took care <strong>of</strong> him for yearsshe didn't!" "I'll say not," Isabel echoed, her voice tart. " 'To my cousins, Fred and William Ma<strong>the</strong>ws, a sum equal to twenty per cent <strong>of</strong> my estate, share and share alike,' " Mr. Drew read. "We didn't expect that much," Fred Ma<strong>the</strong>ws declared in genuine surprise. "Josiah was very kind." Fred smiled. "Now we can take a trip like we've always wanted to do, William." "That's right. I just can't believe it. A long trip on an ocean liner or a plane." " 'To my cousins, Edna and Mary Turner, twenty per cent <strong>of</strong> my estate, share and share alike.' " "Oh, how generous!" Edna murmured. "Now little Judy can have <strong>the</strong> things we've always wanted to give her." "Yes," said Mary Turner. "Oh, I feel so relieved." "Aren't we mentioned at all?" Mrs. Topham broke in sharply. Mr. Drew smiled. "Yes, you are mentioned. I'm coming to that now. 'To Richard Topham, five thousand dollars. To Grace and Allison Hoover' " "Hold on!" cried Mrs. Topham. "What about me and <strong>the</strong> girls?" "No money was left to you," <strong>the</strong> lawyer stated simply. Isabel gave a shriek. "Oh, no! Oh, no! Oh, Mo<strong>the</strong>r, all those bills! What'll we do?" Ada too had cried out. "I'll have to go to work! Oh, I can't bear <strong>the</strong> thought <strong>of</strong> it!" When <strong>the</strong> furor died down, Mr. Drew read on, " 'To Grace and Allison Hoover my household furniture now in <strong>the</strong> possession <strong>of</strong> Mrs. Richard Topham.' " <strong>The</strong>re was a gasp <strong>of</strong> surprise from everyone in <strong>the</strong> room, and Mrs. Topham half arose from her chair. It was generally known in River Heights that she had practically confiscated Josiah Crowley's furniture at <strong>the</strong> time he had been induced to make his home with <strong>the</strong> Tophams. "How insulting!" <strong>the</strong> woman cried. "Does Josiah Crowley dare hint that I took his furniture?" "I'm sure I don't know what was in his mind at <strong>the</strong> time he wrote <strong>the</strong> will," Mr. Drew told her with a smile. Grace Hoover interposed quickly, "We have enough furniture without Josiah Crowley's." Allison nodded. "We'll not take any <strong>of</strong> it from you, Mrs. Topham." Mr. Drew carefully folded <strong>the</strong> document he had been reading, and after placing it in his pocket, he said to <strong>the</strong> people in <strong>the</strong> room: "That is all, except that <strong>the</strong>re is a proviso for <strong>the</strong> executor to pay all Mr. Crowley's just debts, including his funeral expenses, and that what balance is left in <strong>the</strong> estate goes to <strong>the</strong> Manningham <strong>Old</strong> Men's Home. I http://www.goanwap.com/ebookdownloadndms1.html 54/58
10/7/2016 <strong>The</strong> <strong>Secret</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Old</strong> <strong>Clock</strong> understand Josiah Crowley kept his assets in a liquid state. It will not be difficult to convert <strong>the</strong> estate into cash. For that reason I should think it would be possible to draw on your inheritances at once." Ada wheeled upon Nancy, her face convulsed with anger. "You engineered this whole thing, Nancy Drew!" she accused bitterly. "Any good I've done I'm happy about," Nancy answered. "We'll break <strong>the</strong> will!" Mrs. Topham announced firmly. http://www.goanwap.com/ebookdownloadndms1.html 55/58