Part 21 (1/2)
”That,” said Keith, ”I shall not disclose until my standing in the matter is a.s.sured.”
”What do you want?” growled Neil.
”Fifty per cent of the profits, if you go in.”
”What do you want of me?”
”The capital.”
”What is the scheme?”
”That I cannot tell you without some a.s.surance of your good intention.”
”What do you expect?” rasped Neil, ”that I go into this blind?”
”I have prepared this paper,” said Keith, handing him a doc.u.ment.
Neil glanced over the paper, then read it through slowly, with great care. When he had finished, he looked up at Keith, and there was a gleam of admiration in his frosty eye.
”You are a lawyer, I take it?” he surmised.
Keith nodded. Neil went over the doc.u.ment for the third time.
”And a good one,” added Neil. ”This is watertight. It seems to be a contract agreeing to the division you suggest, _providing_ I go into the scheme. Very well, I'll sign this.” He raised his voice. ”Samuels, come in and witness this. Now, what is the scheme?”
Keith produced another paper.
”It is written out in detail here.”
Neil reached for it, but Keith drew it back.
”One moment.”
He turned it over on the blank side and wrote:
”This is in full the financial deal referred to in contract entered into this 7th of June, 1852, by Malcolm Neil and Milton Keith.”
To this he appended his signature, then handed the pen to Neil.
”Sign,” he requested.
Neil took the pen, but hesitated for some moments, his alert brain seeking some way out. Finally and grudgingly he signed. Then he leaned back in his chair, eying Keith with rather a wintry humour, though he made no comment. He reached again for the paper, but Keith put his hand on it.
”What more do you want?” inquired Neil in amused tones. His sense of humour had been touched on its only vulnerable point. He appreciated keen and subtle practice when he saw it.
”Not a thing,” laughed Keith, ”but a few words of explanation before you read that will make it more easily understood. Can you tell me how much water lots are worth?”
”Five to eight thousand for fifty varas.”
”All right. I've bought ten fifty vara lots at sheriff's sale for five thousand dollars.”