Part 6 (1/2)
”I'll have a talk with Mr. Judson. Show your courage and hold your ground. You'll be glad you did so by and by.”
The next morning Wannop called at the agent's office in a neighboring town. He was shown into a dingy room, where an elderly man with spectacles received him with deference.
”I've been looking into accounts, Judson,” Wannop began abruptly.
”After deducting your commission and the cost of the repairs you agreed to, I find that the return on my property for the past year is small. Now I met Maxwell the other day and he hinted that it might be managed to better advantage.”
The agent looked alarmed.
”I understood you didn't wish to put the screw on your tenants; and it isn't good policy.”
”No,” said Wannop; ”I want to be fair. I don't think Andrew Allinson would wish any undue pressure put on his tenants either. As we talk over things now and then, I know his views.”
Judson pondered this without answering, and Wannop resumed:
”My business and Andrew's should be worth a good deal to you, though Maxwell seemed to think that both could be improved.”
”Maxwell couldn't get you a penny more than I have got,” Judson declared. ”I should be very sorry if you contemplated a change.”
”I shouldn't do so without a strong reason. You look after the Reverend Robert Allinson's property, but your commission on it can't be large.”
”It is not,” said Judson, beginning to understand where the other's remarks led.
”Well,” went on Wannop, ”I saw Mrs. Olcott yesterday, and she mentioned the misunderstanding about her lease. I may tell you that Mrs. Wannop and Miss Allinson are friends of hers.”
Judson was surprised, but decided that if he must offend either Wannop or the clergyman, it would better be the latter.
”Mr. Andrew called here in a hurry and said he had got a tenant for The Firs and I was to have some alterations made. He was driving, and as his horse was restive he ran out before we could talk over details.”
Wannop thought this was correct, for Andrew was sometimes careless.
”Atkinson will take the field off your hands. It's not usual to charge a tenant with needful repairs; and you mustn't be hard on Mrs. Olcott about the rent. Perhaps you had better go over and put things straight with her.”
Judson promised to do so and Wannop took out some papers.
”Here's a more important matter. I've decided to buy Bell's place, and you can see his agent and the architect as soon as convenient.”
He rode away, knowing that his hints would be attended to. During the evening he met Hilda.
”I've seen Mrs. Olcott and Judson,” he told her. ”It's very unlikely that she'll have any more trouble about The Firs.”
”That's splendid!” cried Hilda. ”But how did you manage it?”
Wannop chuckled.
”My dear girl, an explanation isn't always desirable. When you know how a thing's done it spoils the trick.”
”Oh, well,” said Hilda, ”it doesn't matter, but you have a suspiciously complacent look. One could imagine that you felt satisfied with yourself.”