Captain Pott's Minister Part 33

"That is the thing that makes it hurt so," broke in the Elder. "He seems ungrateful for all I have done. I don't care half as much for the praises of people inspired by a crowd as I do for one kind word from an individual whom I have helped."

"Some one has influenced Uncle Josiah, if he has taken this att.i.tude against you."

"I have had the same fear. But even that would not excuse him for cursing me and threatening me with violence under my own roof."

Elizabeth looked doubtful.

"It amounts to that, my dear. The things he said to me last night are too vulgar to repeat. He swore vengeance against me. I am compelled to take a certain action against him, and naturally he is not able to see----"

"Father!" cried the girl. "Then, it is you who are threatening to do something against him."

"So it seems to him on the face of the action I must take. But at bottom it is an act of true friendship. He does not know the particulars, and I am in no position to explain."

"What is it you are going to do?" she asked, drawing farther into the corner near the window.

"I must request that you ask me no questions. You are not familiar enough with the law to comprehend."

Her gaze was fixed on him, and the Elder hitched sidewise in his chair, vainly trying to avoid her eyes. Failing in this, he attempted to meet her look squarely. His eyes shifted unsteadily, and he looked above her head. But the eyes of his child continued to bore into his guilty soul.

"Why do you stare at me in that manner, Beth?" he questioned, motioning her to his side.

"I don't know." She gave no evidence that she saw his effort to draw her near him.

"Then, stop glaring like that. How many times have I told you that it is unladylike?"

"You're going to take his place from him because he cannot pay that loan!" she whispered. "How can you be so cruel?"

Mr. Fox was left without excuse or reply. When he spoke, his voice was harsh, and his words were sharp.

"I see, I have been unwise in telling you."

"You didn't tell me, but I could not help guessing the truth."

"I'm doing it for his good, and unless you believe me,----"

"For his good! You can't mean that! You shall not stoop----"

"Stoop!" He caught up the word with a hiss. But he soon controlled his anger, and dropped his pale face into trembling hands. "G.o.d help me!

They that hurt me are even of my own household!"

"Father, I don't want to hurt you. I'm not your enemy!" she cried. "I'm only your little Beth trying so hard to see why you must do this terrible thing."

"Come to me," he begged.

She took her place on the footstool, and took his hand.

"I shall try to tell you all about it, if you will listen. I didn't intend to, but it is more than I can bear to have my own daughter question my honesty and integrity. Harold's unjust insinuations are almost more than I can bear. Now, if you----"

"Don't say it, Father! I have not doubted your word yet. I don't want to now. I won't doubt you. Tell me all, and I'll try to see this from your point of view."

"You guessed rightly about what I have to do. The mortgage on Josiah's place----"

"You can certainly extend that, if only for six months. You don't need the money."

"Don't interrupt me again, please. It's a far more serious thing than the small loan I made to Josiah to repair his place with. The old homestead was willed to Josiah's half-brother, providing he should outlive Josiah. Josiah knew nothing about that fact, and when he was so informed by his friends years ago, refused to listen to any of us. The half-brother left the country rather than quarrel with him over the estate. Later, this half-brother was in serious financial trouble, and I happened to come across him when he was in dire need of money. Knowing of the will, I loaned him all he needed, and took out a first mortgage on his property. Owing to peculiar circ.u.mstances, I put in a provision that there was to be no foreclosure so long as the interest was paid. I even went beyond the request which the man made, by including another clause which prevents me or my heirs from foreclosing before the expiration of two years after the last payment of interest. Have you followed me closely?"

She nodded.

"Well, each year the interest has been paid in full up to the last two.

As long as it was forthcoming I said nothing. I have not mentioned a word of this transaction between the half-brother and me, for I knew his hot temper would get the better of him. He thinks the man was drowned at sea, and it is best that he continue to think so. I have misled him into the belief that I was foreclosing because of the small loan I made last spring, and I trusted to his usual secrecy and apparent ignorance to say nothing about it to any one. But from the arrogant manner he maintained toward me last night I fear he has said more than is good for him. And I have every reason to think that the meddler is the minister.

I doubt not but that is the reason why he has gone to the city to-night, and I don't think he has gone alone."

"When must that interest be paid?"

"Before midday, Sat.u.r.day. The other loan does not come due for more than two weeks, but the time was so near that I did not think of Josiah questioning it."

"Who has been paying the interest on the other loan?"

"I do not know, but it has doubtless been coming from some estate of the father-in-law of Josiah's brother."

"Why was it dropped?"

"That I cannot tell you. I should have done nothing even now had I not learned that this half-brother has come into that estate through the death of the wife's father. I have every reason to believe that he could pay not alone the interest, but the princ.i.p.al as well, if he so desired."

"Perhaps this half-brother does not know about the inheritance."

"That is absurd. He does know, or should. The fact is, he is an outlaw and is hiding from justice."

"But why should you make Uncle Josiah suffer for what his half-brother did?"

"That is the very thing I am trying not to do. Can't you see where it would place him if I told him the truth?"

"Yes. But I see no reason why you can't let things go on as they have, and forget the unpaid interest."

"I have no power to do that. I put the matter in the hands of my lawyers in order to force the hidden rascal to take action."

"I think it would be best to tell Uncle Josiah all about it, and let him help you find the one who should pay."

"Such action would be senseless for two reasons: it would give Josiah grief and pain, and he would be unable to meet the obligation. It was larger than what the place would cover when first made, and with the deterioration in the value of the property it now far exceeds its worth.

Then, there is the interest for two years."

"Why don't you offer to buy the place, even paying more than the mortgage calls for? It would be a kindness."

"I made such an offer through my lawyer, but Josiah refused."

"Then, why not cancel it altogether?"

"That would be very unbusiness-like," he declared curtly. "But even if I so desired, it would be impossible now. I have permitted my lawyers to use the foreclosure as a threat, and I'm duty bound to see it through."