Part 21 (1/2)
”I had nothing to come for.”
It pleased Mr. Wentz to regard her with a smile of tolerant amus.e.m.e.nt.
”Don't know anything about finance, do you?”
”I've never had any business to attend to. I will learn, though.”
Wentz smiled enigmatically. Then, brusquely:
”We might as well come to the point and have it over--do you know them sheep's mortgaged?”
”I knew,” hesitatingly, ”that Uncle Joe had borrowed for our expenses, but I didn't know how he did it.”
”That's how he did it,” curtly. ”And the mortgage includes the leases and the whole bloomin' outfit.”
”But he only borrowed a few hundred,” she ventured.
”We require ample security,” importantly.
”What is it you want of me?” Kate's voice trembled slightly. The import of the interview was beginning to dawn upon her.
Wentz cleared his throat and announced impressively:
”There was a meeting of the directors called yesterday and it was decided that the bank must have its money.”
She cried aghast:
”I haven't it, Mr. Wentz!”
”Then there's only one alternative.”
”You mean s.h.i.+p the sheep?”
Wentz stroked his mustache.
”That's about the size of it.”
”But sheep are way down,” she protested. ”It would take almost the two bands at present to pay off the debt and s.h.i.+pping expenses.”
”That's not our funeral.”
”And the leases are of no value without stock for them.”
Mr. Wentz lowered his silken lashes and suggested smoothly as he continued to caress the treasured growth gently:
”Neifkins might be induced to take the leases off your hands at a nominal figure.”
Mr. Pantin cooling his heels at the outer portals smiled. He knew what Kate did not--that Neifkins was one of the directors.
”But the notes are not due until early next summer--after shearing.
Uncle Joe told me so.”