"I don't believe I should say or think any such thing. These men would be plotting to commit a crime and it would be my duty to tell you," replied Leopold.
"My sentiments exactly. A crime! That's just my opinion of what my grandad is doing."
"If you think so, it is perfectly proper for you to let on."
"I do think so and I shall let on," added Stumpy. "As you said just now, the interest on the mortgage note which your father owes Squire Moses will be due on the first day of July; and that's only ten days ahead. The squire thinks your father won't be able to raise the money, because he has been to him to ask the old skin flint to let him up a little."
"Yes; I know all that," replied Leopold, sadly, for he dreaded the first of July almost as a condemned convict dreads the day of execution.
"I went up to grandad's the other day, to carry his spectacles, which he left on the table when he came to tell mother that she must move out on the first of August. I wanted to give the spectacles into his own hands, and to say a word to him about the place, if I got a chance. I went into the kitchen, where the old man stays when he's in the house. He wasn't there; but I heard his voice in the next room where he keeps his papers, and I sat down to wait till he came out. There was no one in the kitchen but myself, for the women folks had gone up stairs to make the beds."
"But whom was Squire Moses talking to?" asked Leopold, much interested.
"I was going to tell you all about it, Le; but I wanted to say, in the first place, that I didn't go into the kitchen to listen, and I didn't want to break in on the old man when he was busy. Squire Moses did most of the talking, and it was some time before I found out who was with him. But after a while the other man spoke, and I knew it was Ethan."
"Ethan Wormbury you mean?" asked Leopold.
"Yes my uncle Ethan, that keeps the Island Hotel. Your father's new house, Le, has scared him half out of his wits. I can't remember half I heard them say; but the substance of it was, that if your father don't pay his interest money on the very first day of July, the old man means to foreclose the mortgage just as quick as the law will let him. That's the upshot of all that was said."