He stormed up and down the office, calling his cousin every
uncomplimentary name that occurred to him, vowing the whole story to
be a lie, and that the land should be his anyway; threatening suit and
personal vengeance. His last words, as he strode to the door, were:
"And--and you're the fellow, the poor relation, that I gave my business
to just from kindness! All right! I haven't finished with you yet."
John's answer was calm, but emphatic.
"Very well," he said. "But this you must understand: I consider myself
under no obligation whatever to you, Mr. Kendrick. In the very beginning
of our business relationship you and I had a plain talk. I told you when
I consented to act as your attorney that I did so purely as a matter of
business and that philanthropy and kinship were to have no part in it.
And when you first mentioned your intention of forcing Mrs. Barnes to
give up her home I told you what I thought of that, too."
East Wellmouth's wealthiest summer resident expressed an opinion.
"You're a fool!" he snarled. "A d--d impractical fool!"
The door slammed behind him. John laughed quietly.
"As a judge of character, Captain Bangs," he observed, "my respected
cousin should rank high."
Captain Obed's first act after E. Holliday's departure was to rush
over, seize the young man's hand with one of his own, and thump him
enthusiastically upon the back with the other.
"I said it!" he crowed. "I knew it! I knew you was all right and square
as a brick all the time, John Kendrick! NOW let me meet some of those
folks that have been talkin' against you! You never did a better day's
work in your life.
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