“No, just show me where to sign,” protested the Widow petulantly, “and where it says ten cents a share.”
“Well, it says that here,” answered Wiley, putting his finger on the place, “but I’m going to read it to you–it wouldn’t be legal otherwise.”
19He wiped the beaded sweat from his brow and glanced towards the kitchen door. In this desperate game which he was framing on the Widow the luck had all come his way, but as he cleared his throat and commenced to read Virginia came bounding in. She was carrying a kitten, but when she saw the paper between them she dropped it on the floor.
“Virginia!” cried her mother, “go and hunt my glasses. They’re somewhere in my bedroom.”
“All right,” she responded, but when she came back she glanced inquiringly at the paper.
“You can go now,” announced the Widow, adjusting her glasses, but Virginia threw up her head.
“Do you know who that is?” she demanded brusquely, pointing an accusing finger at Wiley.
“Why–er–no,” returned the Widow, now absorbed in the agreement.
“Well, all right,” she said after a hasty perusal, “but where’s that sum of ten dollars? Now you hush, Virginia, and go–into–the–kitchen! Now, it says right here–oh, where is that place? Oh yes, ‘the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged’! Virginia!”
She stamped her foot, but Virginia’s blood was up and she made a grab at the paper.