ed?" inquired Theobald Scripps, with condoning wags of the head. And he stood with pen poised, as though ready for dictation.

I gave it to them, straight off the bat.

"I give and bequeath," I whispered, "give and bequeath to Wendy Gruger Washburn, of the City of New York, State of New York, the sum of Two Hundred and Fifty Thousand Dollars"—here old Ezra Bartlett emitted a low but funereal groan—"to be paid to him in cash out of my estate prior to all other claims."