"Tell me what it all means, Mark. I have a poor head for business."
"It means that grandfather owned four hundred shares of the Golden Hope mine in Colorado. Probably he bought it for a small sum. But it has proved unexpectedly rich, and it will probably soon be worth one hundred dollars a share. That means twenty thousand dollars for you, mother."
"And Solon Talbot wants me to relinquish my claim for a hundred dollars!" exclaimed Mrs. Mason indignantly.
"Exactly so, mother."
"Then I will give him a piece of my mind when he comes here this afternoon."
"Don't do it, mother. It is our policy to make him think we are ignorant of the existence of this important item in grandfather's estate. Only you must steadily refuse to sign a release."
"I will. I hope you will be here when he calls."
"I will get off for the afternoon. I wish to be here myself. I have a little headache, which will give me an excuse."
When Solon Talbot called on his sister-in-law about three o'clock in the afternoon he was rather disgusted to find Mark at home. He knew that Mark was much more clear-sighted than his mother, and he feared that he would influence her to refuse her signature.
"Good afternoon, Ellen," he said suavely.