“No,” said the squire, candidly. “I think you may get a little something for it. I suppose fifty or a hundred dollars would be acceptable.”
“It would be more than I ever expected to realize from it. Do you really think it is likely to amount to as much as that?”
“I really do,—that is, I hope so. If you are content to give me authority to act for you, I will do the best I can, and, of course, I shall charge you nothing for my services.”
“How kind you are, Squire Turner! I will sign anything you think best.”
“I have brought a paper properly drawn up, empowering me to act for you,” said the squire. “I will see that you have no trouble in the matter.”
Here he produced the paper, and Mrs. Raymond unhesitatingly affixed her signature.
“I am sure,” she said, “I never expected, after so many years, that the warrant would ever amount to anything.”
“It may not, but I think it will. I will do my best for you. In fact, I shall be obliged to go West next week on some other business, and will take Milwaukie on my way. I never was there, and, apart from your business, I shall enjoy seeing the city.”
Was it surprising that Mrs. Raymond considered Squire Turner a very disinterested friend? She felt sure that he was putting himself to considerable trouble and some expense to promote her interests. As to that, it was certainly true that Squire Turner’s sole motive, in making the western journey on which he had determined, was connected with Mrs. Raymond’s land warrant.
What success he met with will be told in the following chapter.