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Main > Fairy tale > All authors > Frank Baum > Fairy tale "Aunt Jane's Nieces"

Aunt Jane's Nieces

"I do not think, so; but unless he has destroyed the paper in his

madness, we shall he able to find it among his possessions."

With this idea in mind, Mr. Watson ordered the servants to remove the

gardener's body to a room in the carriage-house, and as soon as this

was done he set to work to search for the paper, assisted by John

Merrick.

"It was a telegraph blank, he said."

"Yes."

"Then we cannot mistake it, if we find any papers at all," declared

the lawyer.

The most likely places in James' room for anything to be hidden were a

small closet, in which were shelves loaded with odds and ends, and an

old clothes-chest that was concealed underneath the bed.

This last was first examined, but found to contain merely an

assortment of old clothing. Having tossed these in a heap upon the

floor the lawyer begun an examination of the closet, the shelves

promising well because of several bundles of papers they contained.

While busy over these, he heard Uncle John say, quietly:

"I've got it."

The lawyer bounded from the closet. The little man had been searching

the pockets of the clothing taken from the chest, and from a faded

velvet coat he drew out the telegraph blank.

"Is it the will?" asked the lawyer, eagerly.

"Read it yourself," said Uncle John.

Mr. Watson put on his glasses.

"Yes; this is Tom Bradley's handwriting, sure enough. The will is

brief, but it will hold good in law. Listen: I bequeath to Jane

Merrick, my affianced bride, the possession and use of my estate

during the term of her life. On her death all such possessions, with

their accrument, shall be transferred to my sister, Katherine Bradley,

if she then survives, to have and to hold by her heirs and assignees

forever. But should she die without issue previous to the death of

Jane Merrick, I then appoint my friend and attorney, Silas Watson, to

distribute the property among such organized and worthy charities as

he may select.' That is all."

"Quite enough," said Uncle John, nodding approval.

"And it is properly signed and witnessed.

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