“When must that interest be paid?”
“Before midday, Saturday. 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 285 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 principal 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?”