Set aside to
Eileen's credit the usual amount for housekeeping expenses. Turn
the private account in with the remainder. Start two new bank
books, one for Eileen and one for me. Divide the surplus each
month exactly in halves. And I believe this is the proper time
for the bank to turn over to me a certain key, specified by my
father as having been left in your possession to be delivered to
me on my coming of age."
With the key in her possession, Linda and John Gilman left the
bank. As they stood for a moment in front of the building,
Gilman removed his hat and ran his hands through his hair as if
it were irritating his head.
"Linda," he said in a deeply wistful tone, "I don't understand
this. Why shouldn't Eileen have come today as she agreed? What
is there about this that is not according to law and honor and
the plain, simple rights of the case?"
"I don't know," said Linda; "but there is something we don't
understand about it. And I am going to ask you, John, as my
guardian, closing up my affairs today, to go home with me to be
present when I open the little hidden door I found at the back of
a library shelf when I was disposing of Daddy's technical books.
There was a slip of paper at the edge of it specifying that the
key was in possession of the Consolidated Bank and was to be
delivered to me, in the event of Daddy's passing, on my coming of
age. I have the key, but I would like to have you with me, and
Eileen if she is in the house, when I open that door.
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