After an interval Garcia said:
"From that letter it would appear that the proofs of the
girl's identity were in your wife's possession?"
"Yes."
"Did she keep her promise to you?"
"You mean did she inform me' where the box was hidden?"
"Yes."
"She did not."
"And she died without making the revelation?"
"Yes, she died very suddenly."
"Did you ever search over her papers?"
"I did."
"And never came across the slightest clew?"
"Never!"
"Why was it she did not make a confidant of you?"
"Well, I was a pretty wild sort of man in those days, and it's
my idea that many precious jewels are hidden in that box."
The eyes of the man Garcia glistened as he asked:
"What makes you think so?"
"Well, my old woman let fall many strange hints now and then,
and always said that Renie would be rich some day--immensely
rich."
"She meant when claimed by her friends?"
"Yes; but she once said that Renie would be rich whether her
friends claimed her or not; and what is more, money was always
ready when anything was needed for the girl."
"But the girl has been allowed to run loose."
"Not altogether; no, sir, not altogether; Renie has received
an expensive education, and my wife always found the money to
pay the bills; the girl thinks she was educated out of my hard
earnings, but never a dollar or my money went for her support
until after the old woman died!"
"Have you ever searched for the box?"
"I have."
"Do you suppose your wife ever opened it?"
"That I cannot tell, but once when she and I were in the City
of New York, we read about a great singer who had some
magnificent jewels, and my wife said to me: 'I'll wager I
could-show jewels handsomer and richer than that critter's
got, and they claim hers are valued at a hundred thousand
dollars.
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