"
Mr. Cobb tugged at his whiskers.
"You've got a temper, ain't you," he declared. "Temper's a good thing
to play with, maybe, if you can afford it. I ain't rich enough, myself.
I've saved a good many dollars by keepin' mine. If you don't want me to
give you nor lend you money, what do you want?"
"I want you to take a mortgage on some property I own. You do take
mortgages, don't you?"
More whisker pulling. Solomon nodded.
"I do sometimes," he admitted; "when I cal'late they're safe to take.
Where is this property of yours?"
"Over in East Wellmouth. It's the old Abner Barnes place. Cap'n Abner
willed it to me. He was my uncle."
And at last Mr. Cobb showed marked interest. Slowly he leaned back in
his chair. His spectacles fell from his nose into his lap and lay there
unheeded.
"What? What's that you say?" he asked, sharply. "Abner Barnes was your
uncle? I--I thought you said your name was Cahoon."
"I said it used to be afore I was married, when I knew you. Afterwards
I married Eben Barnes, Cap'n Abner's nephew. That made the captain my
uncle by marriage."
Solomon's fingers groped for his spectacles. He picked them up and took
his handkerchief from his pocket. But it was his forehead he rubbed with
his handkerchief, not the glasses.
"You're--you're Abner Barnes' niece!" he said slowly.
"Yes--niece by marriage."
"The one he used to talk so much about? What was her
name--Patience--Temp'rance--"
"Thankful--that's my name.
Pages:
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92