“It isn’t any good, boy!” she remarked sadly, as they sat together. “It is just as bad as it can be. Everything he has is held as security by the bank. He is in it also with property in Vancouver, Victoria, New Westminster and Prince Rupert. I have gone through it––and it is absolutely hopeless. There is nothing left for him in honour to do but to assign everything. This house and ranch is all that will be left, because it was made over to me over a year ago––but it will have to go, too.”
“Oh, no, it won’t! They can’t touch it if it is yours.”
“Phil, boy!––do you think I would hold it if daddy owed a cent? Shame for you!”
“But I tell you, dearie, it would be madness to throw this place in. It wouldn’t save your dad any, for it isn’t nearly enough.”
Eileen simply shook her head sadly.
“It is no good! If I let this go, it will mean so much less that poor daddy will owe. And that will be something, after all.
“Eileen Pederstone means to be able to hold her head up, and she could never do it if she clung on to this.”
“Have you any idea how much he would require to tide things over, Eileen?”
“I am not sure, but with this place sold even at a sacrifice, maybe a hundred thousand dollars more might stop the gap till the pendulum swings back a little. And––it might not! It might simply be throwing good money after bad.”