Part 46 (1/2)
”I don't know if I can look the character,” he said.
”Oh yes you can. You are nicely dressed, while I am hardly any better dressed than when I left Burton.”
”I have wondered why you didn't buy some new clothes when you were able to afford it.”
”You see we Western miners don't care much for style, perhaps not enough. Still I probably shall buy a suit or two, but not till I have made my visit home. I want to see how people will receive me, when they think I haven't got much money. I shall own up to about five hundred dollars, but that isn't enough to dazzle people even in a small country village.”
”I am wiling to help you in any way you wish, Mr. Pettigrew.”
”Then I think we shall get some amus.e.m.e.nt out of it. I shall represent you as worth about a hundred thousand dollars.”
”I wish I were.”
”Very likely you will be some time if you go out to Montana with me.”
”How large a place is Burton?”
”It has not quite a thousand inhabitants. It is set among the hills, and has but one rich man, Lemuel Sheldon, who is worth perhaps fifty thousand dollars, but put on the airs of a millionaire.”
”You are as rich as he, then.”
”Yes, and shall soon be richer. However, I don't want him to know it. It is he who holds the mortgage on my uncle's farm.”
”Do you know how large the mortgage is?”
”It is twelve hundred dollars. I shall borrow the money of you to pay it.”
”I understand,” said Rodney, smiling.
”I shall enjoy the way the old man will look down upon me very much as a millionaire looks down upon a town pauper.”
”How will he look upon me?”
”He will be very polite to you, for he will think you richer than himself.”
”On the whole, we are going to act a comedy, Mr. Pettigrew. What is the name of the man who lent you money to go to Montana?”
”A young carpenter, Frank Dobson. He lent me a hundred dollars, which was about all the money he had saved up.”
”He was a true friend.”
”You are right. He was. Everybody told Frank that he would never see his money again, but he did. As soon as I could get together enough to repay him I sent it on, though I remember it left me with less than ten dollars in my pocket.
”I couldn't bear to think that Frank would lose anything by me. You see we were chums at school and always stood by each other. He is married and has two children.”
”While you are an old bachelor.”
”Yes; I ain't in a hurry to travel in double harness. I'll wait till I am ready to leave Montana, with money enough to live handsomely at home.”
”You have got enough now.”