Page 63 of Ghost

“I see.Thank you, Mr.Higgins.”

“Was that all you wanted to know?”

Mason smiled at the man.“Yes, sir, that was all.”

“I remember all the rumors about her.Some claimed that she killed her husband and then her own son.No one that I knew of liked her.There was that priest who used to come around and see her, but even he was put off by her.”Owen narrowed his eyes.“Why the interest?”

“No particular reason.I bought the Watson house and I’m restoring it, is all.Thought I’d find out some of the history of the place.”

Owen Higgins eyes got as big as saucers.“You saw her.Saw her in that house, didn’t you?Just like you can see me when no one else can.”

“I suppose it wouldn’t hurt to tell you, but yes, I did.”

Owen leaned in close.“Did she do it?”

“Do what, Mr.Higgins?”

“Did she kill ‘em?”

Mason sighed.“Yes, she killed her son, Francis.I don’t know about the husband.”

Own snapped his fingers.“I knew it.She was a devil, that one.”

“What in tarnation is so important that we had to close the store up?”Nick was asking as he came up the stairs.

“You’ll see, Nick,” Mitch said.

“Is there a hole under that ol’ tub?”Paul asked.

“Oh lordy, I knew that there’d be something,” Patty complained.“You never know what you’re going to find in some of these old places.”

“Well, what is it?”Nick asked as he walked towards Mason.

Mason held the old strongbox out to Nick.“I believe this belongs to you now.”

Mr.Higgins stepped close so he could see inside the box as Nick opened it.

“Oh!Oh!My goodness.”Nick picked up the bundles of money and Patty took out the bonds.

Patty opened the certificates and read them.“Are these real?”

“Yep, they’re real alright,” Owen said.

“I do believe that they are,” Mason added since no one could hear or see Owen.

“There’s got to be at least twenty-thousand dollars here,” Nick said, quickly calculating the amount in each bundle.

“These bonds are dated 1901!”Patty exclaimed.“If they are real, they could be worth who knows how much!”

“I’d suggest that you put those in a safe somewhere until you can find out more about them,” Mason said.

“We could retire.Sell the store,” Patty all but squealed.

“I don’t know about all that now,” Nick hurriedly said.“They might not be worth the paper they’re written on, they’re so old.”

“We could travel!”Patty was dancing around the room.

Nick rolled his eyes.“Let’s not go counting chickens that we don’t even have, Patty.”Nick rolled his eyes.“You men about ready for some lunch?”