“A hundred and twenty dollars for a thousand! The rascal! I wouldn’t take it,” broke out Jack, impetuously.
“That’s just the way I feel, Jack. I’d rather wait forever, if it wasn’t for your education. I can’t afford to have you lose that. I’m to give an answer this evening.”
“We won’t do it,” said Jack. “I’ve got a memorandum here,” and he took the slip of paper from his pocket and unfolded it, “that’ll bring more money out of him than that. I’m going to see Mr. Beal at once.”
Mrs. Dudley looked at the paper without understanding just what it was, and, without giving her any further explanation, but only a warning to secrecy, Jack made off to the lawyer’s office.
“Where did you get this?” asked Mr. Beal.
“I promised not to mention his name—I mean the name of the one who gave me that. I went to the clerk’s office with the description, and the clerk wrote the words: ‘Francis Gray, owner, no incumbrance.’”
“I wish I had had it sooner,” said the lawyer. “It will be best to have our judgment recorded in that county to-morrow,” he continued. “Could you go down to Port William?”
“Yes, sir,” said Jack, a little reluctant to go back. “I could if I must.”
“I don’t think the mail will do,” added Mr. Beal. “This thing came just in time. We should have sold the claim to-night. This land ought to fetch five hundred dollars.”
Mr. Tinkham, agent for Francis Gray, was much disappointed that night when Mrs. Dudley refused to sell her claim against Gray.