He knew nothing at all about running a mill, yet he expected to take sole charge. This, to say the least, was peculiar.
His assertion that my father’s estate was indebted to him to the amount of six hundred and fifty dollars astonished and dismayed me. What had my parent done with the greater part of this? and how was I ever to settle up?
The mill property as it now stood was not worth over twelve hundred dollars, and at a forced sale it was not likely that it would bring half that sum. How, then, was his claim to be met? and, when all was settled, what was to become of me?
By the time I had asked myself these questions we had reached the mill. Here I introduced Ford, and the three of us entered.
“Not such a good place as I expected to find,” remarked Mr. Norton, examining first one thing and then another. “You don’t seem to keep things in very good order.”
“We keep them in as good order as possible. Many of the things are worn so much that they cannot be repaired,” I replied.
“And it takes work to fix things up,” he added, with a hard look.
I did not reply, and I saw Ford toss his head.
“Well, let us go into the house part,” went on Mr. Norton. “I’m fearfully hungry. Got anything good?”