MARY LEE'S LEGACY
"You see, Mr. Saunders, it isn't a question of our wanting any money,"
said Tom Marshall. "Mr. Lee is anxious to make safe provision for Mary
Lee out of the net proceeds of his share of the mine. As for my share,
I can wait until such time as the buyers are ready to turn over the
proceeds."
"The ore is there, all right, but the mine needs capital." Jim Lee was
now speaking. "We want to turn it over to the right hands, that is
all. That will benefit us most."
Mr. Saunders was a banker. As a business proposition, he was keenly
interested. He very naturally took some precautions, asked many
questions, but he seemed fairly well convinced at the end.
"I shall be able to arrange a meeting for you and probably find a way
that will be best for all concerned, if you will both call again this
afternoon."
The end of the day found the whole matter closed up. A company was
formed in which the two partners received a one-third share. If the
mine proved of great value, they were each to receive $100,000 in
addition. Jim Lee's share, by an extra provision, was to be paid out
in income to Mary Lee. He also made provision with Mr. Saunders to
turn over $15,000 of his available cash to the girl. It was finally
decided that Tom Marshall was not to enlist but to stay and manage the
mine.
That night the two men again called at the Saunders home. Indian Jim
told Mary Lee of his intention to enlist. The girl did not try to
dissuade him.
Then he went into the details, very simply, of what he wanted to do
with his money. The girl listened quietly. To her, Jim represented
family--so closely allied had he been to it--so much was he connected
with all her recollections of it.
"I don't know what to say, Jim," she remarked. "To tell you I don't
think you should turn over that money to me is needless, almost. Let
us put it this way: whatever money there is, I shall gladly count as
if it were partly my own; but for you to turn it over entirely to me,
isn't fair. Let it be for both of us."
The Indian smiled at her with great affection. He made no answer. He
did not tell her he had already made every provision. Instead, he told
her how much she meant to him, what a big debt he had owed her father.
"This," he said, "is but a small way of repaying it."
A few days later Jim was enrolled in the cavalry. His application had
been quickly approved--men like him were needed. But until he joined
his company the two men and Mary Lee, when she was free, and Letty,
too, spent many happy hours together. Tom Marshall's time was also
well spent and plans for proper equipment were being hurried for an
immediate start on the mine. Mr. Saunders was a quick, able worker and
he obtained results immediately.
"Won't it be fine," said Letty one holiday morning, "for you to have
all this money! You won't have to work any longer at Dr. Payson's,
will you?"
But Mary Lee laughed.
"Of course, I'll not give up my work," she asserted. "I'm learning
lots. Furthermore, I want to become a nurse and Dr. Payson agrees that
it is the best kind of training to begin as I have."
"But don't you find it awfully hard to give up your afternoons--in
fact, all your time, to work and study?" asked the less serious-minded
girl.
"Letty, dear, I do get so much fun out of my work at Dr. Payson's.
It's delightful--and wouldn't you call it recreation to be able to do
the things our Red Cross Group is doing? It is such a wonderful
opportunity."
"I suppose it is," the other girl answered uncertainly. "Hello,
there's the mail man," she added as from the window she saw him turn
in at their house. "I wonder if he has any mail for you and me?"
Almost at the same moment Ruth was ushered into the room. She saw
Letty go through the mail and pick out two letters. One, Letty gave to
Mary Lee, the other, she quickly opened.
"Well!" Letty exclaimed after reading her letter, "it certainly is
time."
"Won't we be glad to see her?" added Mary Lee, as she finished her
letter.
Ruth was all excitement. "Is Aunt Madge coming home?" she asked
eagerly.
"Mrs. Anderson, if you please, young lady," Letty answered
reprovingly.
"Wonder if I have a letter home, too," commented Ruth.
"I suppose you have, dear," replied Mary Lee assuringly.
"I have news for you, Ruth. May I tell her, Mary Lee?"
The girl nodded her assent. These two girls were her best friends. She
knew how glad Ruth would be because of her good fortune.
Letty told Ruth about the money that Jim Lee had turned over for Mary
Lee's use. Ruth's eyes opened with wonder and pleasure.
"Isn't that fine! I'm so glad, Mary Lee, dear."
"When does Jim Lee join the army?" she asked.
"I guess the day after tomorrow. He's coming here tonight."
"I wonder if we cannot get him to tell us an Indian story when he
comes," remarked Letty.
"He may," Mary Lee replied. "Will you come over tonight, Ruth?" she
asked.
"Yes, come to dinner," added Letty.
Ruth agreed.
"When does Mrs. Anderson come home, Mary Lee?" she asked as she
started to go.
"Next Saturday afternoon. Isn't that fine, for I am free on that
afternoon and can go with you and meet her," was the reply. "Bob is
coming home with them, too."
"I didn't know he was with them," Ruth said in surprise.
"Yes, he's been there for a week. It is but a short distance from his
school, so he went over."
"Be sure to come tonight," Letty reminded the departing girl. "We'll
hear a good story if Mr. Lee will tell it."
"I won't forget," replied Ruth.