"I'm sorry to leave you so soon, Joe--I--I thought I'd be--be able to do
something for you some day."

"You have done something for me, Uncle Hiram."

"All I've got goes to you, Joe. Doctor, do you hear that?"

"I do."

"It--it ain't much, but it's something. The blue box--I put it in the
blue box--" Here the sufferer began to cough.

"The blue box?" came from Joe questioningly.

"Yes, Joe, all in the blue box--the papers and the money--And the blue
box is--is--" Again the sufferer began to cough. "I--I want water!" he
gasped.

The water was brought and he took a gulp. Then he tried to speak again,
but the effort was in vain. The doctor and Joe raised him up.

"Uncle Hiram! Speak to me!" cried the boy.

But Hiram Bodley was past speaking. He had passed to the Great Beyond.



CHAPTER IV.