“We’re trying the straightening-out process,” put in Tavia. “We had just started after being locked——”
“Careful!” warned the agent. “I cautioned you about libel, you remember, and that snapping shut of the lock on the door was an error, I tell you.”
“Never mind about that part,” broke in Tavia. “Tell us about the business end of it. About the rents, why they have fallen off, and all the rest.”
“Have you really been going over the books with him, Dorothy?” asked Mrs. White, in wonder.
“Allow me to tell about matters,” interrupted Akerson. “I think I understand it better.”
“You ought to,” murmured Tavia.
“I will listen to you, Mr. Akerson,” said Mrs. White, gravely. “You may proceed.”
“As I have just been saying to Miss Dale,” he went on, pointing to the ledgers on his desks, “this matter can be explained in two minutes, if you will just glance over these entries.”
He pushed the books toward Aunt Winnie.
“Don’t look at them, Aunt Winnie,” cried Dorothy. “The entries are false! We have his own words to prove his wrong-doing! His statements to Tavia and Miss Mingle’s word to us are different.”