Part 12 (2/2)
My father had turned to the fireplace, and was holding the paper over the blaze But for soesture His face beca, and his asped ”For God's sake, George--”
”Stay where you are, Jason,” said e alone, I think
I suppose I should have burned it long ago”
He withdrew the paper slightly, as if to prolong the scene before hie of ruin, he could not have looked more depressed
”Don't!” he cried ”Will you listen, George? I'll be glad to pay you for it”
My father slowly straightened, placed the paper in his pocket, and bowed
”Now,” he said pleasantly, ”we are talking a language I understand
Believethis docuht realize its intrinsic qualities”
Uncle Jason
”How ht tremor in his voice
”Twenty-five thousand dollars seems a fair demand,” said my father, ”in notes, if you please”
”What!” e of the table, and surveyed his visitor intently
”Be silent,” he said ”Silent and very careful, Jason You seeinary bit of dust frolance at the half opened door
”And now listen to ently conversational ”You have tried to frighten me, Jason You should have known better Of all the people in the world I fear you least You forget that I a duller--fear along with the rest You have tried to cheat me of the money I have demanded, and it has tried e Pray do not irritate ain I know you must have that paper, and I knohy The price I offer is a moderate one compared with the unpleasantness that et it Never mind what occurrence I know that you have co on You have theit out and count it--twenty-five thousand dollars”
Hesitatingly my uncle produced a packet that crackled pleasantly
”There! I said you had theotiable I hope, Jason, in case you should change your mind”
I stood helplessly beside him, beset with a hundred useless impulses
Silently I watched Jason Hill hold out the notes
”And now the paper,” saidthe packet with a minute care, waved his request aside
”First youtoo much, Jason, for you to do justice to it Twenty-five thousand dollars! It seems to me I remember that a similar sum once passed between us In which direction? seeh they are quite correct Ato fall back on”
”And now the paper!” demanded my uncle
”Ah, to be sure, the paper,” saidfrohtly