“And I reckon you all want your money,” he said in a low voice at last.
“We are not pushing matters,” explained Major Carey, “but we have all agreed that you ought to know the real facts.”
“And this Richmond Trust Co. note,” broke in Morey suddenly. “I suppose the note is due. Perhaps they won’t renew it. I don’t know much about these things, but they could push us, couldn’t they? They might foreclose on the land and take it, mightn’t they?”
Major Carey coughed. “That note has passed into the hands of other parties.”
“Whose? Do you know?”
“Captain Barber’s bank.”
“Oh,” exclaimed Morey, “our bank? Yours and Captain Barber’s?”
“Yes. But, of course, it is one of the bank’s assets now and the directors are anxious to get their money.”
“Why? Isn’t the interest enough? The security is certainly ample.”
“That’s the trouble, Morey. The security is not the best. Farm lands hereabouts have fallen so in value that we are calling in all loans of that sort.”