He knelt before it with his
ear to the lock, turning the handle of the combination, listening to the
click of the tumblers, while the major searched the drawers of the
handsome dressing case and other articles of furniture in the room.
Everywhere were evidences that Helen Mowbray had been very wealthy.
On top of the dressing case were sets of gold and silver toilet
articles, and ornaments, boxes, and bottles handsomely chased in silver
and gold, and set with jewels.
In one of the drawers the major found a bunch of keys, probably to open
other drawers in the console and other articles of furniture.
"I have it, major," said Ted quietly, as he flung open the door of the
safe.
"See what is in it, Ted," said the major.
In the bottom of the safe lay a pile of gold ingots representing a value
of many thousands of dollars. A drawer was filled with bank notes of
large denomination. Other drawers were crowded full of the stocks of
mines and other enterprises.
"Whew!" said Ted, as he revealed the dead woman's possessions. "Did you
know she was so rich?"
"I had no idea of it," answered the major. "Helen was always a capable
woman, and when she left England my father gave her her patrimony
outright, that he might never be compelled to see or communicate with
her husband again, and this looks as if she had increased it many
times.
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