As I stood looking at the drawer, a sudden thought flashed through
my mind, and I pressed my hand against the other side. It began to
yield! I pressed harder, and up sprung a corresponding secret
receptacle, from which a paper fell out. A hard substance rattled on
the solid wood. It was a gold locket, tied with a piece of blue
ribbon; and attached, with a seal, to the folded paper.
It was some moments before a hand reached forth to lift the
document. It was at length taken up by Mr. Wallingford. As he did
so, the locket swung free, and we saw that it contained a braid of
dark hair. Unfolding the paper, and stepping back to the light, he
read, in a low, firm voice, as follows:
"I, John Allen, being of sound mind, do make this as my last will
and testament, revoking, at the same time, all other wills. I give
and bequeath all my property, real and personal, to my sister Flora,
if living; or, if dead, to her legal heirs--reserving only, for my
wife, Theresa Garcia, in case she survive me, a legacy of five
hundred dollars a year, to be continued during her natural life.
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