Blow the Man Down - A Romance of the Coast
Page 298He licked a thin finger and turned the leaves.
"Deposit of five thousand dollars and accrued interest," he observed,
resuming his inquisitive inspection of her animated countenance.
"My mother's sister left me that legacy. It's all my little fortune,
sir. I want to loan that money to my father and Captain Mayo."
"Well, go ahead, if you're fool enough to. I ain't your guardeen,"
assented Deacon Rowley, holding the book out to her. "But I advise you
to keep your money. I know all about their foolishness."
"My father wouldn't take it from me--and Captain Mayo wouldn't, either."
"That shows they ain't rogues on top of being fools."
get a start," she insisted. "I see you do not understand, sir, what I
need of you. I want you to lend them that money, just as if it came from
you. I'll give you the book and a writing, and you can draw it."
"No, ma'am."
"Won't you help a girl who needs help so much? You're a Christian man,
you say."
"That's just why I can't lie about this money. I'll have to tell 'em I'm
lending it."
"You will be lending it."
"For your trouble in the matter I'll let you collect the interest for
yourself at six per cent. Oh, Deacon Rowley, all you need to do is hand
over the money, and say you prefer not to talk about it. You're a smart
business man; you'll know what to say without speaking a falsehood.
You'll break my heart if you refuse. Think! You're only helping me
to help my own father. He has foolish notions about this. You can say
you'll let them have it for a year, and you'll get three hundred dollars
interest for your trouble."
"I don't believe they'll ever make enough to pay the interest--much less
"Give them five thousand dollars and draw a year's interest for yourself
out of my interest that has accrued."
"Say, how old be you?"
"I'll be twenty-two in June."
Deacon Rowley looked at her calculatingly, fingering his nose.
"Being of age, you ought to know better, but being of age, you can
do what you want to with your own. Do you promise never to let on to
anybody about this?"
"I do promise, solemnly."