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Title: A Golden Argosy (A Novelette) Author: Fred M. White * A Project Gutenberg Australia eBook * eBook No.: 1200161h.html Language: English Date first posted: January 2012 Date most recently updated: January 2012 This eBook was produced by: Maurie Mulcahy Project Gutenberg Australia eBooks are created from printed editions which are in the public domain in Australia, unless a copyright notice is included. We do NOT keep any eBooks in compliance with a particular paper edition. Copyright laws are changing all over the world. Be sure to check the copyright laws for your country before downloading or redistributing this file. This eBook is made available at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg Australia License which may be viewed online at http://gutenberg.net.au/licence.htmlGO TO Project Gutenberg Australia HOME PAGE
Darling.. .. .. Nelly, in the garden.. ..under the Niobe.. .. .. . you will find my.. .. .. money.The murder was out! The mystery which had puzzled everyone was explained; and after all, it was so simple! The simplicity of the affair was its greatest safeguard. It was so simple, so particularly devoid of intricacy, that it had baffled them all. Something bewildering and elaborate they had expected, but nothing like this. Mr Carver, notwithstanding his joy, looked inexpressibly foolish. Edgar gave way to his emotion in mirth. 'O shade of Edgar Allan Poe, what a climax!' he exclaimed. 'Was it for this our worthy friend waded through the abstruse philosophy of The Purloined Letter and the intricacies of The Gold Bug? Was it for this that The Murders in the Rue Morgue and The Mystery of Marie Roget were committed to memory?' 'Be quiet, you young jackanapes!' exclaimed Mr Carver testily; and then, seeing the ludicrous side of the matter, he joined in the younger man's mirth with equal heartiness. 'But why,' said Eleanor, still serious, and dwelling upon the mystery—'why did not uncle fold the letter in the way he wished it to be read?' 'Well, madam,' Mr Slimm explained, 'you see in that case the letter would have adopted itself to the folds so readily, that, had it fallen into a stranger's hand, he would have discovered the secret at once. Your uncle must have remembered the letter he founded his upon, and how easily he discovered that. By folding this paper in the ordinary way, improper curiosity was baffled.' 'Yes, I suppose so,' Eleanor mused. 'Anyway, thank heaven, we have solved the mystery, and we are free at last!' 'Don't look so serious, darling,' Edgar said brightly. 'It is all ours now, to do what we like with. How happy we shall be!' 'Ahem!' coughed Mr Bates ominously, the only remark which, by the way, he had made during the scene. 'Bless me, Bates!' ejaculated Mr Carver in his abrupt way. 'Really, I had quite forgotten you.—Shake hands, Bates! Let me shake hands with my future partner.' 'Begging your pardon, sir, I think not. You'—reproachfully—'seem to have forgotten the will. Mr Morton's last testament left this property to Miss Wakefield—this money is part of his estate.' Mr Carver groaned and sank back in his chair. It was too true. Mr Morton's last will devised his estate to Miss Wakefield, and this treasure was hers beyond the shadow of a doubt.