When they found out how much the buried silver was worth--the inventory
was very thorough in the matter of description, dates, and weights--Mr.
Bob Jonstone burst out laughing. But Colonel Meredith, although
determined to stand by his bargain whatever the cash cost, looked like a
man who has just missed the last train.
"I haven't got that much money loose, Bob," he said, "but I can raise it
in a few days and then we'll execute a bill of sale. Meanwhile, allow me
to congratulate you on your accession to the aristocracy."
"Aristocracy? It's blood that counts--not money."
"According to the old democracy, yes. According to the new,
distinguished people pay an income tax and common people don't. And you,
a moment ago, before the valuation was completed, were a very common
fellow, indeed."
"Mel, I had no idea that old junk was worth so much."
"You hadn't? Well, it's worth more. I'm getting a bargain. Thank the
Lord you're a gentleman, so there's no danger of your backing out."
Jonstone seized his cousin's hand and pressed it affectionately.
"Mel," he said, "can you afford to do this thing? God knows the money
will make all the difference in the world to me! But in taking it I
don't feel any too noble."
"It was always ridiculous for me to be rich and for you to be poor.
That's done with. I'm still rich, thank God!--and you're well-to-do. You
can travel if you like, breed horses, install plumbing, burn coal, and
marry."
"If I was sure that the silver would ever be turned up, I wouldn't feel
so sheepish."
"As long as you don't look sheepish or act sheepish--suppose that now,
after a slight fortification, we visit a tailor. It is necessary for you
to dress according to your station in life."
Their first day in New York was immensely amusing to both of them.
Meredith was coming back to it after a long absence; Jonstone was seeing
it for the first time, and for the first time his pockets were full of
money that he did not owe. Now, New York is one of the finest summer
resorts in the world. Do not pity the poor business man who sends his
family to the mountains for the hot weather, for while they are burned
by the sun and fed an interminable succession of blueberry pies, he
basks in the cool of electric fans and dines on the fat of the land. His
business may worry him, but there is no earthly use in his attending to
it. That is done for him. He can skip away when he pleases for an
afternoon's golf or tennis. Somebody's motor is always going somewhere
where there is pleasure to be found and laughter. The lights of Luna
Park are brighter than the Bar Harbor stars, and the ocean which pounds
upon Long Beach is just as salt as that which thunders against Great
Head--and about twice as warm. For pure torture give me a swim anywhere
north of Cape Cod. Merely to step into such water is like having one's
foot bitten off by a shark.
It did not take Jonstone long to acknowledge that New York is even
bigger than Richmond, Virginia, and even livelier. The discovery of a
superannuated mosquito in his bathroom had made him feel at home, and
the fact that the head bartender in the hotel, though a native of
Ireland, fashioned a delicious julep.
But his equanimity came very near to being upset in the subway. He felt
a hand slipping into his pocket and caught it by the wrist. He had a
grip like looped wire twisted with pinchers. The would-be thief uttered
a startled shriek and was presently turned over to a policeman.
All the way to the station-house Mr. Jonstone talked excitedly and
triumphantly to his cousin.
"Yes, sir," he said, "you had me groggy with your high buildings and
your Aladdin-cave stores and your taxicabs and park systems. But by the
Everlasting, sir, this would never have happened to me south of the
Mason and Dixon line. No, sir; we may be short on show but we're long on
honesty down there. I don't even have to lock my door at night."
"That's because the lock's broken and you've always kept it shut with a
keg of nails. There are more pickpockets in New York than in Charleston,
but only because there are more pockets to pick."
"I don't get you," said Jonstone stiffly. A little later he did.
The culprit was asked his name by a formidable desk sergeant.
"Stephen Breckenridge."
Bob Jonstone gasped.
"Where do you come from?"
"Lexington, Kentucky."
Colonel Meredith let forth a howl of laughter. And after he had been
frowned into decorum by the sergeant, he continued for a long time to
look as if he was going to burst.
For some hours Mr. Jonstone was moody and unamused. Then suddenly he
broke into a winning smile.
"Mel," he said, "I wouldn't have minded so much if he had been smart
enough to get my money. It was bad finding out that he was a compatriot
of ours, but much more to realize that he was a fool."