"
"Did he indite your will?"
"No; Mrs. Crawford wrote it out.
She was at one time copyist for a lawyer."
"Take my advice and have another drawn up
to-day without mentioning the matter to her.
She admits having mislaid the one made yesterday."
"It may be a good idea."
"Certainly, it is a prudent precaution. Then
you will be sure that all is safe. I have, myself,
executed a duplicate will. One I keep,
the other I have deposited with my lawyer."
Ashcroft was a man of energy. He saw that
Dr. Crawford, who was of a weak, vacillating
temper, executed the will. He and another
witnessed it, and the document was left with
the lawyer.
"You think I had better not mention the
matter to Mrs. Crawford?" he said.
"By no means--she might think it was a reflection
upon her for carelessly mislaying the first."
"True," and the doctor, who was fond of
peace, consented to his friend's plan.
"By the way," asked Ashcroft, "who was your wife
what was her name, I mean--before her second marriage?"
"She was a Mrs. Cook."
"Oh, I see," said Ashcroft, and his face
lighted up with surprise and intelligence
"What do you see?" inquired Dr. Crawford.
"I thought your wife's face was familiar.
I met her once when she was Mrs. Cook."
"You knew her, then?"
"No, I never exchanged a word with her till
I met her under this roof.
"How can I tell him that I first saw her
when a visitor to the penitentiary among the
female prisoners?" Ashcroft asked himself.
"My poor friend would sink with mortification.
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