"
"I hardly think Coombs has been here so short a time."
"He might have been the old overseer, however, and retained."
"True; yet how could Philip Henley know that he had inherited the
property?"
She thought a moment seriously, a little crease in the center of her
forehead.
"Of course, I can only guess," she hazarded at length, "but it would
seem likely he was notified of his father's death by one of the
administrators, and doubtless told at the same time of his inheritance.
He was the only son, and there were no other near relatives. It would
be only natural for him to retain the old servants until he could come
here and select others."
"There is only one fact which opposes your theory," I acknowledged,
"otherwise I would accept it as my own also. Coombs plainly threatened
to confront you with Henley to test your claim to being his wife."
She pressed her hand to her temple in perplexity.
"Even that would not be impossible," she admitted reluctantly, "for he
must have known of the Judge's death even before--before I left. Only
I do not believe it probable, as he was in no condition to travel, and
had very little money. Besides," her voice strengthening with
conviction, "those men who sent you here--Neale and Vail--would never
have ventured such a scheme, had they been uncertain as to Philip
Henley's helplessness.
Pages:
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151