"What is it?"
"That Uncle Solon is trying to cheat you out of a large sum of money."
"Is that possible? But father did not leave a fortune."
"So we all supposed. What if I should tell you that he left you enough to make you comfortable for life on your share."
Mrs. Mason looked incredulous.
"Here, read this memorandum, mother," and Mark explained briefly how he came into possession of it.
"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."