Two Boys and a Fortune | Page 9

to use those berries in that way?"
Roy hated waste above all things.
Rex checked the toss he was about to make, and transferred the berry to
his mouth instead.
"Has your majesty any objections to that disposition of the fruit?" he
asked with an assumption of the courtliness that became him so well.
"Well, it's a legitimate disposition at any rate," returned Roy. Then he

went out to the barn to feed the chickens and look after the cow, for the
Pells kept no hired man. The boys attended to the kitchen garden-- at
least Roy did most of it, and there had been no horses kept by the
family since shortly after Mr. Pell's death.
This was another of Rex's trials.
"Think of living in the country without a horse!" he would exclaim.
"And then to have the stable on the place into the bargain! It's enough
to make the horse we haven't got laugh."
To be sure he had plenty of rides. The Bowmans who came down to
Marley for the summer, were very fond of him, and nearly every day
during the summer Scott took him out in his cart.
But Rex sighed to return this hospitality. All of his friends were glad to
come down to the Pellery, as Rex called it, for Mrs. Pell was a great
favorite and the young people were lively and bright. Rex fretted,
however, because he had no "attractions" to offer them.
He was feeling particularly gloomy this morning. Having exhausted
himself in regretting the good time he would lose in not being able to
go with the Bowmans, he had taken to lamenting his condition here in
Marley during vacation with Scott away. He was not so fond of reading
as was Roy, and without plenty of congenial society, he was apt to find
that time hung heavy on his hands.
Scott had gone to Philadelphia this morning to make some purchases
for his journey. He would not he back till afternoon. Rex had not yet
planned what to do with himself in the meantime.
"Where are you going?" he called out presently, when he saw Roy
walking down toward the gate.
"Over to Mr. Tyler's to see how he is. Want to come?"
"I believe I do," answered Rex slowly. "Hold on a minute till I get my
cap."

Roy was rather surprised that his brother should wish to go. He
wondered just how Mr. Tyler would like his bringing him. Then he
remembered what the miser had said about Rex reminding him
somewhat of Maurice Darley and thought perhaps he might be glad to
see him on this account.
It was cooler than it had been the previous day. The country about
Marley and Burdock was beautiful, extremely rolling and rich in
vegetation, so the walk was a pleasant one.
"Say, did Mr. Tyler really have Syd make his will last night?" asked
Rex as they were crossing the covered bridge over the creek.
"Yes," answered Roy.
"Did he have much to leave?" went on Rex, stooping down as they
emerged on the road again, to pluck a tall blade of grass which he
began to munch between his white teeth.
"About half a million." Roy thought he might as well tell this. He knew
that if he tried to evade the question his brother would be apt to think
he was keeping something back.
"What?" Rex stopped stock still in the road to utter the exclamation.
"That old bag of bones worth half a million dollars! Nonsense."
"I think it's more likely he should be worth that amount," returned Roy,
"than the Bowmans, for instance, who seem to spend their income right
up to the handle. You know everybody has always thought Mr. Tyler
had money."
"I know they have, but such a sum as that!"
Rex walked on again, knitting his brows in thought. There was silence
between the boys while they ascended the hill on the opposite side of
the creek. Then as they reached the top, Rex was about to ask another
question when Roy clutched his arm suddenly.

"Look there," he cried. "Isn't that undertaker Green's wagon in front of
the house? Mr. Tyler must be dead!"
CHAPTER V
BREAKING THE NEWS
"Great Caesar, Roy! What's come over you?"
Rex was staring in amazement at his brother, who had turned quite
white at the sight of the undertaker's wagon standing in front of the
miser's home. He had halted and gone off to one side of the road to lean
against a tree, where he stood now, mopping his face with his
handkerchief.
"I hadn't any idea he would die so soon," he said. "It seems like an
awful shock, although I do remember that Dr. Martin said he was in a
pretty bad