When Mr. Stafford retired from business in New York, and came back to
England, he was very wealthy. He purchased quite an estate with the
greater part of the money, and was living on it at the time our story
opens.
Few men can retire from active business life and settle down to a quiet,
humdrum existence; and, although such had been Mr. Stafford's ideal life
during his business career, he soon began to speculate--at first
successfully, but later disastrously.
In his efforts to regain what he had lost he gradually sunk deeper and
deeper in the mire, until at length the entire estate was mortgaged. The
interest on some of these mortgages was coming due about the time
Richard Martin had come upon the scene, and as he was not quite ready to
pay it, Mr. Stafford intended to go to London, and ask the attorney to
whom he made his payments for time. There had been no difficulty about
this previously, and he anticipated none now. He announced his intention
of going, one morning at breakfast; but as his family were in blissful
ignorance of the existence of any mortgages on their home, he gave them
to understand that he was going to attend a stockholders' meeting.
Breakfast over, Mr. Stafford strolled out with his pipe and Hall to keep
him company, and sat down under the trees near the spot where Kate had
been upset.
They were hardly seated before Hall said:
"Mr. Stafford, I don't exactly know how you look upon that compact
between yourself and my father, but I promised my father when only a
child to keep my part. When I grew older, and realized its full
significance, I must confess I looked upon it as nonsensical, and I came
as much from curiosity as anything else, but now--now----"
"Proceed, Mr. Hall."
"Well, now--if you have no objection I should be only too happy to make
your daughter my wife."
"None whatever--provided Kate is willing. Have you spoken to her?"
"No, but with your consent I will now."
Kate was coming toward them, and Hall went to meet her. He led her away
to a seat nearer the river, and as Mr. Stafford returned to the house he
saw Hall bending over Kate, who appeared to be paying great attention to
what he was saying.
"It was a very fortunate idea--not a foolish one," muttered Mr.
Stafford, as he gazed at them, "for unless I can get both time and money
we may not be here long."
He left shortly afterwards for London, and had been gone a half hour
when Hall returned alone. He had an unpleasant expression on his face,
and when informed of Mr. Stafford's departure, said he must go to London
also; that he had intended to accompany Mr. Stafford thither, but had
forgotten the time.
On reaching the station, he sent the following despatch to Jones &
Jones, No. 9 Queen Street, London.
"S will ask for time. Give none.
"BELDEN."
Mr. Hall smiled wickedly as he handed this despatch to the clerk, and
seated himself in the train in somewhat better spirits than he appeared
to be when he reached the station.
When Stafford arrived in London, he proceeded at once to the office
where he paid his interest and was conducted to the private office of
the senior member of the firm of Jones & Jones.
Before Mr. Stafford could explain the nature of his business, Mr. Jones
began:
"Well, Mr. Stafford, I suppose you've come to pay off that five
thousand. You are a little ahead--two days, I think--but we will be all
ready. In fact, if you can wait a short time--Eh! What's the matter?"
"Pay it off! Why, I thought--that is, I understood that there was no
need--no danger of my having to pay the principal as long as the
interest was paid up. I understood it was trust funds--your partner so
informed me when making the loan."
"But the mortgage has changed hands, Mr. Stafford," replied Mr. Jones,
"and the new mortgagee must have prompt payment of the interest."
He was feeling for the key to the telegram which lay upon his desk and
now found it.
"That is just what brought me here. Formerly I have had no trouble in
obtaining a little time, and I hope I shall have none now."
Mr. Stafford was terribly excited, and the lawyer really pitied him,
although he replied:
"I can promise you none, Mr. Stafford. Indeed I have positive
instructions to foreclose whenever the interest is not paid promptly."
With a weary sigh Mr. Stafford arose, and bidding Mr. Jones "good-day,"
passed into the street.
An hour after he left Mr. Hall arrived, and proceeded at once to Mr.
Jones's private office. Fully an hour elapsed before he arose to depart,
closing the conversation with, "Do nothing further until you hear from
me--I will telegraph you when to go ahead."
From the solicitors' office Hall proceeded rapidly to a tumble-down
building in the worst quarter of London. Another hour was spent there
and he emerged with the same ugly look on his face which it had worn
during the forenoon. It was nearly dark and he passed unnoticed through
the crowded alley, where a stranger usually excited considerable and not
always pleasant interest, and was soon at the station and a few minutes
later on his way to Manchester, from whence the ride home was but a few
minutes.
It was nine o'clock when Hall arrived, and he was surprised to find Mr.
Stafford had not returned. Mrs. Stafford not feeling well had retired,
and Kate was invisible, and so Hall betook himself to the refuge of the
lonely library, to await Mr. Stafford's arrival.