CHAPTER II.
THE AGENT.
The Major hunted up the real estate dealer's former letter as soon as hereached his office next morning. The printed letter-head, somewhatblurred, because too much ink had been used, read as follows:
Marshall McMahon McNutt, Real Estate Dealer & Horses to Pasture by the week or month.
Also Plymouth Rock Hens & Road Commissioner Agent for Radley's Lives of the Saints Insurance and Watermelons My Specialty
Millville, Mount County, N.Y.
The Major shook his head doubtfully as he read the above announcement;but Mr. McNutt was the only known person to whom he could appeal tocarry out John Merrick's orders. So he dictated the following letter:
_Dear Sir_:
_Mr. John Merrick, the present owner of the Wegg farm at Millville,desires to spend his summer vacation on the premises, and thereforerequests you to have the house and grounds put in first-class shape assoon as possible, and to notify me directly the work is done. Have thehouse thoroughly cleaned, the grass mowed around it and the barns andoutbuildings repaired wherever it may be necessary. You are alsoinstructed to procure for Mr. Merrick's use a good Jersey cow, some pigsand a dozen or so barnyard fowls. As several ladies will accompany theowner and reside with him on the place, he would like you to report whatnecessary furniture, if any, will be required for their comfort. Sendyour bill to me and it will receive prompt attention_.
After several days this reply came:
_Mister Doyle you must be crazy as a loon. Send me fifty cold dollars asan evvidence of good fayth and I wull see what can be done. Old Hucks islivin on the place yit do you want him to git out or what? Yours fer asquare deal Marshall McMahon McNutt_.
"John," said the Major, exhibiting this letter, "you're on the wrongtack. The man is justified in thinking we're crazy. Give up this ideaand think of something else to bother me."
But the new proprietor of the Wegg farm was obdurate. During the pastweek he had indulged in sundry sly purchases, which had been shipped, inhis name to Chazy Junction, the nearest railway station to Millville.Therefore, the "die had been cast," as far as Mr. Merrick was concerned,for the purchases were by this time at the farm, awaiting him, and hecould not back out without sacrificing them. They included a set ofgardening tools, several hammocks, croquet and tennis sets, and aremarkable collection of fishing tackle, which the sporting-goods manhad declared fitted to catch anything that swam, from a whale to aminnow. Also, Uncle John decided to dress the part of a rural gentleman,and ordered his tailor to prepare a corduroy fishing costume, a suit ofwhite flannel, one of khaki, and some old-fashioned blue jean overalls,with apron front, which, when made to order by the obliging tailor, costabout eighteen dollars a suit. To forego the farm meant to forego allthese luxuries, and Mr. Merrick was unequal to the sacrifice. Why, onlythat same morning he had bought a charming cottage piano and shipped itto the Junction for Patsy's use. That seemed to settle the matterdefinitely. To be balked of his summer vacation on his own farm was athing Mr. Merrick would not countenance for a moment.
"Give me that letter, Major," he said; "I'll run this enterprisemyself."
The Major resigned with a sigh of relief.
Uncle John promptly sent the real estate agent a draft for five hundreddollars, with instructions to get the farm in shape for occupancy at theearliest possible day.
"If Old Hucks is a farm hand and a bachelor," he wrote, "let him staytill I come and look him over. If he's a married man and has a family,chuck him out at once. I'm sure you are a man of good taste andjudgment. Look over the furniture in the house and telegraph me whatcondition it is in. Everything about the place must be made cozy andcomfortable, but I wish to avoid an appearance of vulgarity orextravagance."
The answer to this was a characteristic telegram:
_Furniture on the bum, like everything else. Will do the best I can.McNutt_.
Uncle John did not display this discouraging report to Patsy or herfather. A little thought on the matter decided him to rectify thedeficiencies, in so far as it lay in his power. He visited a largeestablishment making a specialty of "furnishing homes complete," andordered a new kitchen outfit, including a modern range, a mission styleoutfit for a dining-room, dainty summer furniture for the five chambersto be occupied by his three nieces, the Major and himself, and a varietyof lawn benches, chairs, etc.
"Look after the details," he said to the dealer. "Don't neglect anythingthat is pretty or useful."
"I won't, sir," replied the man, who knew his customer was "the greatJohn Merrick," who could furnish a city "complete," if he wished to, andnot count the cost.
Everything was to be shipped in haste to the Junction, and Uncle Johnwrote McNutt to have it delivered promptly to the farm and put in order.
"As soon as things are in shape," he wrote, "wire me to that effect andI'll come down. But don't let any grass grow under your feet. I'm a manwho requires prompt service."
The days were already getting uncomfortably warm, and the little man wasnervously anxious to see his farm. So were the nieces, for that matter,who were always interested in the things that interested their eccentricuncle. Besides Patricia Doyle, whom we have already introduced, thesenieces were Miss Louise Merrick, who had just celebrated her eighteenthbirthday, and Miss Elizabeth--or "Beth"--De Graf, now well past fifteen.Beth lived in a small town in Ohio, but was then visiting her citycousin Louise, so that both girls were not only available but eager toaccompany Uncle John to his new domain and assist him to enjoy hissummer outing.