Sothern touched the buzzer and the clerk came in from the outer office.
"Take Mr. Drennen's dictation," said Sothern. "I'll go into the other room.…"
Drennen lifted his hand.
"It's nothing private, sir," he said. "I'd rather you stayed. I'd like a word with you afterwards."
The clerk took pencil and notebook. And Drennen, his eyes never leaving Sothern's face, dictated:
"Harley W. Judson, Esq., President Eastern Mines, Inc., New York.
DEAR SIR:—In compliance with the last request of my father, John Harper Drennen, before his departure for Europe in 1901, I am forwarding draft on the Merchants' & Citizens' National Bank of New York for $40,000. John Harper Drennen's original indebtedness to your company was, you will remember, $75,000. Of this amount some $50,000 was paid from the sales of such properties belonging to him at that time. The remaining $25,000 at an interest of 6% for the ten years during which the obligation has continued, amounts to the $40,000 which I enclose.
Respectfully,"
"That is all, Mr. Drennen?" asked the clerk.
"That is all," answered Drennen. The clerk went out. Drennen turned toward the man at the desk whose stern set face had gone strangely white.
"The absconding John Harper Drennen made such a request of you?" Marshall Sothern said calmly, though the effort for control was evident.