A Debt of Honor

“This is a busy season,” he said. “Still if you have a good reason for wishing to be absent – ”

“I have a good reason,” answered Gerald. “I own some land in Gulchville, Colorado – eighty-five acres – and a rich syndicate formed in Chicago wants to buy it.”

“That is a very good reason,” said the merchant. “How much do they offer?”

“No definite offer has been made, but my tenant thinks they will be willing to pay me five thousand dollars.”

“Excellent. I was not aware that my youngest clerk was a man of property. Go by all means and make the best bargain you can.”

Gerald lost no time. He took the afternoon train to Kansas City, and thence went partly by cars and partly by stage to his old home in Gulchville. When he descended from the stage he saw at once a familiar face and figure. They belonged to Jake Amsden, who advanced to meet him with an eager welcome.

“Glad to see you, Gerald! How you’ve grown!” and Amsden grasped his hand as if they had always been the closest of friends.

“Thank you, Mr. Amsden,” said Gerald, smiling. “I didn’t imagine you would be so glad to meet me.”

“I’ve been longin’ to see you, my boy. It’s been very lonesome without you. And where is the Englishman you went away with?”

“He’s gone back to England. There was sickness in the family.”

“Is he coming back here?”

“I don’t know.”

“So you are comin’ back here to live?”

“No; I think not. I have a situation with a large firm in St. Louis. I am only here on a vacation.”

“That reminds me, Gerald. If you’ve got five minutes to spare I would like to talk with you on business.”

“I can give you five minutes, Mr. Amsden.”

“It’s about that place your father left you. It isn’t worth much, but I’ve been thinkin’ I’d like to settle down in a home of my own, and that place about suits me.”

“But,” said Gerald, who saw Amsden’s drift, “I would not like to turn Tom Carter out of his home.”

“No need of it, Gerald. I’d get him to board me, and I’d pay him somethin’, besides giving him his rent free.”

“Suppose I wait and consult Mr. Carter about it.”

This proposal did not suit Amsden, who knew that in that case Gerald would hear about the land speculation, and then his plans would fail utterly.

“Don’t wait for that, Gerald! Let’s fix the matter on the spot.”

“What do you propose to pay me for the property, Mr. Amsden?”

Jake Amsden closed one eye and assumed a contemplative look.

“I don’t know but I’d be willin’ to give you five hundred dollars, Gerald. That’s a good deal of money.”

“Have you got that sum of money in cash, Mr. Amsden?”

“Well, not exactly, but I’ll give you my note indorsed by a reliable party.”

“I would wish to know the name of the party.”

“Bradley Wentworth, of Seneca, Illinois. You know him as the man that was visitin’ you when your father died.”

“And you think he would indorse your note?”

“I know he would. He feels very friendly to me, Mr. Wentworth does.”

“And you offer me five hundred dollars?”

“Yes; and say twenty-five more for interest. Come now, what do you say?”

“I say no, Mr. Amsden. I have a letter in my pocket offering me a thousand dollars for the property.”

“Who is it from?” asked Amsden, making a grammatical mistake that plenty of better educated persons also make.

“Bradley Wentworth!”

“Oh!” exclaimed Amsden in chagrin. “He promised to leave the matter in my hands.”

“So you were bidding for him?”

“Well, partly for him and partly for myself.”

“And you really think you have offered me a fair price?”

“Yea; you can’t get as much anywhere else.”

“I’ll take three days to consider it, Mr. Amsden.”

In less than three days Gerald had sold his land for six thousand dollars, reserving twenty acres for himself. He allowed John Carter to remove his cabin to this tract, and at the end of a week set out on his return, with a Chicago check for six thousand dollars in his pocket. This he deposited in St. Louis, and with it made a purchase of good dividend-paying bank stock.

CHAPTER XXXIX

CONCLUSION

On his way back from Colorado Gerald stopped at Kansas City and ascertained that Victor Wentworth had recovered from his sickness and was intending to go to work on the following Monday.

“Mrs. Ferguson has agreed to take me back,” he said. “She has had another boy, but she does not like him.”

“You can’t make any arrangements without the consent of your guardian,” said Gerald smiling. “I have other views for you.”

“You can’t be any older than I,” said Victor, “but I feel like a small boy beside you. I wish I was as strong and self-reliant as you.”

“We were brought up differently, Victor. You are the son of a rich man, while my father was very poor.”