valise that rattled with a metallic jingle as his foot brushed against
it when he arose on her entrance.

"Have you come from the safe company?" she asked.

"Yes. I understood that there was one of our safes which could not be
opened, and they sent me. Here is the order," and he held out the paper.

He spoke with quiet dignity, omitting the "ma'am," from his salutation.
And Viola was glad of this. He was a relief from the usual plumber or
carpenter, who seemed to lack initiative.

"It is my father's private safe that we wish opened," she said. "He
alone had the combination to it, and he - he is dead," she added softly.

"So I understood," he responded with appreciation of what her grief must
be. "Well, I think I shall be able to open the safe without damaging it.
That was what you wanted, was it not?"

"Yes. Father never let any one but himself open the safe when he was
alive. I don't believe my mother or I saw it open more than ten times,
and then by accident. In it he kept his private papers. But, now that
he is - is gone, there is need to see how his affairs stand. The lawyer
tells me I had better open the safe.

"When we found that none of us knew the combination, and when it was
not found written down anywhere among father's other papers, and when
his clerk, Mr. Blossom, did not have it, we sent to the company."

"I understand," said the safe expert. "If you will show me - "