“I’m convinced that he doesn’t,” Hal Macy returned. “He told me the owner of them transacted all business pertaining to them through an agent, who refused to tell him the owner’s name. The agent told Mr. Saxe that the owner was not keen about selling them, but might consider one hundred, fifty thousand for them.”
“Ridiculous. I wouldn’t give a penny over forty thousand for them, and that’s a very fair figure,” the financier declared with slightly contemptuous finality.
“I offered fifty thousand for them, through Saxe. I hardly thought them worth more than that. The site is worth far more than are the houses. They are ramshackle, with practically no modern conveniences. It has been my idea to buy them, have the houses torn down, and, in their stead, erect modern two-story dwellings with all modern conveniences. These properties extend along the south side of the street for almost two blocks. The families who live in the rickety houses have been there for years, and are among the really deserving poor of Hamilton. As a staid, conservative college town Hamilton has little commercial or industrial interest. There is little work for the laboring man in and about the town at present. The shutting down of two or three of the few manufactories in Hamilton has made wage-earning a problem. I have talked with some of these poor fellows and have found their conditions deplorable. With no steady work, and a high rental to pay, to say nothing of the present high cost of living, the majority of them are hard pressed. I should like, at least, to see them in comfortable houses, at a more moderate rental than they are now obliged to pay.”
Hal’s eyes had strayed from Peter Cairns’ strong face to that of his Violet girl, confident of her sympathetic approval. They two, Leila and Vera, Leslie and her father had dined that evening at the Arms with Miss Susanna and were now gathered in the library for a confidential session.
Peter Cairns had arrived in Hamilton on the day before and was Miss Susanna’s guest. He had come in prompt response to her letter containing the affectionate mandate, “Peter, I want you to drop everything else and come to the Arms. I must see you.” Hal, still hugging his mysterious secret to his heart, had been equally anxious to see the financier. He had also pinned his faith upon Peter Cairns to ascertain for him the identity of the owner of the properties.
Listening to the discussion between Miss Susanna and the financier regarding the possibilities of locating Lawyer Norris, if living, or of obtaining the much desired information regarding the fifty-thousand-dollar Honor Fund should the attorney be deceased, Hal was more than ever convinced of Peter Cairns’ brilliant capabilities. His terse assurance: “I’ll attend to it for you, Miss Susanna, though it may take a little time to trace Norris,” had served to strengthen Hal’s belief in him.
“And that is the surprise you’ve been hiding from me,” Marjorie’s face was radiant. “I love it, and you, too, bushels and bushels,” she finished childishly.
“I knew you would.” Hal’s answering smile was like a caress. He tore his eyes reluctantly from his wife’s lovely face to explain boyishly to the others, “I’m a man without a job, you know, and it worries me, as much, maybe, as being out of work worries those poor fellows on Kenton Street. The only difference between us is that of money. They haven’t enough. I have too much. My grandfather left me a whole lot of money. A great uncle of mine left me a lot more. I’d like to use some of it to help the other fellow. Marjorie and I are so happy, I’d like to see others happy, too, because of it. I can’t see being a country gentleman with a stable full of fine horses, hunting dogs, and all that sort of thing. I want to keep going, in a way that will benefit others. Marjorie taught me the glory of work. Now I’d like best of all to show her how well I’ve learned my lesson.”
“Hal!” Came a flash of white, and Marjorie had perched herself upon the arm of Hal’s chair, her soft lips pressed against his cheek, a bare, clinging arm about his neck.
“You have your reward,” Peter Cairns said gallantly. Unconsciously his eyes strayed past the married lovers to Leila. Happening to meet the financier’s glance, Leila felt the color rise in her cheeks. She instantly looked away, self-vexed. Their glances had merely chanced to meet, was her annoyed thought. Deep in her heart, however, she was conscious of a growing admiration for the clean-cut, keen-eyed finance king.