The Secret of the Old Clock - Carolyn Keene [42]
Mr. Warren pulled from his pocket the file card which the owner of Box 148 had filled out in the name of Josiah Johnston. The two samples of cramped handwritings were compared.
“I would say,” Mr. Drew spoke up, “that there is no doubt but that Crowley and Johnston were the same person.”
“I agree,” asserted Mr. Jensen, and his trust officer nodded.
“Then there’s no reason why we shouldn’t open the box?” Mr. Drew asked.
“None,” Mr. Warren replied. “Of course nothing may be removed, you understand.”
“All I want to see,” Nancy spoke up, “is whether there is a will in the box, the date on it, who the executor is, and who the heirs are.”
The bankers smiled and Mr. Jensen said, “You’re hoping to solve four mysteries all at once! Well, let’s get started.”
With Mr. Warren in the lead, the four walked toward the rear of the bank to the vault of the trust department. A guard opened the door and they went through. Mr. Jensen took the key from Mr. Crowley’s notebook, while Mr. Warren opened the first part of the double safety lock with the bank key. Then he inserted the key from the notebook. It fitted!
In a moment he lifted out Deposit Box Number 148. It was a small one and not heavy, he said.
“We’ll take this into a private room,” Mr. Jensen stated. He, Nancy, and Mr. Drew followed the trust officer down a corridor of cubbyhole rooms until they reached one not in use.
“Now,” said Mr. Jensen, when the door was closed behind them, “we shall see how many—if any—of the mysteries are solved.”
Nancy held her breath as he raised the lid of the box. All peered inside. The box was empty, except for one bulky document in the bottom.
“Oh, it must be the will!” Nancy exclaimed.
“It is a will,” Mr. Jensen announced, after a hasty glance at the first page. “Josiah Crowley’s last will and testament.”
“When was it written?” Nancy asked quickly.
“In March of this year,” Mr. Jensen told her.
“Oh, Dad,” Nancy cried, “this was later than the will the Tophams submitted for probate!”
“That’s right.”
“Let’s read it right away,” Nancy begged.
Mr. Jensen handed the sheets to Mr. Drew. “Maybe you can decipher this. The handwriting is too much for me.”
The lawyer took the will. Then, as Nancy looked over his shoulder, he haltingly read aloud, giving an interpretation rather than a word by word account.
“Mr. Jensen—Mr. Warren, your bank has been named as executor,” he said.
“Very good.” The president smiled. “But I expect Mr. Topham won’t be happy to hear this.”
Mr. Drew had turned to the last page. “The signature of Josiah is in order,” he remarked, “and there are two witnesses—Dr. Nesbitt and Thomas Wackley. No wonder this will didn’t come to light. Both those men died in April.”
As Nancy tried to decipher the handwriting, she noticed to her delight that the Hoover girls and Abby Rowen were mentioned.
At this moment the president said, “Mr. Drew, the bank’s regular lawyer had just left for Europe on an extended vacation. Since you and your daughter have solved the mystery and are so vitally interested in it, would you handle this case for us?”
Nancy held her breath as Mr. Jensen opened the
safe-deposit box
Nancy’s eyes sparkled and Mr. Drew smiled. “I’d certainly be very glad to,” he said.
“What instructions have you for us?” Mr. Warren asked.
Mr. Drew thought a moment, then said, “Because of the unusual aspects of this case, I believe that first of all I’d like you to have photostats of the will made, so I can study the contents carefully.”
“We’ll be happy to do that,” Mr. Jensen replied. “And then?”
“After I’m sure everything is legal,” Mr. Drew went on, “I’ll deliver the original will for probate and notify the people who will benefit from Mr. Crowley’s estate.”
“Fine,” said Mr. Jensen. “We have photostating equipment right here. I’ll have a couple of copies made while you wait. Or shall I send them to your office?”
Mr. Drew glanced at his daughter. “We’ll wait,” he said, smiling.
While the photostats were being made, Nancy’s mind was racing. “Oh, I hope Allison receives enough money to pay for singing