“I was not speaking of putting a mortgage on the place. I was speaking of paying cash. As I understand it, my father had only lapsed in his payments a short time. If he were ready now to pay up all obligations, and whatever other expenses you had been obligated to meet, isn’t there some way that the matter could be settled and the property be taken off your hands?”
“Why, my dear young lady,” said the man patronizingly, “what reason do you have to suppose that your father could pay his obligations now any better than six months ago when he finally surrendered the property?”
“When you finally took the property from him, you mean,” she said coolly. “I understand you gave him no chance to refinance the mortgage and that you were very hard on him indeed. However, that has nothing to do with my question. I have some money myself, and I would like to clear my father’s home and put the deed in his hands for a Christmas gift if I find that your demands are within reason. I shall call up my Chicago lawyer, of course, and have the whole affair looked into before I pay the cash, but if I do this, I shall want to do whatever I do quickly. Can you give me an idea what the demands were that my father could not fulfill, and would there be a likelihood, if they were paid now, with reasonable interest, of course, for the delay, that you could release the property?”
There was something about Marjorie’s air of assurance that impressed the real estate man, who had been having a hard time himself just now and felt that in this property he was stuck with a house too large to realize its full value during the present depressed state of things. He looked at her a minute questioningly and then he said, “Well, we’ll go and see Mr. Horgan. Perhaps he will know of some arrangement that can be made. It is very commendable of you, of course, to be willing to help your father, and I’m sure Mr. Horgan will want to help in any way he can. Of course, you have been misinformed about the transaction. Your father was given every possible opportunity to recover himself.”
He said it with a smug smile, and Marjorie felt that she needed a very wary lawyer indeed to deal with this man. But she said nothing, and the quick drive back to the office was taken almost in silence on her part.
Mr. Horgan was an elderly man with gray hair parted meticulously in the exact middle and thin lips that seemed never to give an advantage to anyone. He had small steel-colored eyes that looked coldly through her, and he tried to put her through a questionnaire about her family before he answered her question. But Marjorie held her head haughtily, and, gathering her expensive furs about her, rose.
“Excuse me, Mr. Horgan,” she said, “I have no time to answer questions. I want to know if there is any way in which my father can now meet the obligations. Perhaps I had better get my Chicago lawyer to attend to the matter, since you do not seem willing to name any sum that would satisfy the demands.”
“Oh, that won’t be necessary,” said Mr. Horgan, rising in protest, “I was merely interested to know just how sure a thing this would be. I can’t, of course, enter into any more contracts that will eventually result in the same disaster and throw the property back on our hands again, with only more cost and delay.”
“If I decide to do this thing,” said Marjorie, drawing herself to her full height and trying to act as grown up as possible—though in reality she was very much scared—“I will see that you have a certified check for the full amount within the week.”
Marjorie knew about certified checks. She knew their power.
Mr. Horgan became suave at once.
“Oh, well, in that case, of course everything would be different. You know, of course, that the sum was quite large that your father was owing, do you not?” And he sailed into details of interest and principal and personal bond, while Marjorie stood her ground and tried to look cool and businesslike and not tremble.
“I would have to talk this matter over with my partner, of course, for usually, you know, we do not do things in just this way,” went on Mr. Horgan. “The matter was formally settled up and the property handed over. But, since you are willing to pay cash, we might find a way to get around the regular routine in such cases. It would be, however, you understand, at least—” And he named a sum so much smaller than Marjorie had dreamed that she was almost afraid she showed how surprised she was. However, she had the good sense to keep still and merely bow her head gravely, and the man was left in doubt whether she was horrified at the amount or pleased.
“Of course, after we have looked over the figures of the actual cost to ourselves,” he went on smoothly with a smile which was meant to be patronizing, “we might be able to do a little better than that, if you found that was impossible, but I’m inclined to think if we find that we can make terms at all, it will be in the neighborhood of the sum I have named.”
“Very well,” said Marjorie, taking a deep breath and hoping the man couldn’t see how excited she was, “I will get my lawyer on the telephone and consult with him about this. He will know what I should do about it, and I shall either return sometime this afternoon for your answer or send a representative of my Chicago lawyer to talk with you.”
Marjorie, still holding her head high, sailed out of the office coolly, with only an icy little smile for the impressed agent. He bowed her out ostentatiously, almost afraid to have her go lest he was losing a prospect that perhaps never would return.
Marjorie, out on the pavement, summoning a taxi, found herself so excited that she could scarcely give a direction to the driver.
She had gotten from Betty a list of some of the best department stores, and she went straight to one and hunted up a telephone booth, calling the Wetherill lawyer long distance.
“Well, I certainly am glad to hear your voice, young lady,” said Mr. Melbourne, “I was beginning to think you had eloped or been kidnapped or something. A certain gentleman in Chicago has besieged me night and day to discover your address so that he may send you Christmas greetings, he says, and I have been deeply chagrined that I could not give it to him. Where in the world have you been, and what are you up to? Nothing the matter, is there, that you take such an expensive way of communication?”
“No, nothing the matter,” said Marjorie. “I’m quite all right, thank you. But I telephone this morning instead of waiting to write because I want your help. I’ve found the house that used to belong to my own parents and I want to buy it. I want very much to get possession of it before Christmas if I can. I shall need several thousand dollars at once and I would like to have you put it into some bank in this city where I could draw on it within a couple of days. Would that be possible?”
“I suppose it would,” said the lawyer. “I could wire it to them today. But are you quite sure this house is a wise buy? It’s my business, you know, to advise you in such matters.”
“I know,” she said, “but I’m quite sure about this. And even if it were not a wise buy, I should want it. But, Mr. Melbourne, of course I know I’m not very experienced in buying real estate, and I was wondering if there isn’t some lawyer in this city to whom you could recommend me, who would take charge of this transaction for me? I think perhaps these people who have the house are a little tricky. It certainly seems crooked to me, the way they got possession of the property when my father was unable to pay the interest on the mortgage promptly.”
“Yes?” said Mr. Melbourne. “Well, you certainly should have someone whom you can trust to look after the affair. Let me think. Yes, there’s William Bryant. He’s in the Federal Trust Company Building. I’ll call him up right away and ask him to look after you. Could you go to his office at once? All right, I’ll phone him about you. He’s a very good friend of mine. In case he isn’t in the office, just ask for whoever is taking his place. I’ll talk to whoever is there. You can trust Will Bryant or his representatives perfectly. If I were you, I’d have him go to see this house and look into the whole matter carefully before you make your final settlement.”
“Oh, thank you, Mr. Melbourne!” said Marjorie in a relieved voice. “That was just what I wanted!
I have wished so much that you could be here for a little while and fix this thing up for me.”
“Well, I wish I could. I’ve an important case coming up today and tomorrow that I couldn’t leave or I’d fly down and see what you’re up to. But I’m sure Bryant will look after you just as well as I could, and perhaps a little better, seeing he is a local man. And by the way, Marjorie, I don’t suppose you have any idea of selling your Chicago property, have you? Because I had a very good offer for it last week. Professor with a family coming to the university next fall. He’s been scouting around looking for an ideal home and has pitched upon the Wetherill house. I told him I didn’t think it was in the market, but I would inquire. He’s keen to get it. Of course, I hope you’re not thinking of leaving Chicago, but I thought perhaps you might feel the house was rather large since you’re alone. However, it’s not a matter you need decide at once. Think it over and let me know if you should have any idea of selling.”
“Oh!” said Marjorie, a little breathless. “I hadn’t got that far yet. I don’t quite know what I am going to do.”
“Of course,” said the lawyer. He thought he knew pretty well that she would likely be married before long and would have to consult a certain young man before she made any decisions, but he did not voice any such idea. “I just thought I’d mention it.”
“Thank you, Mr. Melbourne. And—please, Mr. Melbourne, you won’t let anybody, not anybody I mean, know about this matter of my buying this house. I don’t see that it’s anyone’s affair but my own.”
“Certainly not, my child. You can trust me for that.”
“Thank you. I knew I could. And now, you’ll need my address, of course. There isn’t any telephone in the house where I am visiting, but I stopped at the nearby drugstore and made arrangements with them to send for me if anyone should call me.”
“Fine!” said the old lawyer, who had known Marjorie for years. “You have quite a business head, my child.”
Marjorie laughed.
“I feel very young and inefficient,” she said. “But I’ve tried to think things out beforehand. And, Mr. Melbourne, there’s just one more thing. Would you have any connection in this city that would give you influence to get an opening for my father somewhere here? He’s very much discouraged. He had a very fine position and lost it through the death of the head of the firm, which resulted in the firm’s dissolving, and he hasn’t been able to get in anywhere since. He is a very quiet man, and not one who would push himself to the front, nor sound his own trumpet, but I have seen letters he has, and I know he was considered very fine in his line.”
“What line?”
“He is an expert accountant!”
“Indeed? What was the name of the firm, do you know?”
“Hamilton, McIvor and Company,” said Marjorie, glad that she had remembered to ask Ted that yesterday.
“You don’t say!” said Mr. Melbourne. “They had a fine standing. I should say there ought to be something pretty good somewhere for a man whom they employed. I’ll see what wires I can pull.”
Five minutes later, Marjorie turned from her expensive telephone call, well satisfied. Mr. Melbourne had been just as kind and helpful as she had known he would be. And he hadn’t asked for details nor tried to put obstacles in her way. She was a little surprised at that. She had thought he would demur at the proposition of her buying a house right out of the blue as it were, but he had evidently been somewhat prepared for her to do something of the sort. It must be that Mrs. Wetherill had given him a hint that there might be some such thing. Well, she felt a warm glow in her heart for the mother who in her death had at least put her in the way of making restitution for the wrong she had unwittingly done during the years. How dear she had been always! The tears sprang to Marjorie’s eyes, and she had much ado to control them as she came out into the store.
But there was still much to be done before she could get to her shopping. She glanced at her watch. Half past eleven already! She must hurry. She must go to see Mr. Bryant at once and get the matter of the house well started. So she took another taxi to the Federal Trust Company Building and found to her joy that Mr. Bryant was in and had just been talking with the Chicago lawyer, so her way was smoothed for her at once.
Mr. Bryant had keen eyes and a kindly smile. He was not as old as Mr. Melbourne, but gave the impression of being able to comprehend a matter at a glance. He asked a lot of questions about the way the Gays had lost their property, some of which Marjorie could not answer, but she told him all she knew about it and confided that she wished to give the house back to her father for Christmas if it could be managed.
Marjorie was delighted with the kind interest Mr. Bryant took in the matter and promised to return to his office at three o’clock to learn the result of his interview with the real estate company.
She went on her way with a lighter heart now, summoning her wits to remember all the things she wanted to buy.
First of all, she had it in mind to get a warm, lovely robe for her mother and comfortable, pretty slippers to go with it. The doctor had given them hope that she might be able to come downstairs for dinner on Christmas Day if she was reasonably careful beforehand. She needed something to wear down. Marjorie chose a charming robe of wine red wool, exquisitely finished with soft silk facings, a rich sash girdle, and frothy lace ruffling falling deeply from the wide sleeves and V-neck collar. It was such a lovely thing that she couldn’t resist it. She selected a rosy quilted bed jacket for when Mother began to sit up in bed, and then a couple of very pretty simple dresses. She wasn’t quite sure of the size, and she must buy cautiously, for she did not want to hurt her dear new people. She merely wanted to get necessities now, and Christmas made a good excuse. But they all needed so many things, almost everything, that she scarcely knew where to begin.
While she was eating a hurried lunch, she wrote out a brief list of necessities. Tablecloths and napkins, mittens and stockings for the children, galoshes … But how could she fit them? Oh, the list would be endless if she got all they needed. She must have Betty along to select things. The children’s clothes were all too short and too tight and too ragged. But, of course, they didn’t have to have everything before Christmas. Better just to get something for each and buy other needs after Christmas in a leisurely way.
So she hurried up to the credit department, opened a charge account, giving her Chicago references, and also Mr. Bryant, then went and found a squirrel coat for Betty that was almost an exact duplicate of her own. If Betty wanted to change it after Christmas she could, but she had admired Marjorie’s so much that it seemed as if that might be her choice. Passing the millinery department, she found a little soft gray felt hat with a bright dash of pheasant’s feather cocked aslant in the crown. She was sure it would be becoming to Betty. She bought a couple of little brother and sister suits for Sunny and Bonnie. They were so cute she could not resist them; red jersey trimmed with braid for one set and navy blue sailor style with chevrons for the other. It didn’t take long. Children’s things were so pretty, it required strength of character not to buy the store out.
It was getting near three o’clock, when she was to meet Mr. Bryant. She hurried to the toy department and reveled in the bewilderment of delights for the children there displayed. She wished she could buy them all. A doll for Bonnie, of course, blocks and some wind-up toys for Sunny, an electric train for Bud. Would there be room to set it up? Oh, but there would be plenty of room in the house at Brentwood. Her heart throbbed joyously as she remembered that.
After that it didn’t take much time to select a warm housecoat of brown for her father, a nice leather coat for Ted, and a thick, warm sweater for Bud with a bright band of colors in the roll of the turtleneck collar. Then she was off, breathless with anxiety to meet the lawyer.
She found a better report than she had hoped for. Mr. Bryant had looked up the records of the transactions at the time Mr. Gay had surrendered his property and found more than one questionable trick t
hat the perpetrators would not care to have brought to light by such a lawyer as William Bryant. He had succeeded in persuading them to accept a reasonable sum for back payment with interest, and the transfer of the property was not going to cost quite as much as Marjorie had been told at first.
It is true that Marjorie had been in control of her property for so short a time that money as yet did not mean much to her, and she would have as readily bought the house at twice the sum she was paying for it, but it was nice to know that things were being adjusted in a way that would please both her lawyers and would probably afford her father much satisfaction when he knew about it, so she went on her way homeward with a light of satisfaction in her eyes. She could hardly wait for her purchases to be delivered. They would probably wait for two or three days before sending them, until they had looked up her references, but they had promised positively that the things would all be there before Christmas. Tomorrow or the next day she would have to go down to Mr. Bryant’s office to sign the check and get the papers. Then she could get anything she had forgotten, and perhaps a few more Christmas things.
She stopped on the way out of the store to get a five-pound box of candy and another of salted nuts. Those would be things she couldn’t purchase at the little grocery store near Aster Street.
She felt conscience-stricken as she neared home to think she had left Betty so long with her mother still in bed and all the work to do. But she had got a lot done. That was good. And now she began to think of the things she should have brought and didn’t. However, that didn’t matter. They had got along without them so far and probably would keep on a few days more.
She realized as the taxi drove up to the door that the house had become home to her, so different from what it had seemed the day she arrived, only a few brief days before! Home because there were dear ones there, and already her interests were tied up with theirs.