I told him it was worth about $8,500.00.
"Hum," he said, and pursed his lips.
"Couldn't I deed it to Mother or somebody," I said, "and save it?"
He shook his head. "No, that wouldn't be legal," he said.
"How I wish I had come to you at first!" I said.
"Yes," he replied absentmindedly, "that's the trouble with many so-called business men. They never think of using a lawyer to keep them out of trouble, but come to them only after they have got into it!"
A salesman from Bates & Hotchkin came in the afternoon and said his firm had told him about my wanting an inventory taken and offered to stay with me till it was done.
"What will it cost?" I asked. My $1500.00 began to look very small to me then.
He smiled and shook his head, and said:
"It won't cost you anything. If we can be of service to you, we want to be."