CHAPTER XXXII. TURNING THE TABLES
The next morning Mr. Morton made inquiries of Frank respecting themortgage. Frank explained that a loan of four hundred dollars wouldenable him to cancel it.
"That is very easily arranged, then," said Henry Morton.
He opened his pocketbook and drew out four crisp new United Statesnotes, of one hundred dollars each.
"There, Frank," said he; "that will loosen the hold Squire Haynes hasupon you. I fancy he will find it a little more difficult to extricatehimself from my grasp."
"How can I ever thank you, Mr. Morton?" said Frank, with emotion.
"It gives me great pleasure to have it in my power to be of service toyou, Frank," said his friend kindly.
"We will have a mortgage made out to you," continued Frank.
"Not without my consent, I hope," said Mr. Morton, smiling.
Frank looked puzzled.
"No, Frank," resumed Mr. Morton, "I don't care for any security. You maygive me a simple acknowledgment of indebtedness, and then pay me at yourleisure."
Frank felt with Justice that Mr. Morton was acting very generously, andhe was more than ever drawn to him.
So passed the earlier hours of the forenoon.
About eleven o'clock Squire Haynes was observed approaching the house.His step was firm and elastic, as if he rejoiced in the errand he wasupon. Again he lifted the knocker, and sounded a noisy summons. It wasin reality a summons to surrender.
The door was opened again by Mrs. Frost, who invited the squire toenter. He did so, wondering at her apparent composure.
"They can't have raised the money," thought he apprehensively. "No, I amsure the notice was too short."
Frank was in the room, but Squire Haynes did not deign to notice him,nor did Frank choose to make advances. Mrs. Frost spoke upon indifferentsubjects, being determined to force Squire Haynes to broach himself thebusiness that had brought him to the farm.
Finally, clearing his throat, he said: "Well, madam, are you prepared tocancel the mortgage which I hold upon your husband's farm?"
"I hope," said Mrs. Frost, "you will give us time. It is hardly possibleto obtain so large a sum in twenty-four hours."
"They haven't got it," thought the squire exultingly.
"As to that," he said aloud, "you've had several years to get ready in."
"Have you no consideration? Remember my husband's absence, and I amunacquainted with business."
"I have already told you," said the squire hastily, "that I require themoney. I have a note to pay, and----"
"Can you give us a week?"
"No, I must have the money at once."
"And if we cannot pay?"
"I must foreclose."
"Will that give you the money any sooner? I suppose you would have toadvertise the farm for sale before you could realize anything, and Ihardly think that car be accomplished sooner than a week hence."
"The delay is only a subterfuge on your part," said the squire hotly."You would be no better prepared at the end of a week than you are now."
"No, perhaps not," said Mrs. Frost quietly.
"And yet you ask me to wait," said the squire indignantly. "Once forall, let me tell you that all entreaties are vain. My mind is made up toforeclose, and foreclose I will."
"Don't be too sure of that," interrupted Frank, with a triumphant smile.
"Ha, young impudence!" exclaimed the squire, wheeling round. "Who's toprevent me, I should like to know?"
"I am," said Frank boldly.
The squire fingered his cane nervously. He was very strongly tempted tolay it on our hero's back. But he reflected that the power was in hishands, and that he was sure of his revenge.
"You won't gain anything by your impudence," he said loftily. "I mighthave got you a place, out of pity to your mother, if you had behaveddifferently. I need a boy to do odd jobs about the house, and I mighthave offered the place to you."
"Thank you for your kind intentions," said Frank, "but I fear the careof this farm will prevent my accepting your tempting offer."
"The care of the farm!" repeated the squire angrily. "Do you think Iwill delegate it to you?"
"I don't see what you have to do about it," said Frank.
"Then you'll find out," roared the squire. "I shall take immediatepossession, and require you to leave at once."
"Then I suppose we had better pay the mortgage, mother," said Frank.
"Pay the mortgage! You can't do it," said the squire exultingly.
"Have you the document with you?" inquired Mrs. Frost.
"Yes, madam."
"Name the amount due on it."
"With interest eight hundred and twenty-four dollars."
"Frank, call in Mr. Morton as a witness."
Mr. Morton entered.
"Now, Frank, you may count out the money."
"What!" stammered the squire, in dismay, "can you pay it."
"We can."
"Why didn't you tell me so in the first place?" demanded Squire Haynes,his wrath excited by his bitter disappointment.
"I wished to ascertain whether your course was dictated by necessity ora desire to annoy and injure us. I can have no further doubt about it."
There was no help for it. Squire Haynes was compelled to release hishold upon the Frost Farm, and pocket his money. He had never been sosorry to receive money before.
This business over, he was about to beat a hurried retreat, when he wassuddenly arrested by a question from Henry Morton.
"Can you spare me a few minutes, Squire Haynes?"
"I am in haste, sir."
"My business is important, and has already been too long delayed."
"Too long delayed?"
"Yes, it has waited twelve years."
"I don't understand you, sir," said the squire.
"Perhaps I can assist you. You know me as Henry Morton. That is not myreal name."
"An alias!" sneered the squire in a significant tone.
"Yes, I had my reasons," returned the young man, unmoved.
"I have no doubt of it."
Henry Morton smiled, but did not otherwise notice the unpleasantimputation.
"My real name is Richard Waring."
Squire Haynes started violently and scrutinized the young man closelythrough his spectacles. His vague suspicions were confirmed.
"Do you wish to know my business with you?"
The squire muttered something inaudible.
"I demand the restitution of the large sum of money entrusted to you bymy father, just before his departure to the West Indies--a sum of whichyou have been the wrongful possessor for twelve years."
"Do you mean to insult me?" exclaimed the squire, bold in the assurancethat the sole evidence of his fraud was undiscovered.
"Unless you comply with my demand I shall proceed against you legally,and you are enough of a lawyer to understand the punishment meted out tothat description of felony."
"Pooh, pooh! Your threats won't avail you," said the squirecontemptuously. "Your plan is a very clumsy one. Let me suggest toyou, young man, that threats for the purpose of extorting money areactionable."
"Do you doubt my identity?"
"You may very probably be the person you claim to be, but that won'tsave you."
"Very well. You have conceded one point."
He walked quietly to the door of the adjoining room, opened it, and in adistinct voice called "James Travers."
At the sound of this name Squire Haynes sank into a chair, ashy pale.
A man, not over forty, but with seamed face, hair nearly white, and aform evidently broken with ill health, slowly entered.
Squire Haynes beheld him with dismay.
"You see before you, Squire Haynes, a man whose silence has been yoursafeguard for the last twelve years. His lips are now unsealed. JamesTravers, tell us what you know of the trust reposed in this man by myfather."
"No, no," said the squire hurriedly. "It--it is enough. I will makerestitution."
"You have done wisely," said Richard Waring. (We must give him his truename.) "When will you be ready to meet me upon this business?"
"To-morrow," muttered the squire.
He left the house with the air of one who has been crushed by a suddenblow.
The pride of the haughty had been laid low, and retribution, longdeferred, had come at last.
Numerous and hearty were the congratulations which Mr. Morton--I meanMr. Waring--received upon his new accession of property.
"I do not care so much for that," he said, "but my father's word hasbeen vindicated. My mind is now at peace."
There was more than one happy heart at the farm that night. Mr. Waringhad accomplished the great object of his life; and as for Frank and hismother, they felt that the black cloud which had menaced their happinesshad been removed, and henceforth there seemed prosperous days in store.To cap the climax of their happiness, the afternoon mail brought aletter from Mr. Frost, in which he imparted the intelligence that he hadbeen promoted to a second lieutenancy.
"Mother," said Frank, "you must be very dignified now, You are anofficer's wife."
Frank's Campaign; Or, The Farm and the Camp Page 32
