SETH JOHNSON'S GIFT.
It was four weeks before Seth Johnson became convalescent. His system
was run down, and he was in a very critical state when found by Andy.
Careful nursing saved him.
When able to get out, he accompanied Andy to show him his lots. The plot
was about as large as Mr. Crawford's, but was a little further from the
center of the town. It would make about twenty-five lots of the average
size.
"How much will you take for the entire plot?" asked Andy.
"I don't want to sell the whole," said Johnson.
"I thought you meant to leave Tacoma for good?"
"So I do, but I propose to give one-fifth of the land to a friend."
"Then let me know how much you will take for the remaining four-fifths."
"Will five thousand dollars be too much?"
"I will buy it at that figure," said Andy, promptly.
"You don't ask me to whom I intend to give the fifth which I reserve?"
"It is probably no one whom I know."
"On the contrary, it is one whom you know well--it is yourself."
Andy looked his amazement.
"But how have I deserved such a gift?" he asked.
"You have saved my life. If you had not found and befriended me, I
should not have been living at this moment. 'All that a man hath will he
give in exchange for his life,' the Bible says. I don't give all, but I
give merely one-fifth of my land. I have ten thousand dollars, besides,
in San Francisco."
"I am deeply grateful to you, Mr. Johnson. I am a poor boy, and this
unexpected gift will help me to carry out some plans for the benefit of
my father, who is in an embarrassed condition."
"I advise you not to sell the land till you can sell at an advanced
price."
"I shall not do so. When the Northern Pacific is completed I am sure
lots will be much higher."
"To be sure. You are young and can wait. I am old, and I have no
particular desire to make money. I have enough to see me through."
When Andy started for New York he had the company of Seth Johnson. It
was agreed that the final arrangements for the transfer of the lots
should take place in Mr. Crawford's office.
They reached the city without adventure, and Andy, with his new friend,
reported at his employer's.
"I hope you are satisfied with what I have done, Mr. Crawford," said
Andy.
"Thoroughly so. You have made a good purchase. I shall pay you five
hundred dollars as an acknowledgment of the service you have rendered
me."
"But, Mr. Crawford, Mr. Johnson has already given me five lots."
"True; but this is his gift, not mine. You must not be afraid of
becoming too rich. You will need all your money."
"Yes, sir, but not for myself. I can now relieve my father's anxiety."
"Do you intend to tell him the amount of your good fortune?"
"I will only tell him of your gift."
On the basis of the sum which Mr. Crawford paid for the other
four-fifths, Andy's share of Mr. Johnson's land amounted to twelve
hundred and fifty dollars. But when, three months later, active
operations for the extension and completion of the railroad commenced,
it could easily have been sold for double.
But Andy was too sagacious to sell. In a year his father's mortgage
would be payable, and he wanted to be prepared for that.
Meanwhile Andy devoted himself with energy to mastering the details of
the real estate business. Perhaps because he now himself owned real
estate, he became very much interested in it. He was not able often to
visit Arden, but he never let a week pass without writing a letter home.
It was usually addressed to his mother, as his father was more
accustomed to guiding the plow than the pen. He also heard occasionally
from his boy friends. No letters were more welcome than those of
Valentine Burns. About three months before the mortgage became due he
received the following from Valentine:
"DEAR ANDY: I wish I could see you oftener, but I know you are busy,
and getting on. That is a great satisfaction to me. Your last letter
informing me that you had been raised to fifteen dollars a week gave
me much pleasure. I wanted to tell Conrad, only you didn't wish to
have me. He is getting prouder and more disagreeable every day. He
really seems to have a great spite against you, though I cannot
understand why.
"I met him the other day, and he inquired after you. 'He hasn't been
to Arden lately,' he said.
"'No,' I answered, 'he is too busy.'
"'Probably he can't afford the railway fare,' said Conrad.
"'I think he is getting good pay,' I said.
"'I know better. He isn't getting over six dollars at most,' said
Conrad.
"'Did he tell you so?' I asked.
"'No, but I heard on good authority,' he replied.
"'I wish I were getting that,' I said.
"'You wouldn't want to live on it,' he rejoined.
"'Well, perhaps not,' I admitted.
"'He won't long have a home to come back to,' said Conrad, after a
pause.
"'Why not?' I inquired.
"'My father holds a mortgage on his father's farm, and it will fall
due in three months,' he answered.
"'Surely he won't foreclose?'
"'Surely he will,' returned Conrad. 'Old Grant will have to leave
the farm and go to the poorhouse, or, at any rate, to some small
place like the Sam Martin house. It contains four rooms, and is good
enough for a bankrupt.'
"This made me uneasy. I hope, Andy, you will find some friend who
will be able and willing to advance money to pay the mortgage when
it falls due. I hear Squire Carter is treating with a city man to
buy the place. He evidently feels sure that it will come into his
possession."
When Andy read this portion of the letter he smiled.
"I suspect Conrad and his father will be disappointed," he said to
himself. "The city man will have to look elsewhere for an investment."
One day Andy had a pleasant surprise. Just in front of him on Broadway
he saw a figure that looked familiar.
The tall, bent form, and long white hair he recognized at once as
belonging to Dr. Crabb, the principal of Penhurst Academy.
He pressed forward.
"Dr. Crabb!" he exclaimed. "It is long since we have met. I hope you are
well."
Dr. Crabb surveyed him with a puzzled look; Andy had grown so much that
he could not place him.
"I suppose you are one of my old pupils," he said, "but I shall have to
ask your name."
"Don't you remember Andy Grant?"
"Bless my soul! is it possible? Why, you have grown much taller and
larger."
"Yes, sir; I don't want to stand still."
"And what are you doing now?"
"I am in business in this city."
"That is well, but it is a great pity you could not have remained at
school."
"I thought so myself at the time I left, but I'm quite reconciled to the
change now."
"Doubtless you are doing your duty, wherever you are. In what business
are you engaged?"
"I am in a real estate office."
"I hope you are making fine wages?"
"I receive fifteen dollars a week."
"Bless my soul! Why, that is all I pay my head assistant. You must be
giving great satisfaction. And how is your father?"
"He is pretty well, sir; but his loss of property has worn upon him."
"Naturally. Did I not understand that he had to mortgage his farm."
"Yes, sir."
"I hope there is no danger of foreclosure?"
"There might be, sir; but when the danger comes I shall be able to help
him."
"I am not much of a capitalist, Andy. I understand Latin and Greek
better than I do investments, but if a loan of a few hundred dollars
will help him I shall be willing to let him have it."
"Thank you very much, Dr. Crabb, but my employer, Mr. Crawford, will
give me all the help I need."
"I am truly pleased to hear it. I wish you were able to return to the
academy. You were our _primus_, and I did not like to spare you. You
might in time have succeeded me."
"I hope it will be a long time before you require a successor, doctor. I
shall confine my ambitions to succeeding in my business."