“The People’s Mutual Bond and Loan Company” was the name which a sign painter, after a few days, blocked out upon the glass doors, but the mere name was only a whet to the aggravated appetites of the other tenants. Turner and Fester and Squinch were in the latter’s office, discussing the mystery with some trace of irritation, when the source of it walked in upon them.
“I’m glad to find you all together,” said young Wallingford breezily, coming at once to the point of his visit. “I understand that you gentlemen were once a part of the directorate of a national building and loan company which suspended business.”
Ebenezer Squinch, taking the chair by virtue of his being already seated with his long legs elevated upon his own desk, craned forward his head upon an absurdly slender neck, which much resembled that of a warty squash, placed the tips of his wrinkled fingers together and gazed across them at Wallingford quite judicially.
“Suppose we were to admit that fact?” he queried, in non-committal habit.
“I am informed that you had a membership of some nine hundred when you suspended business,” Wallingford went on, “and among your effects you have doubtless retained a list of that membership.”
“Doubtless,” assented Lawyer Squinch after a thoughtful pause, deciding that he might, at least partially, admit that much.
“What will you take for that list, or a copy of it?” went on Mr. Wallingford.
Mr. Turner, Mr. Squinch and Mr. Fester looked at one another in turn. In the mind of each gentleman there instantly sprang a conjecture, not as to the actual value of that list, but as to how much money young Wallingford had at his command. Both Mr. Fester and Mr. Turner sealing their mouths tightly, Mr. Fester straightly and Mr. Turner pursily, looked to Mr. Squinch for an adequate reply, knowing quite well that their former partner would do nothing ill-considered.
“M-m-m-m-m-m-m-m,” nasally hesitated Mr. Squinch after long cogitation; “this list, Mr. Wallingford, is very valuable indeed, and I am quite sure that none of us here would think of setting a price on it until we had called into consultation our other former directors, Mr. Grout and Mr. Christmas.”
“Let me know as soon as you can, gentlemen,” said Mr. Wallingford. “I would like a price by to-morrow afternoon at two o’clock, at least.”