en had been interviewed. The memorandum
(which was only rough and not wholly legible notes) had been found
and sent to Carmen. There was no concealment about it. She gave the
reporters all the details, and to every one she said that it was her
intention to carry out her husband's wishes, so far as they could be
ascertained from this memorandum, when his affairs had been settled. The
thirst of the reporters for information amused even Carmen, who had seen
much of this industrious tribe. One of them, to whom she had partially
explained the situation, ended by asking her, "Are you going to contest
the will?"

"Contest the will?" cried Carmen. "There is nothing to contest."

"I didn't know," said the young man, whose usual occupation was
reporting sports, and who had a dim idea that every big will must be
contested.

Necessarily the affair made a great deal of talk. The newspapers
discussed it for days, and turned over the scheme in every light, the
most saying that it was a noble gift to the city that had been intended,
while only one or two doubted if charity institutions of this sort
really helped the poor. Regret, of course, was expressed that the second
will had never been executed, but with this regret was the confidence
that the widow would carry out, eventually, Henderson's plans.

This revelation modified the opinion in regard to Henderson. He came
to be regarded as a public benefactor, and his faithful wife shared the
credit of his noble intention.

XXI

Waiting for something to turn up, Jack found a weary business. He
had written to Mavick after the newspaper report that that government
officer had been in the city on Henderson's affairs, and had received a
very civil and unsatisfactory reply. In the note Mavick had asked him to
come to Washington and spend a little time, if he had nothing better
on hand, as his guest. Perhaps no offense was intended, but the reply
enraged Jack. There was in the tone of the letter and in the manner of
the invitation a note of patronage that was unendurable.

"Confound the fellow's impudence!" said Jack to himself; and he did not
answer the invitation.

Personally his situation was desperate enough, but he was not inclined
to face it. In a sort of stupor he let the law take its course. There
was nothing left of his fortune, and his creditors were in possession of
his house and all it contained. "Do not try to keep anything back that
legally belongs to them," Edith