A well-dressed man, with white hair and whiskers, occupied a stool in front of a fruit-stand opposite Nick Carter's rooms from eight o'clock until half-past nine on the morning following the trunk episode. The man was Peter Mannion, and he was making sure that Chick was not in town at the time of the opening of court. At half-past nine a telegraph boy appeared. He went quickly up the stairway of the house where Nick had lodged, and before his return to the street he was stopped by Peter Mannion. "If you have a telegram for Mr. Carter," he said, "I'll take it and sign for it. Here is my authority," and he produced a card upon which was written: "Deliver to bearer all letters, notes, and telegrams for me that may come to-day"—giving the date. "Nicholas Carter." The boy, without hesitation, gave up an envelope containing a telegram. When the book had been signed, Peter Mannion opened the telegram, which was dated Frederick, Md., and read: "Will be with you seven o'clock to-night. C. Carter." "Good! good!" and the villain rubbed his hands gleefully. "Everything is coming our way. Nick Carter is at the bottom of the river, and Chick, who will go to join him will not be here to interfere with the court[197] business. The prospect could not be better. And now to prepare for court."
At ten o'clock Peter Mannion and his lawyer entered the court-room. They were followed by Prosper Craven and Elmer Newton, the witnesses to Arthur Mannion's will. There were but few spectators present, for there had been no public intimation that the proceedings that day would be of special interest.
Just as the calendar was being called Jackson Feversham, accompanied by two smart-looking business men, both strangers to Peter Mannion, entered and took seats just outside the bar.
The first matter taken up was that of the will of Arthur Mannion. Craven and Newton were sworn and the fact elicited that the will had been signed at Craven's house, in the presence of the witnesses and of Arthur Mannion. It had been delivered into the keeping of Nellie Mannion.
There being no objection, an order was made admitting the will to probate.
"So far so good," thought Peter Mannion. "And now for the will as is a will; the will that means millions to Nellie Mannion and her dear ones."
Rising to his feet, the uncle's attorney now made a motion that the matter of the will of James Playfair be taken up. "It must be judged by itself, as the court is aware," said the attorney, somewhat pompously, and glaring at Jackson Feversham, "for it is an olographic will, one which does not require the signature of wit[198]nesses. Having once proved that the will is in the handwriting of the deceased Washingtonian, the court must admit it to probate."
The attorney sat down, and the judge took up the will, examined it, turned it over, and then said:
"Produce your witnesses."
"To prove the handwriting?"
"Of course. What else?" asked the court sharply.
"Then," said Peter Mannion's attorney, "I will ask Mr. Feversham to take the stand."
James Playfair's friend looked surprised, but he came forward, was sworn, and the will was placed in his hands.
"Examine it carefully, Mr. Feversham," said the attorney, "and then state whether or not, in your opinion, the body of the instrument and the signature, all the writing, in fact, is in the writing of James Playfair."
"If this is not his handwriting," answered Feversham, after a pause, "it is a perfect imitation."
"Can you say it is not his handwriting?" questioned Peter Mannion's attorney, with sternness.
There was a pause. Feversham looked at the judge, then at the two men who had accompanied him to the court. Finally he said slowly, but with emphasis: "I can say, with a conviction that almost amounts to certainty, that this will is not in the handwriting of my deceased friend."
Peter Mannion started violently. His face grew gray.[199] A sense of danger suddenly possessed him; but he gripped the sides of his chair and waited.
The attorney for the moment was nonplussed. He had not expected the answer. But he speedily recovered his wits, and, in a blustering manner, said:
"Is it because the will leaves you nothing, while a previous one leaves you heir to the fortune, that you are unwilling to state what must be a patent fact to any man of intelligence?"
Feversham............